Local economic development - facts and figures

Census 2001:

• The total population of Shepway in 2001 was 96,238 (2005: est. 99,500)
• The economically active population was 44,256, of which:
• 24,168 (55%) were male
• 20,088 (45%) were female
• Nearly half of Shepway’s population lives in Folkestone

Business Link Kent (2005):

• There are 3,637 businesses operating in the Shepway District area, representing 6.5% of all Kent businesses.
• 72% of the Shepway business population has fewer than six employees, and a further 13% have between six and ten employees.
• 40% of Shepway businesses operate in rural locations, compared to 42% in Kent.
• The key sector operating in Shepway is retail and wholesale with 22% of all businesses being in this sector.
• This is followed by the business service sector with 14%.

Kent County Council:

• Unemployment in the district was 3.0% in May 2007 compared with 2.1% for Kent as a whole.
• New business survival rate (24 months from 2002) is 81.76%.

Shepway Business Database (produced by Shepway Business Centre):

• Over 50% of Shepway businesses are located in Folkestone.
• In 2006, the top ten employers in the district were (in alphabetical order):

1. BNFL Magnox Generation
2. British Energy
3. Church and Dwight Ltd
4. Eurotunnel
5. ICTS UK Ltd
6. Saga Group Ltd
7. Silver Spring Mineral Water Co Ltd
8. Shepway District Council
9. Tesco
10. Walker Construction (UK) Ltd

For further statistics on the Shepway area go to www.statistics.gov.uk