Numbers of enterprises and local units produced from a snapshot of the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR) taken on 8 March 2024.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The Business Structure Database (BSD) contains a small number of variables for almost all business organisations in the UK. The BSD is derived primarily from the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR), which is a live register of data collected by HM Revenue and Customs via VAT and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) records. The IDBR data are complimented with data from ONS business surveys. If a business is liable for VAT (turnover exceeds the VAT threshold) and/or has at least one member of staff registered for the PAYE tax collection system, then the business will appear on the IDBR (and hence in the BSD). In 2004 it was estimated that the businesses listed on the IDBR accounted for almost 99 per cent of economic activity in the UK. Only very small businesses, such as the self-employed were not found on the IDBR.

The IDBR is frequently updated, and contains confidential information that cannot be accessed by non-civil servants without special permission. However, the ONS Virtual Micro-data Laboratory (VML) created and developed the BSD, which is a 'snapshot' in time of the IDBR, in order to provide a version of the IDBR for research use, taking full account of changes in ownership and restructuring of businesses. The 'snapshot' is taken around April, and the captured point-in-time data are supplied to the VML by the following September. The reporting period is generally the financial year. For example, the 2000 BSD file is produced in September 2000, using data captured from the IDBR in April 2000. The data will reflect the financial year of April 1999 to March 2000. However, the ONS may, during this time, update the IDBR with data on companies from its own business surveys, such as the Annual Business Survey (SN 7451).

The data are divided into 'enterprises' and 'local units'. An enterprise is the overall business organisation. A local unit is a 'plant', such as a factory, shop, branch, etc. In some cases, an enterprise will only have one local unit, and in other cases (such as a bank or supermarket), an enterprise will own many local units.

For each company, data are available on employment, turnover, foreign ownership, and industrial activity based on Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)92, SIC 2003 or SIC 2007. Year of 'birth' (company start-up date) and 'death' (termination date) are also included, as well as postcodes for both enterprises and their local units. Previously only pseudo-anonymised postcodes were available but now all postcodes are real.

The ONS is continually developing the BSD, and so researchers are strongly recommended to read all documentation pertaining to this dataset before using the data.

Linking to Other Business Studies
These data contain IDBR reference numbers. These are anonymous but unique reference numbers assigned to business organisations. Their inclusion allows researchers to combine different business survey sources together. Researchers may consider applying for other business data to assist their research.

Latest Edition Information
For the sixteenth edition (March 2024), data files and a variable catalogue document for 2023 have been added.

Main Topics:

The following variables are available for enterprises and local units:

• employment (and employees)
• turnover
• Standard Industrial Classification (1992, 2003 and 2007 classifications are available)
• legal status (e.g. sole proprietor, partnership, public corporation, non-profit organisation etc)
• foreign ownership
• birth (company start date)
• death (termination date of trading)
• various geographical variables
  

'Employment' includes business owners, whereas 'employees' measures the number of staff, excluding owners.

Observations for enterprises also include a variable for ownership if the enterprise is part of a large group of companies.

Local units have an additional ‘death code’ variable, which serves as an indicator as to why the plant closed (e.g. as a result of a merger). It should also be noted that there is no turnover information for individual plants. This is because the ONS does not collect financial information at the plant level, which is notoriously difficult, especially for manufacturing plants where often no financial transactions are processed.

The birth and death variables are particularly useful for research, although it should be noted that for businesses that began trading before 1973, their birth date will be set to 1973. This is the year that VAT was introduced in the UK, and hence the first point in time for VAT registration for these companies. Companies that began trading since 1973 have their ‘real’ date of birth listed.

Monthly dataset showing change in sales and jobs recorded by Xero, an online accounting software platform. This dataset is updated on a quarterly basis. These are official statistics in development. Source: Xero.

