The study was conducted by ultrafast broadband provider Trooli who rated each UK county based on factors key to success. This included the number of start-ups formed in the last year, business growth rates, average broadband speeds, and distance to London.

Data was analysed on new businesses, business growth rates, broadband speeds from Ofcom and the Office for National Statistics (ONS). 

Each county was ranked for each of these three factors, plus their distance from London and given a score. An average was then taken to determine the most desirable locations.

Top 10 places to start a business in the UK

According to the research from Trooli, the top 10 places to start a business in the UK were:

1. West Midlands – 68.5/100
2. Hertfordshire – 67.1/100
3. Berkshire – 66/100
4. Northamptonshire – 64/100
5. Greater Manchester – 63.3/100
6. Surrey – 61.7/100
7. Essex – 61/100
8. Hampshire – 60.1/100
9. Bedfordshire – 59.5/100
10. Kent – 59/100

Situated only 64 miles from London, Hampshire’s higher-than-average broadband speeds (80.9Mbps) helped the county to rank eighth overall.

In addition to its proximity to the capital and the wide availability of ultrafast broadband, Hampshire has seen notable business development in the last year.

With 5,540 new start-ups founded and 240 businesses within the county deemed ‘high growth’, the area was found to be a promising location for new enterprises.

Recommended reading:

Andy Conibere, CEO of Trooli, said: “We support local businesses every day and, with a record number of companies launched last year, we wanted to investigate the start-up hotspots across the country.

“Given how important connectivity is to business success, we weren’t surprised to see counties in the South of England dominating the top spots.

“With reliable broadband speeds, proximity to London, and a history of steady business growth, areas like Hampshire offer huge opportunities for entrepreneurs.”