START-UP businesses soared by 10% last year, new figures have shown.
Entrepreneurs across the UK rose to the challenge, despite the tough economic conditions, in the latest report by StartUp Britain.
Research by the national enterprise campaign showed that last year 484,224 businesses were started, compared with 440,600 in 2011.
Emma Jones, co-founder of StartUp Britain said: “These figures are hot off the press, they are unaudited at the moment, but what it’s telling us is that there was a clear increase in start-up rates in 2012.
“Small and start-up business are the driving force of the British economy and at StartUp Britain we have seen plenty to celebrate over 2012.
“Times are hard yes, but it never ceases to amaze us when we see resourceful Britons making business ideas come to life in difficult times.
“We have seen this at colleges and universities as part of our national 2012 tour, at industry weeks, and on the High Street as we’ve filled empty shops with budding start-ups as part of PopUp Britain.”
She added: “We are looking forward to supporting more British businesses in 2013.”
StartUp Britain’s Daily tracker is an online tool which reveals the number of businesses registered with Companies House on a daily, monthly and yearly basis.
The numbers are verified by Companies House and 2012’s figures will be audited in March 2013.