The Small Business Survey (SBS) is a large scale telephone survey commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) as a follow up to the Annual Survey of Small Businesses 2007/8. The main aims of the first SBS survey in 2010 were to:

• monitor key enterprise indicators (e.g. employment, turnover, finance, business growth) and how these have changed in comparison to previous surveys. In particular the survey measures characteristics of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) such as the proportions which are women and minority-ethnic led, and the proportions applying for and obtaining external finance


• gauge SME intentions, needs, concerns and the obstacles to fulfilling their potential
• provide evidence for possible Government interventions to assist SMEs
• create a database which can be used for follow-up studies among the general SME population, or sub-groups within it

The main aims of the next survey in 2012 were to:

• monitor key enterprise indicators and how these have changed in comparison to previous surveys, the 2010 SBS in particular
• create a database that can be used for follow-up studies among the general SME population, and sub-groups within it.

From 2015, the survey methodology has changed to include a longitudinal tracking element. The Longitudinal Small Business Survey: Secure Access is available under SN 8261.

Linking to other business studies
These data contain Inter-Departmental Business Register reference numbers. These are anonymous but unique reference numbers assigned to business organisations. Their inclusion allows researchers to combine different business survey sources together. Researchers may consider applying for other business data to assist their research.

The second edition (August 2014) includes data from 2012.

During an early 2023 survey carried out among among people who run their own business or side hustle in the United Kingdom, ** percent stated they used paid social media posts to market their business. ost used channel amogn the *** presented in the data set was organic/non-paid social media, named by ** percent of respondents.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner. The Business Structure Database (BSD) contains a small number of variables for almost all business organisations in the UK. The BSD is derived primarily from the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR), which is a live register of data collected by HM Revenue and Customs via VAT and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) records. The IDBR data are complimented with data from ONS business surveys. If a business is liable for VAT (turnover exceeds the VAT threshold) and/or has at least one member of staff registered for the PAYE tax collection system, then the business will appear on the IDBR (and hence in the BSD). In 2004 it was estimated that the businesses listed on the IDBR accounted for almost 99 per cent of economic activity in the UK. Only very small businesses, such as the self-employed were not found on the IDBR. The IDBR is frequently updated, and contains confidential information that cannot be accessed by non-civil servants without special permission. However, the ONS Virtual Micro-data Laboratory (VML) created and developed the BSD, which is a 'snapshot' in time of the IDBR, in order to provide a version of the IDBR for research use, taking full account of changes in ownership and restructuring of businesses. The 'snapshot' is taken around April, and the captured point-in-time data are supplied to the VML by the following September. The reporting period is generally the financial year. For example, the 2000 BSD file is produced in September 2000, using data captured from the IDBR in April 2000. The data will reflect the financial year of April 1999 to March 2000. However, the ONS may, during this time, update the IDBR with data on companies from its own business surveys, such as the Annual Business Survey (SN 7451). The data are divided into 'enterprises' and 'local units'. An enterprise is the overall business organisation. A local unit is a 'plant', such as a factory, shop, branch, etc. In some cases, an enterprise will only have one local unit, and in other cases (such as a bank or supermarket), an enterprise will own many local units. For each company, data are available on employment, turnover, foreign ownership, and industrial activity based on Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)92, SIC 2003 or SIC 2007. Year of 'birth' (company start-up date) and 'death' (termination date) are also included, as well as postcodes for both enterprises and their local units. Previously only pseudo-anonymised postcodes were available but now all postcodes are real. The ONS is continually developing the BSD, and so researchers are strongly recommended to read all documentation pertaining to this dataset before using the data. Linking to Other Business Studies These data contain IDBR reference numbers. These are anonymous but unique reference numbers assigned to business organisations. Their inclusion allows researchers to combine different business survey sources together. Researchers may consider applying for other business data to assist their research. Latest Edition Information For the sixteenth edition (March 2024), data files and a variable catalogue document for 2023 have been added.

