Infographic: Silver start-ups lead the way in UK's entrepreneurial resurgence

The number of retired people starting a business grew in 2011, with a 19% increase in people aged over 65 going it alone, new research reveals.

The figures were uncovered in an analysis of 350,551 insurance quotes requests made to Simply Business last year.

Over 55s now account for 6% of all businesses start-ups, the company said. But the most entrepreneurial age group is 25-34 year olds who generated 35% of Britain's start-up businesses in 2011.   

In other findings, the figures showed new businesses represented 46.9% of insurance applications, an annual growth rate of 3% and the first increase since the start of the recession in 2008. 

In addition, the research suggested that London may be losing its edge as the UK's entrepreneurial hotspot as the number of new businesses shot up outside the capital. 

Greater London was over-taken by the Midlands, South East and South West where the number of start-ups rose by around 4%, compared to a 3% hike in the capital. In fact, the London borough of Westminster featured in the study's 10 worst performing towns for 2011 start-ups.

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