Start-up business record smashed in 2014

2014 was a bumper year for new businesses figures released by StartUp Britain reveal, following research run by think tank Centre for Entrepreneurs.

A record breaking 581,173 businesses were registered with Companies House last year showing an accelerated increase on previous years with 526,447 and 484,224 recorded in 2013 and 2012 respectively.

Unsurprisingly, Greater London leads the charge for small and medium sized enterprises with 184,671 registered, but Britain’s second biggest cities show there is thriving entrepreneurial spirit elsewhere in the country with 18,337 in Birmingham and 13,054 in Manchester.

While not all company registrations will result in the launch of a new business, the figures serve as an indication of the appetite there is for people starting their own businesses.

In further positive news for the health of Britain’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, figures from the Office for National Statistics show the number of firms dropping out of the Companies House register has fallen 6%, from 253,000 to 238,000.

Commenting on the figures, serial entrepreneur, investor and chairman of the Centre for Entrepreneurs, Luke Johnson said. “Starting a business is easier, quicker and cheaper than ever thanks to new technology.

“Entrepreneurs have higher profiles than in the past and are seen as role models. Traditional jobs for life have largely disappeared, as have occupational pensions.”