Small Business Sentiment in the United Kingdom increased to -1 points in the first quarter of 2024 from -13 points in the fourth quarter of 2023. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Small Business Sentiment - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner. The Business Structure Database (BSD) contains a small number of variables for almost all business organisations in the UK. The BSD is derived primarily from the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR), which is a live register of data collected by HM Revenue and Customs via VAT and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) records. The IDBR data are complimented with data from ONS business surveys. If a business is liable for VAT (turnover exceeds the VAT threshold) and/or has at least one member of staff registered for the PAYE tax collection system, then the business will appear on the IDBR (and hence in the BSD). In 2004 it was estimated that the businesses listed on the IDBR accounted for almost 99 per cent of economic activity in the UK. Only very small businesses, such as the self-employed were not found on the IDBR. The IDBR is frequently updated, and contains confidential information that cannot be accessed by non-civil servants without special permission. However, the ONS Virtual Micro-data Laboratory (VML) created and developed the BSD, which is a 'snapshot' in time of the IDBR, in order to provide a version of the IDBR for research use, taking full account of changes in ownership and restructuring of businesses. The 'snapshot' is taken around April, and the captured point-in-time data are supplied to the VML by the following September. The reporting period is generally the financial year. For example, the 2000 BSD file is produced in September 2000, using data captured from the IDBR in April 2000. The data will reflect the financial year of April 1999 to March 2000. However, the ONS may, during this time, update the IDBR with data on companies from its own business surveys, such as the Annual Business Survey (SN 7451). The Business Structure Database Longitudinal, 1997-2013 was compiled by Michael Anyadike-Danes, Aston Business School, with support from Economic and Social Research Council funding. Researchers are advised to read the documentation accompanying the main BSD collection held by the UK Data Archive under SN 6697 before applying for or using the longitudinal data. Linking to other business studies These data contain IDBR reference numbers. These are anonymous but unique reference numbers assigned to business organisations. Their inclusion allows researchers to combine different business survey sources together. Researchers may consider applying for other business data to assist their research. For the second edition (April 2019), the full postcodes have been replaced with only the first part of the postcode (e.g., SW1V rather than SW1V 2QQ) in the two geography data files. A look up file that includes postcode districts has been added so that users can still aggregate to higher geographies.

At CompanyData.com (BoldData), we provide verified, structured company data sourced directly from official trade registers. Our firmographic dataset of 380 million businesses worldwide gives you access to one of the most comprehensive and accurate B2B data sources on the market. Built for scale, it delivers a single, unified dataset covering companies across all industries and geographies—ideal for any business that relies on high-quality data to operate globally.

Each company profile is packed with essential firmographic fields, including legal name, registration number, industry classification (NACE/SIC), business size, revenue estimates, incorporation date, and group structure. We also include decision-maker contacts such as names, roles, email addresses, and mobile phone numbers, all verified at the source and regularly updated to maintain the highest accuracy standards.

This dataset is trusted by teams across compliance, risk, sales, marketing, data science, and analytics. Whether you’re conducting KYC/AML checks, building targeted B2B outreach, enriching your CRM systems, or training AI models, our data is ready to support your goals at any scale. Its structure and completeness make it easy to filter, integrate, and activate in virtually any system or workflow.

We deliver this global firmographic dataset through multiple channels: as tailored bulk files, via our self-service platform, through real-time API access, or using custom enrichment services to enhance your existing records. With trusted coverage of 380 million companies, expert data curation, and global delivery capabilities, CompanyData.com (BoldData) empowers you to act with confidence, wherever your business takes you.

