It was a rise from 335 during 2016 and the region bucked the national trend, which saw a slow down in new start ups – for the first time in seven years.
The statistics published by the Centre for Entrepreneurs also show that Dumfries and Galloway was among the few areas in Scotland were more firms were launched last year.
Brian Sherman, leader of the Federation of Small Businesses locally, said: “It is great to see hundreds of new businesses starting up in Dumfries and Galloway. We have been aware of this positive trend as we have seen a number of start-ups joining FSB recently. Those start-ups are graduates with great ideas, skilled migrant entrepreneurs and former employees with experience and expertise who all decided to become their own boss. These new firms help make Dumfries and Galloway’s business community more unique, diverse and resilient. Some of these new bosses are from this region and it might be natural for them to start up here. But, importantly, there are many others who chose it as a place to start their business, either trying to seize opportunities this region offers or attracted by the lifestyle which is different from that of larger places.”
He added: “Dumfries and Galloway is a small business economy, and it is these new start-ups, as well as existing smaller firms, who will drive our local economy forward. We all need to get behind these ambitious entrepreneurs and do what we can to keep this positive trend.”
