We’re excluding London from this rundown, which uses data from the the Start-Up Cities Index 2017. The list was drawn up based on a number of criteria including official data on house prices, commercial rent prices, business survival rates and more.
Using this information, the list gives a detailed idea of each city and what they offer entrepreneurs who want to start up a business. The 25 cities cover the length and breadth of the UK and show not only the business activity in the city, but also the relative importance it has to the region’s economic prosperity.
This is the third year of the index, which uses government data and industry stats to ensure the results are as accurate and useful as possible. The comprehensive nature of the statistics used mean these cities can confidently be considered great places to work and live.
The best start-up city?
Coming in at the top is Edinburgh with its burgeoning community of businesses, wide ranging access to investment and funding and its comprehensive range of start-up incubators.
Scotland’s capital city just edges out Bristol as the best place to start up a company. As well as the specific business opportunities and infrastructure available in each city, local house prices, crime rates and culture has also been analysed.
Regional statistics
This year’s top 25 has thrown up interesting statistics that are useful for anyone who is looking for the best location in which to kickstart their business. While moving anywhere in the UK may not be an option, it’s always useful to know the kinds of challenges you might face in your city.
Top level stats include:
- Oxford is the city with the least business closures (coming in at 480 in 2015).
- Birmingham has the largest number of businesses at 37,200.
- Birmingham also has the most business closures at 4,030.
- Your start-up is most likely to survive five years in Cambridge with a 49% five-year success rate measured.
- Manchester and Hull only offer a 36% five-year success rate for start-ups.
Leaving the London bubble
London has traditionally dominated the story as the enterprise hub for the UK, and it’s good to see details confirming that business activity is just as busy and successful elsewhere in the country.
Shining a spotlight on to areas that may not be the first choice for people looking to start a business is a positive way of widening the field for entrepreneurs.
Top 25 cities to start a business:
- Edinburgh
- Bristol
- Liverpool
- Brighton
- Cardiff
- Leeds
- Leicester
- Glasgow
- Birmingham
- Newcastle-upon-Tyne
- Belfast
- Cambridge
- Manchester
- Nottingham
- Coventry
- Milton Keynes
- Sheffield
- Plymouth
- Southampton
- Swansea
- Aberdeen
- Oxford
- Canterbury
- Hull
- Norwich