Value and volume of retail sales broken down by size of business

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner. The Longitudinal Small Business Survey (LSBS) is a large-scale telephone survey of small business owners and managers commissioned by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). This survey is the latest in a series of annual and biennial Small Business Surveys (SBS) dating back to 2003. In 2015, the survey methodology changed to include a longitudinal tracking element. A large sample size was recruited in Year One (2015) to establish a panel of businesses to be re-surveyed in subsequent years. This will allow a detailed analysis of how combinations of factors affect business performance. The LSBS is intended to: Improve the understanding of what drives and constrains business performance and growth by addressing evidence gaps relating to the lags between many business activities and associated performance outcomes;Provide improved data on current business performance and the factors that affect this. The larger survey size will provide more reliable findings for key sub-groups of the business population and in relation to activities such as seeking finance, which are only relevant to part of the sample. The data available covers all respondents over the course of the six years so far. Further information and research reports are available on the GOV.UK Small Business Survey Reports webpage. Controlled (Secure) Access Version A Controlled (Secure) Access version of the LSBS is available from the UK Data Archive, subject to stringent secure access conditions. Extra variables include postcode district, 2-, 3-, and 4-digit SIC codes; and Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR) reference numbers for linking to other business surveys. Small Business Survey data files for 2010 and 2012 containing 4-digit SIC codes and IDBR reference numbers are available under SN 6856. Users are strongly advised to check whether the safeguarded version is sufficient for their needs before considering an application for the Controlled (Secure) Access version.Latest edition information For the eighth edition (December 2023), the data and documentation have been updated to include Year Eight of the survey, completed during 2022-2023.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner. The Small Business Survey (SBS) is a large scale telephone survey commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) as a follow up to the Annual Survey of Small Businesses 2007/8. The main aims of the first SBS survey in 2010 were to:monitor key enterprise indicators (e.g. employment, turnover, finance, business growth) and how these have changed in comparison to previous surveys. In particular the survey measures characteristics of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) such as the proportions which are women and minority-ethnic led, and the proportions applying for and obtaining external finance gauge SME intentions, needs, concerns and the obstacles to fulfilling their potentialprovide evidence for possible Government interventions to assist SMEscreate a database which can be used for follow-up studies among the general SME population, or sub-groups within itThe main aims of the next survey in 2012 were to:monitor key enterprise indicators and how these have changed in comparison to previous surveys, the 2010 SBS in particularcreate a database that can be used for follow-up studies among the general SME population, and sub-groups within it.From 2015, the survey methodology has changed to include a longitudinal tracking element. The Longitudinal Small Business Survey: Secure Access is available under SN 8261. Linking to other business studies These data contain Inter-Departmental Business Register reference numbers. These are anonymous but unique reference numbers assigned to business organisations. Their inclusion allows researchers to combine different business survey sources together. Researchers may consider applying for other business data to assist their research. The second edition (August 2014) includes data from 2012. Main Topics: The Small Business Survey covers the following main topics:the characteristics of SMEs such as their type (size, sector, legal status, etc)the characteristics of their owners and leadersrecent turnover and employment growthcapabilities in terms of their ability to innovate, export, train staff, etc.experience of accessing financeuse of business supportintentions to grow turnover and employmentthe needs and concerns, and the obstacles that prevent SMEs fulfilling their potential

Annual data on births, deaths and survival of businesses in the UK, by geographical area and Standard Industrial Classification 2007: SIC 2007 groups.

The 20,000+ registered companies with a registered address in Glasgow. The information is extracted from Companies House. It includes the company name, number, category (private limited, partnership), registered address, postcode, industry (SIC code), status (ex: active or liquidation), incorporation date... It is likely that some companies may just lie off Glasgow City Council's boundary. If you find a problem in the data, you can check the source either in the full UK list or by looking up a company or let us know. The data dictionary supplied by Companies House can be viewed here. There is also a data dictionary with field names and meanings contained in the resources. This dataset does not imply: - a partnership with Companies House - an endorsement by Companies House - a product approval by Companies House Licence: None glasgow-post-codes-py.txt - https://dataservices.open.glasgow.gov.uk/Download/Organisation/cc57ac4b-12d5-43b1-ad25-434638eec18c/Dataset/3093e34f-6dcb-4980-840b-965421c1b091/File/c2634107-bd43-4537-adb8-9046aeed844e/Version/c8fde78e-5396-4293-ac35-6f6c96a5d642

In January 2004, a consortium of public and private sector organisations commissioned Warwick Business School to carry out the United Kingdom Survey of Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises' (SME) Finances, 2004. This was the first representative survey of SMEs to offer a close analysis of businesses with fewer than 250 employees, their main owners and their access to external finance. A second survey was conducted in 2008, where business owners were interviewed by telephone about the finances they have used or applied for in the last three years, their financial relationships, the characteristics of the business and personal details.

