NORTH EAST HAS HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF BUDDING ENTREPRENEURS

Cities such as Newcastle and Sunderland will be the start-up hotspots of the future, survey reveals

According to the latest Sage software/YouGov research, the north east has the highest percentage of budding entrepreneurs, with prospective start-ups in this region driven by the desire to do something they are passionate about full-time.
Would-be business owners in the north east are also motivated by a desire to make more money for themselves and have greater control over their working day by being their own boss.
Nationwide, the sector most people plan to start their business in is retail, with some 17 per cent of survey respondents set to launch their own retail firm. Providing services to business, such as advertising, graphic design and accountancy, is the next most popular field, with 11 per cent of people intending to launch a business in this sector.
Says Lee Perkins, managing director of Sage’s small business division: “The UK business landscape is changing. The home for entrepreneurism, which has for so long been associated with London and the south east, is moving north, and this will have a significant impact on regional economies.

“The rollout of technology infrastructure, such as superfast broadband, alongside access to guidance and advice, will be instrumental to any region becoming a hub for start-ups and in order for entrepreneurs to fulfil their potential.”