GeraMarket / UK Business Vitality / Colchester
Colchester Business Vitality Score
What is the business vitality score for Colchester in 2024?
In 2024, Colchester scores 45.7/100 on the Gera Business Vitality Score (GBVS), ranking 285 of 354 UK local authorities. The area recorded 810 business births, 35.2% 5-year enterprise survival, and 7,815 active enterprises, per ONS Business Demography 2024 (OGL v3.0).
GBVS component breakdown
35.2%
5-year survival rate
Weight: 50% · 2019 cohort
+1.0%
Net birth rate
Weight: 30% · (births − deaths) / active
7,815
Active enterprises
Weight: 20% · normalised density
Colchester business data (2024)
| Metric | Colchester (2024) | UK context |
|---|---|---|
| Gera Business Vitality Score (GBVS) | 45.7/100 | Mean: 50.0/100 |
| 5-year enterprise survival rate | 35.2% | UK: 38.4% |
| Enterprise births (2024) | 810 | — |
| Enterprise deaths (2024) | 730 | — |
| Net birth rate | +1.0% | — |
| Active enterprises (2024) | 7,815 | — |
| National rank (GBVS) | 285 of 354 | — |
Compare Colchester with other UK areas
Filter all UK local authorities by GBVS score, survival rate, or net birth rate to find comparable or better-performing areas.
≥ 0/100
≥ 0%
354 areas match your filters. Showing top 25.
| Area | GBVS | 5yr surv. | Net birth | Active | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1Westminster | 74.2/100 | 43.7% | +2.6% | 58,370 | View → |
| #2Isles of Scilly | 73.7/100 | 66.7% | +2.9% | 170 | View → |
| #3Camden | 67.4/100 | 38.0% | +3.9% | 40,825 | View → |
| #4Shetland Islands | 66.2/100 | 63.6% | +1.0% | 960 | View → |
| #5Derry City and Strabane | 63.7/100 | 44.2% | +5.2% | 5,005 | View → |
| #6Hackney | 63/100 | 39.3% | +3.3% | 29,340 | View → |
| #7Fermanagh and Omagh | 62.6/100 | 48.1% | +3.6% | 5,210 | View → |
| #8Islington | 62.3/100 | 36.5% | +4.3% | 26,145 | View → |
| #9Mid Ulster | 61.9/100 | 54.5% | +1.4% | 6,825 | View → |
| #10Leeds | 61/100 | 41.8% | +1.6% | 32,105 | View → |
| #11Tower Hamlets | 61/100 | 38.4% | +4.2% | 18,975 | View → |
| #12South Kesteven | 60.7/100 | 48.8% | +2.7% | 6,185 | View → |
| #13Belfast | 59.9/100 | 39.5% | +4.3% | 11,895 | View → |
| #14Cornwall | 59.8/100 | 46.8% | +0.8% | 23,255 | View → |
| #15Birmingham | 59.4/100 | 29.7% | +3.1% | 43,175 | View → |
| #16Hillingdon | 59.3/100 | 38.9% | +3.8% | 16,295 | View → |
| #17Cambridge | 59/100 | 48.0% | +2.4% | 5,375 | View → |
| #18Manchester | 58.9/100 | 33.9% | +3.8% | 26,230 | View → |
| #19Glasgow City | 58.9/100 | 40.1% | +2.5% | 22,170 | View → |
| #20Bradford | 58.6/100 | 41.0% | +2.6% | 18,630 | View → |
| #21Herefordshire County of | 58.4/100 | 50.0% | +1.2% | 9,100 | View → |
| #22Epping Forest | 58.1/100 | 48.1% | +1.6% | 9,080 | View → |
| #23Shropshire | 58/100 | 49.8% | +0.5% | 13,645 | View → |
| #24Torridge | 58/100 | 53.7% | +0.8% | 2,615 | View → |
| #25Powys | 57.9/100 | 50.0% | +1.4% | 5,830 | View → |
Source: ONS Business Demography 2025 (OGL v3.0). Showing top 25 of 354 matching areas.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the business survival rate in Colchester?
- In Colchester, 35.2% of enterprises born in 2019 survived to their 5th year (2023), per ONS Business Demography Table 5.1a. The UK average 5-year survival rate is 38.4%.
- How many businesses were started in Colchester in 2024?
- ONS Business Demography 2024 records 810 enterprise births and 730 enterprise deaths in Colchester, giving a net birth rate of +1.0% relative to the 7,815 active enterprises.
- What does the Gera Business Vitality Score (GBVS) mean for Colchester?
- A GBVS of 45.7/100 indicates moderate business vitality. The score combines 5-year survival rate (50% weight), net business birth rate (30%), and active enterprise density (20%), each normalised across all 354 UK local authorities. Colchester ranks 285th nationally.
- How does Colchester compare to other UK areas for business?
- Colchester ranks 285 of 354 UK local authorities on the GBVS. Similar-scoring areas include: Melton (53.7/100), Isle of Wight (53.7/100), West Oxfordshire (53.7/100), Forest of Dean (53.7/100), Gloucester (53.7/100).
Contains public sector information published by Office for National Statistics and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: ONS Business Demography 2024 (2024, published 20 November 2025).