WARRINGTON’S small and medium-sized businesses are the driving growth of the UK economy, a report has concluded.

The Centre for Cities’ annual Small Business Outlook report ranks Warrington third in a list of UK cities with the highest start-up rate.

The town currently boasts one of the highest employment rates in the country at 77%, with an average of eight jobs per growing small business enterprise (SME) between 2010 and 2013.

And Birchwood, which employs 17,000 people across 400 businesses, has been hailed as one of the leading European business destinations after emerging as a UK success.

Space 48, an independent digital agency located in the thriving Birchwood Park, has grown from a 190 square-feet office to a 2,000 square-feet office since its creation four years ago.

Jon Woodall, director of Space 48, said: “It would be too easy to gravitate towards the city centre but Birchwood Park provides a friendly and lively environment, which is ideal for our business to grow and thrive.”

Andrew Cowell, commercial director at Birchwood Park, believes that the close proximity with two major cities and excellent transport links are the reasons why the site is flourishing.

He added: “It has been widely publicised that Warrington is one of the few towns in the country where the economy is booming, and it’s not hard to see why. “Our commitment to the community in which we reside means we are more than just a business park or a collection of offices – we are a destination in our own right, for businesses and residents of Warrington.”