
Density of new start-ups soars across north of England, says research
The North of England has recorded rapid growth in the number of small business being launched, according to new research.
Analysis by GoDaddy UK and Ireland shows that 40% of the areas with the fastest growth in the density of start-ups and small business were in the North.
Andrew Gradon, head of GoDaddy UK and Ireland, said it highlighted that investment through the Northern Powerhouse initiative appears to have boosted regional growth.
The Northern Powerhouse was an initiative started by the coalition Government from 2010, using local enterprise partnerships across the regions to help drive growth.
Of the 50 constituencies with the fastest growing number of small businesses, 20 came from 'Northern Powerhouse' areas, according to the Venture Forward report.
This compared with nine in the south of England and was twice the figure across the region last year.
Towns such as Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, Burnley in Lancashire, and Birkenhead, Merseyside, have seen a significant increase in small business growth compared with last year, of more than 70%.
Mr Gradon said: 'While small businesses flourish across the nation, the North has proven to be a hub of entrepreneurial spirit.
'A decade on from the introduction of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, the investment is clearly having an impact on the start-up economy.
'Importantly, it proves that being a small business doesn't mean having small ambitions, nor does it mean small impact.
'Small businesses will have a key role to play in unlocking the North's longer-term potential, benefiting the region hugely by providing new jobs and opportunities.
'However, the same can be said for all areas, because when local entrepreneurship thrives, we all thrive.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Rachel Reeves says she ‘chooses investment' ahead of unveiling Labour's spending review
Update: Date: 2025-06-11T08:19:01.000Z Title: Rachel Reeves Content: Good morning. The government plans to be spending almost £1.4tr in 2026-27, rising to almost £1.5tr in 2028-29. Those annual limits are already agreed. Today, when , the chancellor, stands up at 12.30pm to present the spending review, she will explain how she has decided to divvy up that money between government departments over the next three years. This is not a budget, and she will not be announcing changes to tax policy. But it will feel like a budget because, like a budget, it will involve decisions that affect the public services people rely upon. And it is bound to intensify speculation about whether taxes will have to go up in the next budget, in the autumn. Public spending is hideously complicated, and Reeves needs a clear, simple narrative that will land with the public at large. We know what it is because the Treasury sent out a press release last night with words from her speech today where Reeves will sum up what she is trying to achieve. She will say: This government is renewing Britain. But I know too many people in too many parts of the country are yet to feel it. This government's task – my task – and the purpose of this Spending Review – is to change that. To ensure that renewal is felt in people's everyday lives, their jobs, their communities. So that people can see a doctor when when they need one. Know that they are secure at work. And feel safe on their local high street … I have made my choices. In place of chaos, I choose stability. In place of decline, I choose investment. In place of retreat, I choose national renewal. These are my choices. These are this government's choices. These are the British people's choices. The government differentiates between current, day-to-day spending ('resource' spending, in Treasury jargon) and capital spending. In so far as Reeves has 'good news' to announce, much of it is in the capital spending area, because she changed her fiscal rules last year to allow more borrowing for infrastructure projects. That is why she is saying 'In place of decline, I choose investment', not 'I choose spending'. Some government departments will face real-terms spending cuts. But there is an obvious political problem with this, well summarised by John McDonnell, shadow chancellor when Jeremy Corbyn was Labour leader, in this comment to the Financial Times. Capital spend takes years to produce political results, while cuts in revenue spending on services like council services are felt adversely quickly. It is easy to promise national renewal, but it is a lot harder to make people believe it is happening. Today's decisions will have a big effect on what voters do end up concluding about this, but it will take a while to know for sure what that effect will be. Here is Aamna Modhin's assessment of what to expect in the spending review in her First Edition briefing. And here is our overnight preview story, by Kiran Stacey, focusing on the proposal to spend £39bn on affordable housing. Here is the agenda for the day. 9am: Keir Starmer chairs cabinet, where , the chancellor, will be briefing colleagues on what is in the spending review. Noon: Starmer faces Kemi Badenoch at PMQs. 12.30pm: Reeves makes a statement to MPs about the spring statement. 4pm: The Institute for Government thinktank holds a briefing on the spring statement. 4.15pm: The National Police Chiefs' Council gives its response to the spending review. If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line when comments are open (normally between 10am and 3pm at the moment), or message me on social media. I can't read all the messages BTL, but if you put 'Andrew' in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word. If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use social media. You can reach me on Bluesky at @ The Guardian has given up posting from its official accounts on X, but individual Guardian journalists are there, I still have my account, and if you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I will see it and respond if necessary. I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos. No error is too small to correct. And I find your questions very interesting too. I can't promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog.

