Five million Britons launch business start-ups

Date: 21st April 2009

More than five million people in the UK have launched their own business start-ups, according to new research.

Figures published by the home-based business website, Enterprise Nation, revealed that an increasing number of individuals had taken to running their own business start-ups in the evening.

What is more, around 50 per cent of those surveyed claimed their enterprise was growing, while 60 per cent said they were expected to leave their day job within the next year.

Emma Jones, founder of the site, commented: "What's particularly significant is that the current economic climate is the impetus behind this trend."

She added that some people were launching their own business start-up to compensate for a partner's redundancy, or in many cases, to secure their own future career prospects.

Meanwhile, the department for business has urged small business managers to seek out government-secured sources of lending to help them through the recession.