Bedford boasts more than 900 new businesses since lockdown began

The pandemic has forced millions of people to put many aspects of their lives on hold, but while some of us spent lockdown taking part in virtual PE classes or baking cakes, others were using the extra time to start their own business.

A new study from Capital on Tap analysed records from Companies House to find where entrepreneurs are starting their own businesses as well as the most common new business types.

In the East of England, Central Bedfordshire snagged the number four spot and Bedford the ninth in the top 10 lockdown entrepreneurial hotspots.

In Central Bedfordshire, 1,174 new businesses were started, while in Bedford, there were 956.

And it's probably no surprise that online retail (5.4 per cent) was the most popular type of new business.

It's likely that many of these businesses were founded by 'homepreneurs' who are using the extra time spent at home to turn their skills and hobbies into online businesses using services like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy as shop windows.

And at the beginning of the month, Bedford Today revealed how two sisters who had created their business during the lockdown had already launched their festive candle rangeThe food preparation sector also had a large number of new registrations accounting for over two per cent of all new businesses.

Examples of these include street food vendors, food stalls, and delivery or take-away only restaurants.

Last month, Bedford Today highlighted how one chef had come up with a whole host of sin-free desserts for those with a sweet tooth.The company - Kambee - makes sugar free, nut-free, gluten-free, vegan cheesecakes.

David Luck, CEO of Capital on Tap, said: “The disruption caused by coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on people, businesses, and the global economy, so it’s inspiring to see so many entrepreneurs backing themselves and seizing the opportunity to start their own businesses."