In 2007, another consortium of UK public sector bodies, small business representative organisations and finance providers agreed to sponsor a similar survey to the 2004 survey, conducted by the Centre for Business Research based at the University of Cambridge. This study is held at the UKDA under SN 6049, with the title United Kingdom Survey of Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises' Finances, 2007. It aimed to compile another benchmark and to identify any changes or trends that had emerged since 2004, but made a number of changes to the 2004 questionnaire, so that it is not a direct member of the UKSMEF series, but stands alongside it as a separate cross-sectional survey. The UKSMEF 2008 survey was conducted by the same Principal Investigator as the 2004 survey, based at Warwick Business School, and the 2008 report provides direct comparison between the 2004 and 2008 surveys.
The aims of the 2009 survey were to:

• provide benchmarking data on the availability of credit to SMEs and the types of finance used
• collect information on the relationship between SMEs and their providers of finance
• develop a general purpose micro database for quantitative research on business finance (offering, for example, scope for comparisons with the US Survey of Small Business Finances)

The 2009 sample consisted of 1,250 follow up interviews with businesses interviewed for the 2008 survey. Telephone interviews were conducted by IFF Research Ltd during autumn 2009. These interviews focused on the cost and availability of overdrafts and term loans to businesses in the previous year due to policy makers concerns about the affect of the Credit Crisis on bank lending to SMEs. The data can be used for panel data analysis, in conjunction with UKSMEFs 2004 and 2008, or for standalone cross-sectional analysis. A set of population weights is included in the dataset so that this analysis can be weighted to the UK SME population. These weights were calculated using statistics provided by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills Enterprise Directorate - see Business population estimates, formerly 'SME Statistics'.

Further information may be found on the ESRC UK Survey of SME Finances 2009 Follow On Study award webpage.

B2B Company data encompasses vital information about businesses, including company name, industry, employees, revenue, website, and more. It provides valuable insights for market analysis, competitive intelligence, and strategic decision-making. Startup data, on the other hand, focuses specifically on emerging businesses, offering crucial details such as funding rounds, founder information, growth metrics, and market presence. Both types of data play a pivotal role in understanding the business landscape and identifying opportunities for growth and innovation.

Company data and startup data serve various specific use cases and applications:

1. Market Research for Investors: Investors use company data to identify promising startups in specific industries or regions, helping them make informed investment decisions.

2. Competitor Analysis for Incumbent Companies: Established companies leverage startup data to monitor emerging competitors and identify potential disruptions to their market share.

3. Partnership Opportunities: Startups use company data to identify potential partners or investors who align with their business goals and values.

4. Recruitment Strategies: Companies use startup data to target high-growth startups as potential sources of talent, offering opportunities for strategic partnerships or acquisitions.

5. Economic Development Initiatives: Governments and economic development agencies use company data to identify high-potential startups and provide support through grants, incentives, or incubator programs.

6. Risk Assessment for Service Providers: Service providers, such as financial institutions or insurance companies, use company data to assess the risk associated with serving startups as clients or partners.

7. Product Development Insights: Startups and established companies alike use company data to identify emerging trends and consumer preferences, informing product development strategies.

8. Marketing and Sales Targeting: Companies use company data to identify potential customers or partners based on specific criteria, such as industry, size, or geographic location, enabling targeted marketing and sales efforts.

9. Mergers and Acquisitions: Corporations use company data to identify potential acquisition targets or merger partners that align with their strategic objectives, helping them expand their market reach or diversify their product offerings.

10. Entrepreneurial Education: Educational institutions and entrepreneurship programs use company data to provide real-world examples and case studies for students, helping them understand the challenges and opportunities of starting and scaling a business.

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This dataset provides insights into the record number of companies founded by women in the UK in 2023, along with information on gender representation in business and self-employment.

Percentage of VAT registered businesses showing year-on-year employment growth. This indicator will include those businesses registered for VAT with less than 50 employment (around 98% of all VAT registered enterprises). It will measure the proportion of those businesses showing year on year employment growth, where employment is measured as the number of employees (full and part-time) plus the number of self-employed people that run the business.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

Publisher: DCLG Floor Targets Interactive

Geographies: Local Authority District (LAD), County/Unitary Authority, Government Office Region (GOR), National

Geographic coverage: England

Time coverage: 2002/03 to 2008/09

Notes: At the start of 2006 the VAT threshold was an annual turnover of 60,000 and 1.85 million of the estimated 4.3 million enterprises in the UK were VAT registered.