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Stirling has emerged as a beacon of entrepreneurial resilience, securing 3rd place out of 32 Scottish districts for small business start-ups in the first half of 2024, according to the latest data from BankSearch. Despite a slight decrease of 0.4% compared to last year, Stirling’s performance is notable amid a broader national decline.
| Small Business Start-ups | June 2024 | Monthly comparison | Yearly comparison | YTD comparison |
| Stirling | 39 | 21.9% | -2.5% | -0.4% |
| Scotland | 2,150 | -7.7% | -15.7% | -8.8% |
June 2024 witnessed a surge in new business activity in Stirling, with 39 start-ups—an impressive 21.9% increase from the previous month. Although the year-on-year figure shows a minor dip of 2.5%, Stirling’s steady performance stands out against the overall Scottish trend, where new business start-ups have fallen by 8.8% this year.
The top sectors driving Stirling’s start-up growth include Wholesale and Retail Trade, Construction, and Transport, Storage and Communication.
| Top 3 Industries | June 2024 | Monthly comparison | Yearly comparison | YTD comparison |
| Wholesale & retail trade | 9 | 80.0% | 125.0% | -11.4% |
| Construction | 8 | 60.0% | 0.0% | -13.2% |
| Transport, storage & communication | 5 | 400.0% | 400.0% | 7.1% |
Notably, the rural areas of Stirling have seen extraordinary growth, with a remarkable 85.7% increase in new businesses from the previous month.Traci Titterington, STEP’s Rural Business Adviser, expressed enthusiasm: “It’s incredibly exciting to see Stirling thriving in the rural business landscape. This growth underscores the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit in our community. STEP is committed to supporting these new ventures with expert advice and tailored resources to fuel their success.”
| Top 3 Area Classification | June 2024 | Monthly comparison | Yearly comparison | YTD comparison |
| Rural Residents | 13 | 85.7% | 85.7% | 3.7% |
| Urbanites | 8 | 14.3% | -27.3% | 0.0% |
| Suburbanites | 7 | 16.7% | 250.0% | -2.6% |
STEP: Supporting Stirling’s Businesses
STEP provides comprehensive support for businesses through the delivery of Business Gateway Stirling services on behlf of Stirling Council. From start-up advice to growth planning, STEP offers a range of services designed to help local businesses succeed. This support is a crucial factor in Stirling’s strong start-up performance.
Mike Barclay, STEP’s Director of Business Support, commented: “Stirling offers the best landscape for business, centrally located for recruitment, clients, and supply chains. With competitive commercial development opportunities, a highly skilled workforce, and leading education providers, Stirling is ideal for new ventures. Our strong track record in innovation, digital, and net zero, coupled with an incredible work/life balance, makes Stirling the perfect place for businesses to thrive. Significant investment continues to spur economic growth here, and historically, we see more start-ups in the second half of the year, so we are optimistic about the months ahead.”
The number of start-ups across Scotland has decreased overall. However, East Dunbartonshire (1.3%), Na h-Eileanan Siar (0.0%), and Stirling (-0.4%) have shown the most resilience, experiencing the least decline compared to the same period in 2023. In contrast, the regions facing the greatest challenges include Falkirk (-22.7%), the Orkney Islands (-26.7%), and Clackmannanshire (-19.2%).
