Business Blog:
It can be argued that there’s never been a better time in history to start up a business in the UK. We are inundated with stories of successful startups in the UK. There are more resources available than ever before – such as this handy little blog you’re reading – and more types of funding available, meaning that just about everyone has the opportunity to make their business dreams flourish. Additionally, the number of new technology startups in the UK has hit an all-time high and if that’s not a positive signifier, then we don’t know what is.
Obviously, the process of crafting a startup is a long and complicated, but ultimately rewarding, one. We’ve touched on a lot of the stuff you need to consider when it comes to launching your own business in previous posts, but there’s one key point that’s gone unmentioned till now: where should you start it? The UK is full of fantastic cities, all unique and all filled with their own pros and cons, making the process of settling on one pretty difficult… But don’t worry, we’re here to help. Could you be one of the up and coming companies of 2018?
Years ago, London may have seemed like the only viable city when it came to starting up a business in the UK, but nowadays there are plenty of different options and we’ve put together a list of our recommendations. From bustling metropolises to cosy coastal cities, here are our top picks for the UK’s most startup-friendly locations.
Reading
Due to its location, sitting pretty close to London, and high new business survival rate, Reading has been a solid choice for startup businesses for a while now. It’s a fantastic pick if you still want to stay in the general area of the capital but can’t be bothered to put up with London’s high cost of living. Definitely a location worth bearing in mind!
Leeds
Moving further up north, Leeds has long been seen as one of the top locations for new businesses. Not only does it have a disproportionately high new business survival rate, much like Reading, but it also topped Business Advice’s list for best startup cities last year. So, if you’re looking for a city that has plenty of hard data to back it up, then you can’t do much better than Leeds.
Brighton
Ah, Brighton… What’s not to love? The city carries many of the same benefits as Reading – again being situated pretty close to the capital – but also comes with a few different ones as well. Brighton has been characterised as a young person’s city, thanks for its hipster-ish culture, making it a great place to launch a business. It’s also been dubbed ‘Silicon Beach’ by The Guardian which is just about as good as endorsement for startup-friendliness get.
Bristol
Bristol has always been seen as one of the south-west’s key hubs when it comes creativity and bright thinkers and we don’t think that’s going to change anytime soon. Like Brighton, the city also has a great culture and – compared to most of the UK’s other major cities – is affordable to live in. It’s definitely a place worth considering.
Cambridge
Cambridge is a bit of a no-duh city for new businesses for a number of reasons. The city has become one of the UK’s hotspots for startup businesses partially because it’s home to one of the country’s most prestigious universities. And why wouldn’t you want to start up your business in a city where you can easily snap up some of the UK’s brightest young minds?
Plymouth
Our second coastal city of the list, Plymouth is another definite highlight from the south-west of the country. The city has been described as forward-looking and supportive when it comes to startup businesses, which we think you’ll agree is pretty appealing! Another benefit of the Plymouth is that it doesn’t have quite as much bustle as some of the other locations on this list (like Leeds and the city that’s up next…) making it a great choice if you’re looking for somewhere a bit more laid-back.
Edinburgh
Moving way, way, way up to the other end of our island, Edinburgh is another city with a lot of buzz when it comes to supporting UK startups. Additionally, it’s also got one of the UK’s highest proportions of qualified workers, which is pretty great. Basically, Edinburgh is a good choice if you’re looking for a huge, busy city but don’t really want to deal with London.
Liverpool
Another incredibly solid choice when it comes to the north of the UK, Liverpool has a lot going for it. Not only has it got a strong history with great UK startups, but it has also been named the UK’s leading location for new businesses by PeoplePerHour. A lot of this is due to the city’s low rents and affordable office space, which we must admit are pretty appealing features to new startup owners!
Milton Keynes
What, Milton Keynes? At first, this one might seem like an odd choice, but Milton Keynes is actually one of the UK’s fastest growing cities making it a fantastic location for your startup to takes its first baby steps. Like Reading and Brighton, it’s also located comfortably close to London, making it just that extra bit appealing!
Exeter
For our final pick, we thought we’d return to the good ol’ south-west one last time. Exeter has been home to a slew of successful startups over the past few years and is a solid location choice if you want to go somewhere a little more under-the-radar. Like a lot of the places we’ve listed, it’s also just a generally great city (also being home to prestigious university) making it an appealing place to start your business’s journey.
A Fair Mention To London
Stats show that London beats everyone else hands down in regards to the number of startups. As you would expect 30% of startups in 2016 came out of London. If you are a creative and looking to be based in London check out FAT LAMA‘s piece on The Five Best Places For Creatives To Live In London. If you’re a startup it’s worth exploring FAT LAMA to maybe decrease outlay and control business costs.
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