Rising number of start-ups in the UK

Date: 15th October 2010

The number of people starting up a business venture in the UK has increased over the last six months.

According to a recently-published report by Royal Mail, almost 40,000 new enterprises were created between March and August this year.

This represented an increase of 13 per cent - the highest figure for more than 18 months.

Royal Mail head of data strategy Keith Jones said: "The picture for start-up companies in the UK is optimistic and we should take this as a good sign that throughout the UK there is a lot of opportunity and entrepreneurial spirit despite the difficult economic climate."

Doug Richard, founder of the School for Start-ups, said he was not surprised by the findings and welcomed the fact that despite "difficult market conditions" people are taking the chance to create new businesses.

The study also showed Sunderland to be the UK's biggest new business "hotspot" as 1.89 per cent of all enterprises in the city are now start-ups - more than any other area in the country.

Posted by Thomas Fletcher