Manchester, Warrington and Stockport are start-up hotspots

MANCHESTER, Warrington and Stockport have been highligted as business start-up hotspots, with 24,000 new enterprises launched there last year.

Figures released by StartUp Britain show British entrepreneurs created a record number of new businesses in 2013. A total of 526,446 businesses were registered with Companies House in 2013, beating the 484,224 recorded in 2012, and 440,600 in 2011.

Manchester had the third highest number of business start-ups in the country, after Greater London and Birmingham, with 11,765. Warrington was in ninth position on the list with 6,776 new businesses and Stockport was 23rd with 5,566.

The news comes as the Prime Minister announces a package of measures aimed at helping small businesses.  In a speech to the Federation of Small Businesses, David Cameron pledged to continue to cut red tape for business.

He told the conference that the government has exceeded its target to identify 3,000 regulations to be amended or scrapped. 800 regulations have already been abolished or simplified – with more to follow.

Mr Cameron said: “Supporting business is a crucial part of our long term economic plan, creating jobs and security for all. That is why, among so many other things, I have insisted on slashing needless regulation. We will be the first government in modern history to have reduced – rather than increased – domestic business regulation during our time in office.

“This will make it easier for you to grow, to create jobs and to help give this country the long-term security we are working towards.”