Two areas of Greater Manchester have become magnets for microbusinesses — being named in the top five places to start a new venture in the UK outside of London. While one of those areas is obvious, the other might surprise you.
The areas, based on parliamentary constituencies, are Manchester Central — which takes in sprawling city centre shops, Northern Quarter bars, and Longsight markets — and Stockport’s Hazel Grove. It includes Hazel Grove itself, suburbs like Marple, Romiley and Bredbury, and rural villages such as High Lane.
New research from tech firm GoDaddy says Manchester Central has 1.91 microbusinesses for every 100 people, with Hazel Grove having 1.75. Manchester Central’s score is top of the non-London list, whereas its Stockport counterpart is good enough for fifth.
