The number of small business entrepreneurs in the UK has leapt by 117 per cent in the last five years, according to Experian. The massive growth in one or two man band businesses has fuelled a 41 per cent increase in the total number of companies in the UK.

Experian’s business data also shows that these small businesses over the last five years have also managed to maintain the lowest insolvency rate and second healthiest financial strength score compared to other types of businesses.

Charlotte Hogg, Managing Director, Experian UK & Ireland, said: “Our analysis reveals that the UK’s smallest businesses have been surprisingly resilient during the economic downturn and have also seen their population skyrocket in the last five years.

The recession will have been an underlying factor in the 183 per cent increase in micro businesses. Many start ups will have been created because of a change of circumstance, where people found themselves unemployed and needed to look at alternatives. Equally, micro-entrepreneurs have also capitalised on their agility to provide great service at the most competitive price during the recession, which is all the more impressive given the UK’s late payment minefield.”

“The DNA successful micro businesses share is in their inherent innovative and adaptive capacity, but as they grow in size so do the challenges they face. Our analysis tells us that they suffer the worst growing pains when they start to employ 10 or more people and this is precisely when they need the most support. It is this kind of data insight that can play an instrumental role in helping policymakers create the right responses to the economic environment to identify where growth is going to come from as well as where help and support is needed most.”

The analysis of over 4.3 million UK directors on Experian’s business database reveals that the explosion in the number of directors associated with one and two man businesses was spearheaded by male entrepreneurs (up 146 per cent) and, in particular, by male directors in the younger age groups (under 24 saw a 62 per cent increase and 25-29 increased by 54 per cent).

The number of female entrepreneurs also saw a significant increase – up 72 per cent over the last five years. At the opposites end of the spectrum to men, this was led by older females – with a 29 per cent increase in the 60-69 age group and 13 per cent rise in the over 69 bracket.

Experian’s analysis reveals that the business/management and consultancy sector saw the highest number of one and two man businesses (5 per cent of all these business types) with a 181 per cent increase in numbers over the last five years. Businesses in this sector typically fall into the training, management consultancy, public relations and marketing sectors.

In terms of which areas witnessed the biggest growth in entrepreneurship, London has the highest concentration of one and two man businesses (31,449) - having seen 105 per cent growth in the last five years. Birmingham had the second highest number (10,207) with growth of 188 per cent.