A report from high street bank Barclays shows that 18,000 new firms started up in the first six months of 2006 compared to 15,000 for the same period last year, an increase of 17 per cent – the largest percentage increase across the UK, where the average was ten per cent.

The Barclays start-up research shows that the number of businesses set up by just women across the region has grown from 2,700 in the first six months of 2005 to 3,000 in the first six months of 2006. This compares to 15,000 men setting up in business this year.

Craig Sigley, Barclays small business area manager for Wolverhampton, said: “Start-ups remain buoyant this year and people setting up on their own are demonstrating how they can successfully contribute towards UK businesses and the economy.

“Business start-ups such as property services, which include interior design and property development, offer increasing flexibility and are proving very popular with both sexes.

“However despite men still taking the lead in start-ups, I am sure in a few years time, that in some areas of the market, more businesses will be started by women than men.”

The sectors which saw the greatest percentage increase in start-up volumes were the motor trades, wholesale and retail sector which increased by 15 per cent with 36,300 businesses compared to 30,700 last year. Property services increased by 15 per cent with 12,500 businesses compared to 10,600 last year.

Nationally there were 205,000 businesses set up across the UK compared to 183,700 in 2005.

Of the 18,200 set up in the West Midlands, the largest proportion – 3,900 – were established in Birmingham. 800 were set up in Dudley, 1,000 in Sandwell, 3,000 in Staffordshire – including 300 in Cannock Chase, 400 in Stafford and 600 in Lichfield.

Around 700 new businesses were established in Walsall, and the same number again in Wolverhampton over the six month period.