RESEARCH has found that Edinburgh Central is the most enterprising part of Scotland, containing 7065 businesses last year.
The figure comes from analysis carried out by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) which looked at the number of businesses in each Scottish Parliament constituency.
Next on the list behind Edinburgh Central was Glasgow Kelvin
with 6715 firms, and Aberdeenshire West with 4720. Meanwhile, three of the five constituencies with the fastest growing business communities were found to be in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Pentlands came out top, with 48 per cent growth
in businesses between 2010 to 2016. Edinburgh Eastern made third place with 40 per cent and Edinburgh Northern and Leith was fourth with a 37 per cent increase.
Second-placed Glasgow Provan
(43 per cent) and Glasgow Anniesland in fifth place (35 per cent) completed the top five.
The figures were revealed as part of an FSB campaign to find Scotland’s best smaller firms.
Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson is the MSP for Edinburgh Central. She said: “It’s great to see Edinburgh Central top the list as Scotland’s most enterprising constituency and it confirms
the capital’s reputation as
a world-leading destination
and a global financial powerhouse.
“As with all cities across the UK, the last few years have been challenging, but firms across Edinburgh have shown real resilience to keep going.”
Edinburgh Pentlands SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald said: “It is fantastic to see that the business community in my constituency has grown faster than any other area of the country over the last six years.
“The SNP Government’s efforts to support small businesses, through initiatives such as the small business bonus, taking thousands of businesses out of rates altogether, has undoubtedly been a key part of this – as has the increased influence of our leading universities in the constituency at Heriot-Watt and Napier, while Edinburgh’s traditional business district grows.”
The data has been collated ahead of the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2018, supported by Business Gateway in Scotland. The free-to-enter awards are open to all of the country’s smaller enterprises.
Andy Willox, the FSB’s Scottish policy convenor, said: “While you might expect densely populated wealthy areas to have a large business population, it is interesting to see so many traditionally less affluent areas snapping at their heels.
“No matter their party or geography, Scotland’s MSPs
know the vital contribution that smaller firms make to their constituencies’ economies and local communities.
“But we know that some in business are too modest for their own good. That’s why we’re launching these awards to find the best small business talent.”
Scottish businesses have until November 10 to lodge their awards application at fsbawards.co.uk
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