Member Article

Warrington tops league for provincial start-ups

A report by chartered accountants, UHY Hacker Young has placed Warrington postcode WA1 as the top location in the UK outside London for new business start-ups.

Of the 20 elite postcodes Warrington WA1 was ranked 14, recording the launch of 1510 new businesses in the twelve months up to 31 March 2013. The borough was one of only three postal addresses in the top 20 outside the capital.

The statistics ratify and reaffirm the recently released findings by company formation specialists, Duport Associates.

The Duport Business Confidence Report showed an 80% rise in net company growth in Warrington during 2012, almost double the UK average of 44%. The number of Warrington start-ups also showed a 24% increase on the number recorded the previous year. Average UK growth trailed at only 9%.

The Duport report commented that: “The past three decades have seen a huge amount of investment in regenerating the Warrington area. The continued regeneration and attempts at social inclusion could be a factor in the growth in business start-ups, as more people gain the confidence and know-how to form their own companies.” Leader of Warrington Borough Council, Councillor Terry O’Neill, said: “This is further good news for the town. Warrington is flourishing in terms of business growth. New business is a life blood and these statistics are very reassuring as new business is vital in order to maintain that position in the future.

“It is a great endorsement that new businesses looking to start up make Warrington their number one location of choice.”

Steve Park, managing director, Warrington & Co., Warrington ’s partnership for economic growth, said: “Continually, Warrington ’s economic performance tops the tables. This is the sixth set of independent economic stats released this year that show the borough outstripping the rest of the UK .

“This is a great position for us to be in and the Council has set in place a robust framework; Warrington Means Business, that will ensure that we grow and build upon that position of strength.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .