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Choosing Which UK City To Start Your First Business

Choosing Which UK City To Start Your First Business

27 May 2026

Toby Patrick

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When it comes to the UK economy at the moment, a lot of prospective owners are probably of the mind that it's not the best time to start a new business. But this isn’t the case across the board. Numerous industries are either experiencing steady, consistent growth or are thriving on the chaos and remaining unfazed, like companies operating within AI and technology spaces.



While the type of industry is no doubt a huge factor that can determine the success of a business, in many cases, a company's location is just as important. Where you choose to settle can be influenced by several factors, from the cost of operations, employee wage expectations, rent, and so much more.


London

The UK’s capital is naturally home to the headquarters of a lot of very successful businesses, but with London’s high business rates, employee wage expectations and rental costs, setting up there can be eye-watering for a small, start-up business. 


While some options a bit further out from the city might be more attractive in those aspects, it’s again dependent on the type of business you own. For example, a fashion retailer might thrive in London's city centre, as footfall, tourism, and overall population are higher than in any other major city. That being said, other areas can also be more attractive in terms of costs, such as a shopping centre in Essex and so forth.


It’s also worth noting that in 2023, the average turnover for a small business in London was just over 100,000, with 9% business growth.


Leeds

Known as one of the fastest-growing tech hubs in the North. Within the digital sector alone, there was a 125% growth above the national average, which screams new opportunities to start your own tech business here. Leeds is great for that area of business, but also holds the benefits of competitive business rates, much cheaper rental compared to southern areas, and you have the added advantage of being located in a skilled talent pool of university students, which allows you to build your company, train your business, and also offers affordable wages to begin with as you grow and enter a new market. 


Manchester

England's second city and capital of the north is an unsurprisingly hub for a range of industries, with a history of success in the textile industry, but in recent years it has boasted promising opportunities for creative media and fashion, which are both going through periods of consistent growth.


Not to mention that Mancunians love their nightlife, so that would also be a promising opportunity, even if the hospitality industry is struggling by and large, bars in Manchester are having more success, as people there are heading straight to Irish bars for a pint, music and vibes so it’s something to consider for hospitality start-ups.


Fashion, like other cities such as London, is at Manchester’s core, but like other industries, it’s very competitive; that’s why incorporating a creative media element would allow new businesses within this field to thrive there.


Manchester as a whole can be expensive, but there are places where you can find a real bargain for rental units, there are also pretty competitive. It’s also worth considering that in 2023, Manchester's average business turnover was just under £90,000, with 4% growth that year.


Liverpool

Liverpool is another northern powerhouse with potential in a variety of fields and opportunities for professional services, such as tech and cybersecurity. Though it’s still a major UK city, its economy is slightly smaller than that of Manchester, while still growing consistently, but, on the bright side, operating costs are also generally lower. 


There is an art to getting your foot in the door without being bled out in the first year on business rates and rent, so Liverpool is a great place to consider starting up. It might be an easier environment in which you can build your reputation, customer base, and make a name for yourself before expanding into other major cities.


Final Thoughts

When it comes to picking which city to start your start up it’s completely dependant on what industry you want to emerge into, what you can afford in terms of business rates, wage expectations and rent prices, as while you might not turn a profit in your first year or two, you don’t want to dig yourself into a hole that will burnout your business before you’ve even started.


The vast majority of cities tend to be tech and financial hubs, which just comes with the modern-day expectations and overall growth, but there are so many other industries that are also growing to consider, and choosing something you are passionate about can make individuals, whether it’s B2B or B2C, seem so much more inviting and interested in it compared to others.


Make sure you do your research in terms of growth within that industry in various locations over the last 5 to 10 years before setting up shop anywhere, as this will give a better insight into potential trends.


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WWE Evolution 2025 – The Return of a Milestone Moment

  • Writer: Paul Francis
    Paul Francis
  • Jul 15, 2025
  • 4 min read

The return of WWE Evolution on Sunday 13th July 2025 marked a major milestone for the company and women’s wrestling as a whole. The last all-women premium live event took place in October 2018, and despite fan demand, it was never brought back until now.

WWE Evolution logo on a dynamic gold and black striped background. Bold text, sleek design, and energetic atmosphere.

