Rural areas are top spots for start ups
Rural areas of the Midlands are the hot spots for start ups, with "remarkable" growth seen in some places, according to a new report.
The study, by Barclays Local Business, found places such as Oswestry, the Malvern Hills and the Derbyshire Dales were the top places for start ups.
Nationally, the average growth rate for start ups was 12% in 2006, but some of these rural places saw growth of more than 50% and, in some cases, 100%.
Oswestry, for example, saw its number of new businesses increase from 200 to 500.
A Barclays Local Business spokesman said:
"There could be a number of reasons, including locals opening up standard businesses to serve their communities, such as shops, garages and builders, but equally, it is likely that many of these areas are attracting downshifters from urban areas."What is certainly true is that if a place is desirable to live in, business will follow."
