Bright outlook for Rotherham business

BUSINESS is booming in Rotherham, according to a national survey.

Research by the Royal Mail has confirmed that the borough is a business hot-spot when it comes to fledgling firms—with the second highest number of start-ups in the country.

The report shows a total of 1.86 per cent of businesses in Rotherham are new, just behind Sunderland which topped the list at 1.89 per cent.

The survey—compiled every six months by using Royal Mail’s business changes file—highlights more businesses start-ups in Rotherham than in the same period last year (1.36 per cent) and more than the pre-recession figure of 1.51 per cent in September, 2008.

The Royal Mail study further shows that the overall number of new businesses start-ups in the UK has risen for the first time in 18 months, with more than 39,000 companies launched in the last sixth months—a rise of 13 per cent over the previous half year.

Tim O’Connell, business and retail investment manager for Rotherham Investment and Development Office, said the figures proved that Rotherham was on the right track in attracting and nurturing people who have the ambition and drive to start up on their own.

He said: “We are delighted that the Royal Mail's figures on the number of new businesses starts in Rotherham reflect our own findings and indicate that our hard work is bearing fruit. We know there are plenty of people out there with great business ideas and we like to think that with our help and experience we can help them set up in business, and more importantly, grow their business.”