Bradford is leading the way for young entrepreneurship in the region.
New data reveals that 14.1 per cent of company founders in the city are under 25, making it the top hotspot in Yorkshire and the Humber and more than one and a half times the national average of 8.7 per cent.
The findings come from a study by Virtual HQ, which analysed every company incorporated in the UK over the 12 months to July 2026.
Kirklees ranked second in the region, with 10.4 per cent of founders under 25, followed by Leeds and Sheffield, both at 9.7 per cent.
In Leeds, 730 of 7,501 founders were under 25.
Andrew Manning, managing director at Virtual HQ, said: “Setting up a limited company has never been quicker or cheaper, and these figures show how many people are now doing it in their early twenties rather than waiting until mid-career.
“For anyone setting up a business, it’s important to remember that incorporating puts you on a public register.”
Bradford’s median founder age was 36—three years younger than the UK median of 39.
The study highlights a growing trend of younger entrepreneurship in West Yorkshire, with Bradford, Kirklees, and Leeds outperforming many other areas across the country.
