Two thriving innovation centres in Hampshire today welcomed news that UK entrepreneurs created a record number of new businesses in 2014.
Latest figures from StartUp Britain show that 581,173 were registered with Companies House, including 5,988 in Portsmouth and 5,020 in Southampton.
Stephen Brownlie, the senior centre manager at Portsmouth Technopole and Ocean Village Innovation Centre (OVIC) in Southampton, said: “The figures are great news for the entrepreneurial ecosystems in Hampshire, which play an important role in the jobs chain across the Solent Corridor.
“Our centres here in Hampshire are hot-beds of entrepreneurship, in supportive and creative environments. Occupiers typically have a turnover of less than £100,000 and employ less than 10 people.
“A number of them have moved to us from home locally, having outgrown their spare bedroom as their new venture took off.
“Technology has made starting up a business easier and quicker than ever before. Anyone with a good idea, particular skill set, laptop, phone and a kettle has the potential to become the next Facebook or a cost-effective outsourced expert for larger companies.”
Portsmouth Technopole and OVIC, providing serviced offices and meeting rooms for hire, are operated by Oxford Innovation, which runs 21 innovation centres in England.
There are 42 registered firms at five-storey Portsmouth Technopole, just off the M271 in Portsmouth, with nearly 200 people employed between them and 92% occupancy. OVIC already has 70% occupancy, with 33 businesses, since the installation of 39 new serviced offices, break-out areas and meeting rooms over three floors. The other two floors were already full.
Services vary from centre to centre but generally an office package includes telephone answering and message services, reception services, mail handling, use of meeting and conference rooms and access to networking events, workshops and business support.
Luke Johnson, chairman of StartUp Britain as well as the Centre for Entrepreneurs, said: “Starting a business is easier, quicker and cheaper than ever thanks to new technology.
“Entrepreneurs have higher profiles than in the past and are seen as role models. Traditional jobs for life have largely disappeared, as have occupational pensions.”
The StartUp Britain campaign is backed by government but operates as a fully private sector supported venture.
It was founded by eight individuals and business owners in 2011 and is run by the Centre for Entrepreneurs, the entrepreneurs’ think tank. Its role is to inspire, accelerate and celebrate entrepreneurship.
According to research by StartUp Britain, 581,173 businesses were registered with Companies House, beating the previous record of 526,446 businesses recorded in 2013, and 484,224 in 2012.
Top-ten start-up cities in the UK in 2014 were Greater London (184,671), Birmingham (18,337) and Manchester (13,054).
