Bath base for 21% of start-ups
Bath is leading the way in the South West when it comes to new businesses being registered with Companies House, according to the city’s MP.
Parliamentary research shows that Bath accounted for 21% of all new businesses in the South West between 2020 and 2021.
“I’m extremely excited by the diverse community of businesses that is growing in our city,” MP Wera Hobhouse said.
“From the creative industries, to high-tech enterprises, to stylish high street shops, companies are increasingly seeing Bath as a great place to do business.
“This is thanks to the work of dozens of organisations, including the council, Bath Business Improvement District, Bath Chambers of Commerce and many more.”
The research completed by the House of Commons Library shows that the number of Paye-registered businesses in Bath increased by 90
between 2020 and 2021. This compares to the South West as a whole where only 425 new businesses in total were registered that year.
The UK economy has struggled in recent years, hampered by the effects of the pandemic and Brexit. The research shows encouraging signs of business growth in Bath.
“Despite the challenges that we face, Bath is very much a city on the up,” said council leader Kevin Guy. “We are growing as an attractive destination for businesses big and small, from Hollywood blockbuster productions to the smallest of small and medium enterprises.
“We face the national challenges of the cost-of-living crisis, Brexit and significant labour shortages across multiple sectors. So, we will continue to do all that we can to support businesses as they navigate this tricky time.”
This has included its Universal Business Support service which provides one-to-one advice to hundreds of small and medium enterprises, as well as working with local partners to bring new business premises into use.