UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / October 15, 2026 / New research has revealed the fastest-growing entrepreneurial hotspots in the UK, with Harlow, Southampton and Mid Ulster surging ahead of traditional locations such as London and Manchester.

Analysis of the latest ONS business demography data by online accountancy firm eAccounts reveals a national slowdown in new business creation with a 3.1% decline year-on-year. Beneath the national slowdown however, a number of local areas are bucking the trend with dramatic growth recorded in surprising pockets across the country.

Harlow tops the entrepreneurship index after business creation jumped 25%, from 260 new businesses between January and June 2025 to 325 in the same period this year. Southampton takes second place with growth of 20.7%, while Mid Ulster ranks third after recording a 19.2% increase.

The findings also reveal a striking shift away from some of Britain’s traditional entrepreneurial centres. No London borough appears in the national Top 10, while five of the ten fastest-growing areas for new business creation are located in the East of England; Harlow, Broxbourne, Luton, Welwyn Hatfield and Three Rivers.

Rank

Area H1 2025  H1 2026  Growth

1

Harlow 260 32 +25.0%

2

Southampton 460 555 +20.7%

3

Mid Ulster 260 310 +19.2%

4

Westmorland and Furness 350 410 +17.1%

5

Broxbourne 265 305 +15.1%

6

Luton 620 710 +14.5%

7

Highland 435 490 +12.6%

8

Renfrewshire 285 320 +12.3%

9

Welwyn Hatfield 270 300 +11.1%

10

Three Rivers 275 305 +10.9% 

Scotland was the strongest performing broad geography, with new business creation increasing by 5.2% versus the wider national decline. Highland and Renfrewshire both made the national Top 10.

eAccounts founder Kris Corbisiero said, "The national figure suggests business creation is slowing, but that masks some striking local success stories in places like Harlow and Southampton.

“The traditional assumption has been that new businesses gravitate towards the biggest commercial centres. Digital platforms, cloud-based business tools and remote working have weakened that connection. For many founders, being close to a major city simply isn't as important as it once was.

“That creates opportunities for towns that may never previously have been thought of as entrepreneurial hotspots. The interesting question now is whether places such as Harlow, Southampton and Mid Ulster can turn this burst of business creation into sustainable long-term growth.”

For more information, visit https://www.e-accounts.co.uk.