Southport’s long history has been one of constantly shifting business possibilities. From the former Chewits factory to our ongoing tourism sector, our little corner of the world is no stranger to mixing things up. Today, Southport finds itself in a place shared by much of the UK, where home business opportunities are in a healthier position than ever before. Aided by better technology and improved government support, now could be the time for enterprising Sandgrounders to try something new.
Business Growth in the UK
According to the most recent statistics available from the House of Commons Library, the UK saw a 3.5% increase in private sector businesses operating from 2024-2025. While more recent statistics won’t be available until the next report later this year, this follows a greater overall trend of a 64% increase in the number of UK businesses in operation in the 2000-2025 period. The largest changes in business populations here have come from smaller businesses with no employees.
Aiding in the growth of these new enterprises are the various small business grants available from the government. Depending on your age and sector, grants like The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme and the Innovate UK Smart Grants Programme can provide non-repayable funding for start-ups, and most of these are available right here in Southport.
All of this potential is then backed by UK mentorship programs like MentorsMe. Connecting online or to local business leaders, these systems can help walk Sandgrounders through common challenges, to find a smoother path and help better manage time and resources.
Leveraging the Newest Technology
Regardless of sector or location, most modern home businesses are increasingly reliant on a base of high-speed or ultra-high-speed internet. According to recent statistics, more than 87% of households in Southport have access to gigabit speeds, with 99% supporting speeds at greater than 30 Mbps. While not quite as available as we’d like, this continuing rollout means most home businesses should face few of the hurdles that slow internet speeds imply.
Also aiding in the new business are new generations of specially built software tools. In the landscape of iGaming, for example, game aggregation systems provide streamlined access to what used to be prohibitively complex platforms. Instead of having to work individually, this system grants access to more than 25,000 games and 250 providers through the use of a single API. Including built-in reporting and analytic tools, this and similar software catering is becoming more popular in the AI age, significantly lowering previous barriers to entry.
With the UK currently experiencing a challenging employment market, the opportunities available from starting your own business are still on the rise. It’s not for everyone, but if you live in Southport and you’ve thought about pursuing it, it might be worth exploring some of the options available. Even if this just means exploring local gaps in the market or checking out which grants you might be eligible for, you might find a path for tomorrow or ten years from now, and help out our town along the way.