May 18, 2022
If you're considering starting a business, the UK is a great place to start. It's home to numerous cities with thriving economies and entrepreneurial communities. Here are 12 of our favorite places in the UK for starting a new venture:
By considering these cities, startups can tap into a diverse range of opportunities, support networks, and resources to help them grow and succeed in the UK market.
London is a major global city with a diverse economy, offering opportunities for startups in industries like tech, finance and retail. The capital's economy has been growing steadily since the financial crisis, with GDP growth of 2% in 2018 and it's expected to continue rising through 2021.
London also has a strong creative and digital sector that supports entrepreneurship: there are more than 575 accelerators or incubators across the city, plus nearly 900 coworking spaces in 2024. Here’s a curated selection of the top coworking spaces in London based on Google reviews and other relevant criteria, where you can work alongside other entrepreneurs (or even find one yourself).
And when you're ready to take your business out into the world? You'll find plenty of support from mentors through programs like Startupbootcamp Fintech London Accelerator - which offers mentoring from investors who have backed over 500 startups worth $50 billion combined!
Manchester has a growing reputation as a hub for tech and digital businesses. The city is home to more than 1,000 tech companies, including big names like Man Group, the world's largest listed hedge fund manager, and Zendesk (a software company that helps businesses manage customer relationships).
Manchester also hosts one of Europe's largest technology conferences every year TechFest which attracts over 4,000 attendees from around the world. The event showcases some of the most exciting innovations in digital technology with speakers such as Sir Tim Berners-Lee (inventor of HTML), Professor Stephen Hawking (physicist) and Sir Richard Branson (founder of Virgin Galactic).
Bristol is a major city with a diverse economy and a growing reputation as a hub for startups. Bristol has been named as one of the UK's most dynamic cities, thanks to its thriving creative and digital sector.
The city also has an excellent transport system, which makes it easy for businesses to expand into new markets or take advantage of opportunities elsewhere in the country.
Birmingham is a major city with a diverse economy and a growing reputation as a hub for startups. The second largest city in the UK, Birmingham has become known as one of Europe's leading tech and digital business centres.
Birmingham has been home to some big names in recent years, including online retailer ASOS and online gambling site Betfair (which was founded by two former University of Birmingham students). And it's not just big businesses that have chosen to set up shop here: there are now more than 1,000 technology companies based in the area - including many startups looking for their first office space or funding round.
Glasgow is a dynamic city with a strong creative and cultural scene. It's also home to some of the best startups in the UK, including Skyscanner, which was founded in 2001 and has grown into one of Europe's largest travel websites.
The city's startup ecosystem has been growing steadily over recent years, thanks to initiatives like CodeBase a collaborative workspace for tech companies and its thriving arts scene (Glasgow was recently named European Capital of Culture 2021).
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and one of the most popular destinations in the UK. It has a population of just over 500,000 people, but attracts millions more each year for its famous festivals and events.
Edinburgh's startup scene is thriving thanks to a strong entrepreneurial community that offers plenty of opportunities for new businesses to get started or expand their operations.
Brighton is a popular destination for startups because of its vibrant arts scene. The city attracts creative types from all over the world, and it has a strong tech sector as well.
If you're an entrepreneur looking to start up in Brighton, here are some of our favorite places to work:
Leeds is the UK's third largest city, but despite its size it has a growing reputation as a hub for startups. The city has attracted major companies like Asda and Deloitte and Lloyds Banking Group, which means there are plenty of opportunities for startups in industries such as tech, finance, and retail.
Liverpool is the UK's second largest city, and has a rich history as a hub for trade and commerce. It's also home to the Cavern Club the birthplace of the Beatles. In addition to its thriving startup community, Liverpool has been named one of Europe's top 15 digital cities by Cisco Systems.
Sheffield has a strong and growing economy, with a high concentration of advanced manufacturing companies. It is home to the UK's first ever Enterprise Zone, which offers tax breaks and other incentives for businesses looking to invest in the area.
The city has also developed a reputation as an innovation hub; its universities are leading research centres in areas such as robotics, artificial intelligence and nanotechnology. Sheffield was recently named by Wired magazine as one of Europe's top five cities for tech startups (alongside London, Berlin, Amsterdam and Barcelona).
Sheffield has long been known for its creative industries: from cutlery manufacturers like Thomas Turner & Sons Ltd (established 1780) through to more recent ventures like Warp Films - producers of films such as This Is England 88%
Cardiff is the capital of Wales, and it's also known for its vibrant startup scene. The city has a growing reputation as a hub for startups, with many young companies moving there to take advantage of its affordable office space and talent pool.
In addition to being just over three hours from London by train (or about an hour by plane), Cardiff boasts some excellent universities including Cardiff University, which was ranked number one in Wales by The Complete University Guide 2019 that provide plenty of opportunities for students looking to gain experience while they're still in school.
Cambridge is a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. The city's reputation as a startup hub has grown steadily over the years, with several startups moving there from London due to its lower cost of living and thriving entrepreneurial community.
In addition to having a strong reputation as an incubator for new businesses, Cambridge also has a growing economy with opportunities for startups in industries like tech, finance, and retail notably Amazon's headquarters at King's Parade which opened earlier this year.
London, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham and Glasgow are the most popular cities for startups. The UK has some of the best business environments in Europe and it's no surprise that many people want to start their own companies here.
London is by far the most popular city for starting a business with over 200 startups per 100k residents. It also has one of Europe's highest rates of entrepreneurship with almost half (47%) of all new businesses being founded by first-time entrepreneurs who have never owned an unincorporated company before or run a limited liability partnership (LLP).
If you're thinking about opening a business, there are so many things to consider. From location to infrastructure, from expenses to taxes even something as simple as the day of the week you choose for your big launch can make a difference in how your business performs. That's why we put together this list of places that is sure to appeal to any entrepreneur.
Location is an important factor to consider when starting a business. The location you choose will determine how accessible your business is and also how easy it is for potential customers to find, which can make or break your success.
If possible, try not to choose a location that's too far away from public transport as this could discourage people who don't have cars from visiting your store or office. A central location will also give visitors easy access all around town without having to travel too far out of the way.
If you want to appear on Google Maps, the first step is to create a free listing for your business. You can do this by visiting Google My Business and signing in with your Gmail account or creating one if necessary.
Once you have created a business listing, there are several ways that you can optimise it for local search results:
The UK is a great place to start a business. If you're looking for somewhere to set up shop, these cities offer a wealth of opportunities in industries like tech, finance and retail.
