WIRRAL is setting the pace for post-recession start-up businesses across the UK.

According to data from Companies House – the UK’s official registrar of companies - Wirral is one of the most prolific areas in the UK for business start-up firms since the recession first hit.

66% of the 12,819 businesses in Wirral started on, or after, September 1, 2008 which makes the area one of the highest proportions of the country and is seven percentage points higher than the 59% of businesses that have started since the recession throughout the whole of the UK.

Almost one in three (32.6%) of Wirral’s post-recession businesses work in the professional, scientific and technical activities sectors, which is far higher average than the overall UK average of 17.7%.

Only Aberdeen can boast that it has a higher proportion of its post-recession businesses working in this sector.

Wirral Chamber of Commerce chief executive Paula Basnett said: “One of the key chamber objectives is to encourage the growth of new or young enterprises in the borough and, as such, we are working closing with the Start-Up Loans Company as one of only three official delivery partners in the Liverpool city region.

She added: “Through this initiative we offer support in developing business plans, offering expert mentoring guidance and providing low interest loans which can help to either kick-start a new business or to help enterprises, up to 24 months old, move forward to their next expansion phase.”

At a national level, Scotland had the highest percentage of businesses starting since the recession with 59.5% of the Scottish companies currently registered to Companies House having signed up since the start of the recession.

Regionally, Liverpool achieved a 63% level for post-recession start-ups, with 14,687 of the 23,470 total.

Knowsley hit 59% (2,250/3,792); Sefton reached 58% (4,915/8,495); followed by St Helens on 57% (2,147/3,734).

For anyone considering a new business venture or are in a young enterprise which has been trading, in certain circimstances, for up to 24 months, they could be eligible for a low interest loan through Wirral Chamber's Start Up Loan Programme.

For more information, visit wirralchamber.co.uk/startup