Evolution’s original incarnation was a trailblazer, proving that the women’s division could carry an entire card on its own. Its 2025 return, seven years later, felt less like a token gesture and more like a legitimate statement: the women’s roster is stacked, experienced, and fully capable of headlining, storytelling, and delivering in-ring drama from start to finish.

And deliver it did.


Triple Threat Opener: Becky Lynch vs. Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria

This was an electric way to open the show. The match pitted two battle-tested veterans in Becky and Bayley, against the rising star of Lyra Valkyria, who more than held her own in the chaos.


Each woman had moments to shine. Bayley used her ring IQ to isolate and punish, Becky turned the pace up with signature counters and leg drops, and Lyra wowed with high-flying agility and crisp chain wrestling. The story was tight, too, a newcomer trying to prove herself in the lion’s den.


Becky picked up the win in the end, but Lyra left the biggest impression. A strong match that showed off how deep the division has become.


NXT Women’s Championship – Jacy Jayne (c) vs Jordynne Grace

What began as a showcase of Jordynne’s power and suplex arsenal, spinebuster, and folding powerbomb ended with the classic heel twist. Blake Monroe, in Grace’s corner, turned on her, striking Grace with the title belt. Jacy then hit her Rolling Encore for the win. Solid grappling, but the betrayal felt predictable.


WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Fatal Four-Way: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Kabuki Warriors vs. Sol Ruca & Zaria vs. Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez

Judgment Day’s Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez defended against Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, the Kabuki Warriors, and NXT’s Sol Ruca & Zaria. Sol and Zaria opened with crisp tandem moves, and Flair answered with her trademark domination. After chaos on the outside orchestrated by Rodriguez, Perez hit her Tejana Bomb on Sol Ruca and secured the fall. Judgment Day’s unlikely pairing held strong—an exciting, dynamic match.


Battle Royal – World Title Shot at Clash in Paris

Twenty women competed for a title shot in Paris. The final four were Nikki Bella, Lash Legend, Nia Jax, and Stephanie Vaquer. Lash forced Nikki out, then Lash and Vaquer eliminated Jax. On the apron, Vaquer hit her “Devil’s Kiss”, a seated snap‑mare into facebuster, on Lash, sending her over to win. Nikki was eliminated fourth. Stephanie earned her shot cleanly and celebrated in her post-match interview.


Tiffany Stratton vs. Trish Stratus

On paper, this had the potential to be a little awkward. In reality? It was a blast. Trish, nearing 50, hasn’t missed a beat. Stratton, who’s rapidly maturing in the ring, played the smug upstart perfectly, but Trish matched her move for move.


Some of the bumps looked brutal (that top rope bulldog was gnarly), and the chemistry between the two worked. Trish took the win to a standing ovation, but Tiffany left the ring looking like a star in the making.


Definitely worth a watch.


No Holds Barred – Jade Cargill vs Naomi

This hardcore bout was brutal but uneven. Naomi suffered a nose injury early yet kept fighting, supported by Bianca Belair’s guest referee role. Jade eventually hit a top‑rope “Avalanche Jaded” through a table for the victory. Not the highlight of the card, but it served its purpose storyline-wise.


It wasn’t a disaster, but it didn’t live up to the rest of the card.


Main Event: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Iyo Sky – Women’s World Championship

This was the match of the night, without question.


Ripley and Iyo threw everything at each other. The crowd was split, the action was snug, and both women “sold” like it was life or death. Iyo’s moonsault to the outside was picture perfect, and Rhea’s avalanche Riptide was the kind of moment you replay ten times.


Just when it looked like Ripley would retain, the lights flickered and out ran Naomi, cashing in her Money in the Bank contract — a genuine surprise no one saw coming. Naomi capitalised on a groggy Ripley and pinned her after a top-rope split-legged moonsault to close the show.


Shock. Pop. Buzz. Everything you want from a PLE main event.


Final Thoughts on WWE Evolution

WWE Evolution wasn’t just a gimmick — it was a full-throttle, main-event calibre show that proved the women’s division is deeper than ever. From technical wrestling to nostalgia and a major surprise ending, it delivered across the board.


Match of the Night: Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky (with Naomi’s MITB cash-in)

Biggest Surprise: Naomi winning the title

Most Fun: Battle Royal madness

Weakest Link: Jade vs. Naomi, but only slightly

Evolution is back — and hopefully, this time, it’s here to stay.

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