Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
If you’re thinking of alternatives to London for starting your business, you might be considering Birmingham.
In 2018, 18,590 businesses were created there and it’s the most popular destination for those moving out of the capital last year.
In this year’s Birmingham City Council update, businesses are reported to have a three-year survival rate of 51.9pc. What’s more, despite economic uncertainty, companies felt generally positive about conditions in Birmingham.
Is it really a prime spot for business, though? First, let’s take a look at some vital stats.
Population
Mid-year population figures estimate that 1,141,400 people live in Birmingham. A majority of 64.3pc are working age, 22.8pc are children and the remaining 13pc are pensioners. It has the highest percentage age of people under 20 of any core city at 28.6pc and with four universities, you’ve got plenty of access to young talent.
Crime rate
There are conflicting studies around whether Birmingham is a safe or an unsafe city. Police statistics say that in the year ending December 2018, the crime rate in Birmingham was lower than average (95.69 per 1,000 population) compared with similar areas like Manchester (172.77), Leicester (121.45) and Liverpool (120.38).
House prices
According to Rightmove, the average house price