The National
an hour ago
- The National
John Swinney praises EU 'security' before meeting European ambassadors
Speaking before meeting Pedro Serrano, the EU ambassador to the UK, the SNP leader stressed this could be crucial amid the current 'uncertain' political environment. Swinney said the recent deal between the UK Government and the EU was 'long overdue progress' towards rebuilding relationships post-Brexit, but insisted that it was no substitute for membership of the trading bloc. Wednesday's meeting with the EU ambassador will also involve Slovenian ambassador Sanja Stiglic and Bulgarian ambassador Tihomir Stoytchev. In addition the First Minister will also meet the minister-president of Flanders at an event to mark 25 years of Flemish trade and investment in Scotland. READ MORE: Top SNP figures 'hold secret meeting to discuss John Swinney's leadership' Swinney made clear he regards both visits as being opportunities to build Scotland's relationship with the EU. The First Minister stressed that 'the European Union is one of our most important economic and security partners'. Speaking about the deal the UK Government agreed in May, he said that this 'represents long-overdue progress in rebuilding our relationship' but added that 'no agreement can deliver the economic, social and security benefits we lost with Brexit in 2020'. Swinney stated: 'That is why I firmly believe Scotland's best future lies as an independent country within the EU. 'More than ever, the current uncertain economic and geopolitical environment reinforces the importance of Scotland having the security, stability and opportunity that comes with EU membership. 'In the meantime we will continue to engage with nations and regions across Europe to maximise opportunities through trade, investment, innovation and academia. 'As we enter the next phase of negotiations, we stand ready to be closely involved as the UK Government develops its future priorities for working with the EU.'


Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Live spending review updates as chancellor Rachel Reeves to announce plans
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will today lay out the UK Government's spending plans for the upcoming years as it is expected Wales will get £445m to spend on rail. The expectation is that the chancellor will announce at least £445m will be spent on rail projects in north and south Wales on fixing level crossings, building new stations, and upgrading existing lines. Not only is it important for the UK Labour government to take back control after weeks of negative headlines but it is a key statement for Eluned Morgan's team in Cardiff Bay as they waits to hear if its pleas to Labour colleagues in London will be heeded as they count down towards the Senedd election in May 2026. A spending review is the process the government uses to set all UK Government departments' budgets for future years for both everyday spending on things like the NHS, schools, and transport but also how the government will invest in research, energy security, and infrastructure to drive economic growth across the country. It is led by chancellor of the exchequer Ms Reeves and chief secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones. This is the second part of the chancellor's spending review. The first was her budget in October 2024. Today's announcement will cover how much funding each government department will receive for day-to-day spending (revenue) across three financial years until 2028-29 as well as investment spending (capital) for those years as well as 2029-30. It is widely expected the NHS and defence will get big boosts with energy, transport, and other infrastructure projects getting a chunk of capital too. As most of the Welsh Government's budget comes from the UK Government then if spending for health, for example, is boosted for England it will result in Wales getting a bump in its budget because when England-only spending is announced a funding process called the Barnett Formula kicks in and Wales gets what is known as a consequential payment. Ms Reeves is expected to begin her statement laying out the results of this review in the Commons at around 12.30pm on Wednesday, June 11. Scroll down for live updates below and remember you can get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here: