The total number of private sector enterprises in Scotland has increased by 9,255 (3.3%) since March 2008 to 291,380 in March 2009. The associated employment of these enterprises has increased by 42,350 (2.2%) to 2.00 million over the same period. Since 2000, the total number of enterprises has increased by 53,550 (22.5%).
Table 1: Number of private sector enterprises in Scotland by sizeband, 2000-2009
| Size (No. of Employees) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|
| 0-49 | 232,235 | 238,060 | 246,430 | 256,940 | 266,415 | 262,030 | 261,425 | 273,735 | 276,265 | 285,425 |
|---|
| 50-249 | 3,350 | 3,500 | 3,490 | 3,415 | 3,345 | 3,300 | 3,480 | 3,490 | 3,575 | 3,640 |
|---|
| 250+ | 2,245 | 2,345 | 2,295 | 2,270 | 2,240 | 2,250 | 2,255 | 2,265 | 2,285 | 2,315 |
|---|
| Total | 237,830 | 243,905 | 252,215 | 262,625 | 272,000 | 267,575 | 267,160 | 279,490 | 282,125 | 291,380 |
|---|
Source: Scottish Government, ONS (IDBR)
The 2,315 large enterprises operating in Scotland accounted for 59.7% of all 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 2009.
Chart 1: Share of enterprises, employment and turnover by size of enterprise, 2009
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.
Enterprises with one or more employees comprised only 33.6% of all enterprises but provided 88.8% of all jobs.
Small (0-49 employees)
The total number of small private sector enterprises in Scotland has increased by 9,160 (3.3%) since March 2008 to 285,425 in March 2009. The associated employment of these enterprises has increased by 17,360 (2.2.%) to 797,460 over the same period. Since 2000, the number of small enterprises has increased by 53,190 (22.9%).
Medium (50-249 employees)
The total number of medium private sector enterprises in Scotland has increased by 65 (1.8%) since March 2008 to 3,640 in March 2009. The associated employment of these enterprises has increased by 3,510 (1.4%) to 256,320 over the same period. Since 2000, the number of medium enterprises has increased by 290 (8.7%).
Large (250+ employees)
The total number of large private sector enterprises in Scotland has increased by 30 (1.3%) since March 2008 to 2,315 in March 2009. The associated employment of these enterprises has increased by 21,470 (2.3%) to 941,730 over the same period. Since 2000, the number of large enterprises has increased by 70 (3.1%).
As at March 2009, there were 289,065 SMEs (0-249 employees) in Scotland (up 3.3% from March 2008) with associated employment of 1,053,780 (up 2.0%). This represents 99.2% of all enterprises and 52.8% of all employment.
The sectors which experienced the largest relative increases in the number of enterprises between March 2008 and March 2009 were:
Education - up by 2,770 (34.4%) to 10,840 enterprises.
Financial Intermediation - up by 730 (28.9%) to 3,250 enterprises.
Mining and Quarrying, Utilities - up by 605 (22.1%) to 3,350 enterprises.
The sectors which experienced the largest relative decreases in the number of enterprises between March 2008 and March 2009 were:
Transport, Storage and Communication - down by 4,065 (-17.3%) to 19,420 enterprises.
Manufacturing - down by 980 (-5.4%) to 17,180 enterprises.
Wholesale Trade - down by 190 (-2.7%) to 6,690 enterprises.
The sectors which experienced the largest relative increases in employment between March 2008 and March 2009 were:
Mining and Quarrying, Utilities - up by 5,060 (11.7%) to 48,470.
Wholesale Trade - up by 4,250 (6.4%) to 70,870.
Business activities, real estate, & renting - up by 16,390 (4.9%) to 353,070.
The sectors which experienced the largest relative decreases in employment between March 2008 and March 2009 were:
Transport, Storage and Communication - down by 3,490 (-2.6%) to 129,410.
Manufacturing - down by 5,080 (-2.2%) to 224,170.
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 2009.
Table 2: Percentage of firms with ultimate ownership outside Scotland, 2009
| Size | Enterprises | Employment |
|---|
| 0-49 | 1.0% | 1.9% |
|---|
| 50-249 | 36.5% | 15.7% |
|---|
| 250+ | 80.8% | 63.5% |
|---|
| Total | 3.1% | 35.3% |
|---|
Source: Scottish Government, ONS (IDBR)
A full set of the latest tables on business stock can be found at the following links: