Britain’s entrepreneurial spirit remains strong, with 84 new companies launched every hour in the first half of 2025, according to fresh analysis from SME lender iwoca. The annual Business Hotspots report, which draws on Companies House data, found that more than 363,000 businesses were registered between January and June 2025. The North West climbed to second place with 570 businesses per 100,000 people, outperforming the national average with only a 10% decline in total registrations. At the local level, Camden once again topped iwoca’s list, recording 7,031 new businesses per 100,000 residents. “While new business registrations fell in 2025 due to stricter Companies House rules, it’s encouraging to see over 363,000 new firms still launched in the first half of the year.