New data has revealed the best counties to start a business in the UK, with the West Midlands coming out on top.
The analysis ranked each county based on factors that contribute to new businesses’ success, including business growth rates, average broadband speeds, and distance to London.
Top 10 counties to start a business:
- West Midlands
- Hertfordshire
- Berkshire
- Northamptonshire
- Greater Manchester
- Surrey
- Essex
- Hampshire
- Bedfordshire
- Kent
The West Midlands took the top spot due to its thriving business community. With 13,785 new businesses founded in the last year alone – more than anywhere else in the UK – and one of the largest populations of ‘high growth’ businesses, the central area offers budding entrepreneurs a wider pool of talent and increased economic activity.
This, along with its strong average broadband speeds (93.4Mbps), proximity to the capital (115 miles) and convenient transport links to the rest of the UK, make the county an ideal location for new enterprises.
The research, which was conducted by ultrafast broadband provider, Trooli, found that Hertfordshire comes in a close second, with the county home to over 230 high-growth businesses – one of the highest-growth areas in the UK.
Situated relatively close to London (48 miles), Berkshire comes in third. The county boasts higher-than-average broadband speeds (88.5Mbps) due to the wide availability of ultrafast broadband in the area, offering unbeatable connectivity to start-ups without the London price-tag.
Andy Conibere, CEO of Trooli, comments: “We support businesses across the UK every day and, with a record number of companies launched last year, we wanted to investigate the start-up hotspots across the country.
“Given how important connectivity is to business success, we weren’t surprised to see counties in the Midlands and South of England taking the top spot. With reliable broadband speeds, convenient links to London, and a history of exceptional business growth, areas like the West Midlands offer huge opportunities for entrepreneurs.”
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