The total number of private sector enterprises in Scotland has increased by 2,630 (0.9%) since March 2007 to 282,125 in March 2008. The associated employment of these enterprises has increased by 43,730 (2.3%) to 1.95 million over the same period. Since 2000, the total number of enterprises has increased by 45,665 (19%).
Table 1: Number of private sector enterprises in Scotland by sizeband, 2000-2008
| Size | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
|---|
| 0-49 | 230,865 | 237,555 | 246,300 | 256,855 | 264,660 | 259,545 | 259,695 | 273,740 | 276,265 |
|---|
| 50-249 | 3,350 | 3,500 | 3,490 | 3,415 | 3,345 | 3,300 | 3,480 | 3,490 | 3,575 |
|---|
| 250+ | 2,245 | 2,345 | 2,295 | 2,270 | 2,240 | 2,250 | 2,255 | 2,265 | 2,285 |
|---|
| Total | 236,460 | 243,400 | 252,085 | 262,545 | 270,245 | 265,090 | 265,435 | 279,495 | 282,125 |
|---|
Source: Scottish Government, ONS (IDBR)
The 2,285 large enterprises operating in Scotland accounted for just over 60% of turnover 1. The following chart shows how the total number of enterprises, employment and turnover 1 were split between small, medium and large enterprises in Scotland as at March 2008.
Chart 1: Share of enterprises, employment and turnover by size of enterprise, 2008
Source: Scottish Government, ONS (IDBR)
1 Turnover for financial intermediation enterprises is not available on a comparable basis and has therefore been excluded from this analysis.
Small (0-49 employees)
The total number of small private sector enterprises in Scotland has increased by 2,525 (0.9%) since March 2007 to 276,265 in March 2008. The associated employment of these enterprises has increased by 8,250 (1.1%) to 780,100 over the same period. Since 1999, the number of small enterprises has increased by 49,755 (22%).
Medium (50-249 employees)
The total number of medium private sector enterprises in Scotland has increased by 85 (2.4%) since March 2007 to 3,575 in March 2008. The associated employment of these enterprises has increased by 9,600 (3.9%) to 252,810 over the same period. Since 1999, the number of medium enterprises has increased by 305 (9%).
Large (250+ employees)
The total number of large private sector enterprises in Scotland has increased by 20 (0.9%) since March 2007 to 2,285 in March 2008. The associated employment of these enterprises has increased by 25,870 (2.9%) to 920,260 over the same period. Since 1999, the number of large enterprises has increased by 65 (3%).
As at March 2008, there were 279,840 SMEs (0-249 employees) in Scotland (up 0.9% from March 2007) with associated employment of 1,032,910 (up 1.8%). This represents 99% of all enterprises and 53% of all employment. Interestingly, enterprises with one or more employees comprised only 35% of all enterprises but provided 89% of all jobs.
The sectors which experienced the largest relative increases in the number of enterprises between March 2007 and March 2008 were:
Wholesale trade - up by 615 (10%) to 6,880 enterprises.
Manufacturing - up by 1,465 (9%) to 18,155 enterprises.
Business activities, real estate, & renting - up by 2,985 (6%) to 51,145 enterprises.
The sectors which experienced the largest relative decreases in the number of enterprises between March 2007 and March 2008 were:
Financial Intermediation - down by 1,275 (-34%) to 2,520 enterprises.
Mining & Quarrying, Utilities - down by 1,230 (-31%) to 2,745 enterprises.
Education - down by 1,210 (-13%) to 8,065 enterprises.
The sectors which experienced the largest relative increases in employment between March 2007 and March 2008 were:
Agriculture, forestry & fishing - up by 6,120 (11%) to 60,120.
Construction - up by 14,250 (10%) to 163,300.
Retail trade and repairs - up by 13,480 (6%) to 252,950.
The sectors which experienced the largest relative decreases in employment between March 2007 and March 2008 were:
Mining & Quarrying, Utilities - down by 2,810 (-6%) to 43,410.
Transport, storage and communication - down by 3,450 (-3%) to 132,900.
Financial intermediation - down by 2,460 (-2.4%) to 98,040.
Information available on the foreign ownership of firms operating in Scotland is only for enterprises registered for VAT and/or PAYE. The table below shows the percentages of enterprises and employment for firms which had an ultimate country of ownership outside of Scotland broken down by size of firm as at March 2008.
Table 2: Percentage of firms with ultimate ownership outside Scotland, 2008
| Size | Enterprises | Employment |
|---|
| 0-49 | 1% | 2% |
|---|
| 50-249 | 37% | 16% |
|---|
| 250+ | 81% | 63% |
|---|
| Total | 3% | 35% |
|---|
Source: Scottish Government, ONS (IDBR)
A full set of the latest tables on business stock can be found at the following links: