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Barclays small business survey Q4 03

Last year saw the highest number of UK start-ups on record, with 465,000 new companies opening for business. Closures fell by nine per cent in 2003, compared to the previous year, according to the latest small business survey carried out by Barclays Bank.

The higher numbers of start-ups and fewer closures meant that the overall numbers of businesses expanded by a record rate of nearly seven per cent over the course of the year.

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Barclays Small Business Surveys provide a quarterly update on the number of businesses starting up and closing in the small business sector. This publication also covers a wide range of economic and business news, specifically focusing on current issues affecting the sector, highlighting the opportunities and threats for small business owners. For further information, please visit www.business.barclays.co.uk