A RECORD number of businesses were set up in Dorset last year, new figures reveal.

The news has been hailed as “fantastic” by business leaders in the county.

Figures compiled by Inform Direct have revealed there were 6,304 companies formed in the county last year, up from a previous record of 6,054.

The number of businesses operating locally stands at an all-time high of 43,707 – 5.9 per cent higher than a year before and 34 per cent more than five years ago.

Henry Catchpole, chief executive of Inform Direct, said: “This is an area where fledgling firms are flourishing and where people are starting to make their dreams a reality in the word of business.

“Poole and Bournemouth in particular have dominated as far as new incorporations are concerned.”

There were 2,028 companies formed in Poole and 1,728 in Bournemouth. The next best performing area was West Dorset with 779.

There were 59 companies per 1,000 people in Dorset, compared with a UK average of 55.

Ian Girling, chief executive of Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “This is absolutely fantastic news

“Dorset is an extremely entrepreneurial county and we see a huge amount of enthusiasm for business start-ups across the whole of Dorset in all sectors.

“However business death rates remain too high and many businesses don’t make it past year three. Access to advice and support when starting a business almost doubles the chances of survival.”

Roger Williams, president of Poole Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said: “This great news certainly bears out the sentiments being uttered in Poole and other areas of Dorset; Poole Chamber of Commerce is seeing an increasing number of new start businesses attending events, signing up and looking to get noticed locally.

“There is a high business-confidence level apparent currently which should see us through the coming months before and after the election. What happens when the result is known remains conjecture in the short term.”