SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISE STATISTICS

There were 2.10 million enterprises registered for VAT and/or PAYE in March 2010, compared to 2.15 million in March 2009, a 2.4 per cent decrease.

Between March 2009 and March 2010 there was a reduction in the number of sole proprietors, partnerships and corporate businesses:

• corporate businesses (companies and public corporations) represent 58.9 per cent of total enterprises, a proportional increase from 58.2 per cent in 2009

• sole proprietors represent 23.8 per cent of total enterprises, a decrease from 24.4 per cent in 2009

• partnerships represent 13.2 per cent of total enterprises, a decrease from 13.5 per cent in 2009

• general government and non-profit making bodies represent 4.1 per cent of total enterprises, an increase from 4.0 per cent in 2009

The professional, scientific and technical sector accounts for the largest number of businesses with 15.4 per cent of all enterprises registered. This is followed by construction with 13.1 per cent of all enterprises registered and retail with 9.0 per cent.

The distribution of enterprises by employment size band shows that 88.6 per cent had an employment of less than 10, and 98.0 per cent had less than 50 employment. Large enterprises, those with 250 or greater employment, accounted for only 0.4 per cent.

Analysis by age shows that 14.3 per cent of businesses were under two years old, and 28.8 per cent were under four years old. A further 43.5 per cent of businesses were 10 or more years old.

All regions experienced a decrease in the number of businesses with the North West and the West Midlands experiencing the greatest decrease of 3.3 per cent each. Scotland experienced the smallest decrease of 0.8 per cent. London accounts for the largest number of businesses with 15.8 per cent followed by the South East and East regions at 15.7 per cent and 10.2 per cent respectively.

General Introduction to London Metropolitan City:

London has a thriving economy and is one of the most important business cities in the world. London's gross value added (GVA) per head is 53 per cent above the national average. But it also faces challenges, with issues such as immigration, unemployment and the environment all having been in the spotlight.

London's population has grown significantly in recent years both from births exceeding deaths and by net immigration. Almost one third of Londoners are from non-White ethnic groups.

Combined, London's airports carry three quarters of all scheduled air passengers in the UK.

The resident labour force of 3.8 million people is supplemented by commuters. Around a fifth of London's 4.6 million jobs are filled by people who live outside the capital. However, London has the highest unemployment rate in the UK as a whole, and the three highest unemployment rates at local authority level.

The average weekly household income (from all sources) in London is £304 per person - over 20 per cent higher than the national average. But two out of five children in London live in low income households.

After years of below average performance, GCSE results in London are now slightly better than the national average; both overall and in most ethnic groups.

In 2005 the average property price in London was £289,000 - 50 per cent higher than the national average - although prices vary significantly across London.

London has more parks and green areas than any other city of a similar size in the world. But there are high levels of air pollution across London - particularly in Inner London and at Heathrow airport.

Around a quarter of Londoners smoke - the same percentage as nationally - but Londoners have the lowest alcohol consumption of any region.

The rate of recorded crime in London in 2005/06 was 30 per cent higher than for the whole of England and Wales.