Enterprise culture taking root in Rochdale, says MP

Simon Danczuk MP

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Rochdale’s MP Simon Danczuk has welcomed a report showing that new companies are on the rise in Rochdale as a sign that a stronger enterprise culture is taking root in the Borough.

The latest Duport Business Confidence Report shows that a record number of new companies formed in Rochdale in 2012.

Over the course of the year, there were 663 new companies formed - more than any other year in the history of the town. 2012 is the second year running in which company formations have risen in Rochdale.

Net company growth also rose last year, with the company register increasing by 259, compared to 240 in 2011, and 82 in 2010.

Commenting on the report, Mr Danczuk said an increase in business start-ups was vital for the Borough to rebalance its economy away from being overly reliant on the public sector.

“We need to build a stronger private sector in Rochdale and these figures are encouraging,” he said. “We have a strong manufacturing base but we need more start-ups to compliment this and I think this is beginning to happen. Small businesses are the lifeblood of the local economy and it’ll be the entrepreneurs and pioneers that set our town back on the path to recovery after what has been a very difficult few years.”