Aberdeen City Council Leader Councillor Jenny Laing today welcomed that the city has been named the best in Scotland to start up a small business.
Seven key criteria were looked at, including the density of SMEs in the area, the quality of broadband connectivity, the amount of small business closures, property prices and pollution levels.
The Granite City rated highly due to its relatively high rate of small businesses opening in the area, as well as a low rate of small businesses which fail.
It was named the best city north of the border to open a small business, and was the only Scottish location to make the top 20 list. It ranked 14th in the UK.
Cllr Laing said: “Aberdeen is a forward-thinking city with a wealth of entrepreneurial spirit.
“We welcome the results of this survey and we hope it encourages many more people to discover the benefits of working and living in Aberdeen.
“There are plans in place through the City Masterplan scheme to even further enhance our surroundings and help shape the future of the city for decades to come.”
The survey was carried out by The Association of Accounting Technicians which examined information from 64 UK cities in order to determine the best location to start a business in.
This was done by cross-referencing data from organisations including the Office for National Statistics, Ofcom and the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
AAT chief executive, Mark Farrar, said: “Although many people would automatically think of London as the best place in the UK to start a business, this research shows that there may be better locations to find success. The opportunities and facilities available in Aberdeen make it an extremely attractive place to invest in.”