Barnet has seen a record-breaking number of new company formations during the second quarter of this year, says the council.
The council has analysed Companies House data and found there were 285 new companies formed between May and August 2012, higher than any other second quarter on record for the area. This compares with 280 start-ups in the second quarter of 2011.
Barnet’s economy is dominated by small and medium sized businesses and has a higher proportion of self-employed residents than London as a whole.
Council Leader, Councillor Richard Cornelius, said: “These figures show that the council’s policy of helping businesses wherever we can, and not getting in the way of business start ups, is working.”
Cornelius also said he hoped this would lead to further job creation, and more opportunities for young people through the council’s £1m “Platforms Programme” which aims to give unemployed young people aged 16-24 their first experience of work.
Platforms supports the Apprenticeship Training Agency and its work in the borough, while providing support for small and medium size enterprises which take on a 19-24 year old apprentice as well as a package of other support measures for employers and young people.
