Boom in company formations brightens UK economy Emma Jones, the founder and CEO of Enterprise Nation, says the boom in company formations in the first half of the year is a bright spot for the economy. Almost half a million new start-ups were registered with Companies House in the first six months of this year, reflecting an ongoing trend in entrepreneurship. A third of all UK adults were thinking about starting a business this year, with Gen Z showing a higher interest. The demand for co-working spaces has increased by 22%, and 63% of nearby stores and restaurants are now independent. StartUp UK, a programme developed by Enterprise Nation and Monzo Business, is helping start-ups develop key business skills. The free programme has reached 165,000 small business owners so far this year. The number of women starting a business in the UK is at an historic high.