LONDON: Last year a record 581,173 firms were launched in the UK, to cement the trend of rising numbers of start-ups since 2012, according to research from the Centre for Entrepreneurs.
New technology has made it easier, quicker and cheaper to start a business, said the think tank, which added that this year will be another standout on Britain’s start-up scene.
There has also been a growing amount of support for aspiring entrepreneurs.
The Enterprise Bill is to be introduced to Parliament this Autumn, which is hoped to cut burdensome red tape that can drown small firms.
And from this week and throughout the summer, thousands of start-up hopefuls are to be provided with expert advice and free mentoring as part of a national campaign run by StartUp Britain and backed by the Centre for Entreprenurs.
Matt Smith, director of the Centre for Entrepreneurs, said: “The entrepreneurial spirit within Britain continues to grow.
By parking the StartUp Britain bus in town squares across the country, we want to give people the confidence and inspiration to turn their business ideas into reality”.
It comes as small business confidence peaked in the second quarter of this year, as measured by the Federation for Small Businesses (FSB).
Nearly two thirds of small firms hope to grow moderately or rapidly in the next three months, the highest figure ever seen since the FSB started monitoring in 2010.
As the Government champions small businesses to lead the economic recovery, it’s hoped that Chancellor George Osborne will also provide further support measures when he unveils his emergency Summer Budget in just a couple of weeks.
Mike Cherry, national policy chairman of the FSB, said the Government needs to lower the costs of doing business and a simplify tax rules.
He said: “Over the five years of this Parliament, our member’s top priorities are to lighten the burdens of regulation and tax, reform broken business rates, support the development and skills of young people, and improve broadband and mobile connectivity.
