Something we who live and build businesses in Manchester know already is that Manchester is one of the top places in the UK to run a business.

There are a number of reasons for this – the fact you can get anywhere in the North West in under an hour from Manchester and you can get directly to all other major UK and European and most international business hubs helps. So does the good old Mancunian tough attitude. We will NOT be beaten and no-one is going to tell us how to operate in a recession. We are an eminently positive and optimistic lot!

It is nice to see, therefore, some factual back up for these strongly held beliefs!

Accountancy Group UHY Hacker Young has published research which shows Manchester is 3rd, in the top 50 Cities in terms of ability to create new businesses. The UK average in the year to Dec 31 2009 was 7 businesses per 10,000 people closed their doors. London lost 6 businesses per 10,000 people in 2009.

In Manchester it was just 1.5.

Only 2 Cities did better – Aberdeen and Oxford (not necessarily in that order!).

Whilst the recession was tough for everyone in Manchester (and everywhere!) – we can be a little proud of that figure.

Politicians – beware. Don’t think this means you can be complacent about Manchester now. Things are still tough – and you still need to do more to ensure the public sector cuts do not harm Manchester’s business community.

Cut waste – not jobs. And if you need any advice on that – I know plenty about the waste in Manchester City Council. Come speak to me about what you can cut without cutting services to the community.