The catering industry is experiencing a boom as more and more entrepreneurs are taking the plunge and setting up their own restaurants and cafes, according to new statistics.
A report, by Barclays bank, suggests that the recent spate of celebrity chefs and cookery programmes has inspired UK entrepreneurs and helped create thousands more start-ups in 2004.
Statistics, from Barclays Start-ups and Closures Survey, show that 16,000 budding entrepreneurs set up hotel and catering businesses between the first and third quarter of 2004, compared to just under 11,000 for the same period last year.
A total of 396,000 start-ups from January to September, represented a 14 per cent increase on the same period in 2003.
Other areas where start- ups have been prolific in the last year have been in the leisure industry, with 14,000 new firms and construction, with 9,000 new firms.
Overall, new businesses in the hotel, catering, transport and communications industries have seen the biggest increase, with start up volumes around 50 per cent higher than last year.
Louise Fowler, marketing director of Small Business at Barclays, said: "What these (cookery) programmes are doing is showing us the array of food on offer and this is having a knock on effect on the choice and number of restaurants opening up.
“Historically catering is an area which hasn’t been as popular as other sectors for new business start-ups, so it’s good to see numbers increasing. Start ups have been assisted by the strength of the economy and further opportunities may be created as people continue to look for healthy food options.”
