Entrepreneur north-south divide

The Forum of Private Business (FPB) is calling for more support for entrepreneurs after research revealed a north-south divide in the number of small business owners.

Research by Hull University Business School, Cranfield School of Management and the University of St Andrews found that 23% of men and 11% of women in the south of were self-employed, compared to 17% and 8% respectively in the north.

But despite this entrepreneurs in the north employ an average of 3.5 employees compared to 2.6 among their southern counterparts.

"It is pleasing to see that business owners in the north are in a position to employ more staff," said the FPB's national chairman Len Collinson.

"However, it is important that the government helps greater numbers of people to start and grow their own businesses. Encouraging entrepreneurship will create even more jobs and boost the economy."