Small businesses boom in Doncaster, with highest post-pandemic SME growth in Yorkshire

Doncaster has seen the highest growth in the number of small and medium-sized businesses in Yorkshire since the pandemic, according to new research compiled by iwoca—one of Europe’s largest small business lenders.

New research reveals that Doncaster has seen significant growth in the number of SMEs in the city, with small business numbers outstripping pre-pandemic levels.

Doncaster ranks first in Yorkshire for SME growth, with an 11.3% increase in the number of small businesses between 2019 and 2023.

There are now 9,975 small and medium-sized companies in Doncaster, with sectors including transportation and storage, and construction driving small business growth since the Covid-19 pandemic.

iwoca’s analysis, which ranks areas across Yorkshire using ONS data on business and employment, found that between 2019 and 2023 the number of SMEs in Doncaster grew by 11.3%. This represents over 1,000 more businesses in the aftermath of Covid-19, taking the area’s SME total to 9,975 in 2023, demonstrating the robust post-pandemic recovery of the city’s SMEs.

Doncaster business growth brings thousands of new jobs

The research suggests Doncaster’s post-pandemic entrepreneurship may be a key driver behind a local increase in the number of jobs in the area, which rose by 9.6% between 2019 and 2022. According to the latest available figures, the city is home to 135,450 working people, up nearly 12,000 since 2019.

The transportation and storage sector saw the largest growth in Doncaster, leading the way with 245 more SMEs in the industry between 2019 to 2023. Following reports that Doncaster’s National College for Advanced Transport and Infrastructure could be reopened in the near future, small businesses in the city’s growing transport sector could stand to benefit even further.

Sally Jameson, MP for Central Doncaster, commented on the research: “I am pleased to see that Doncaster leads the way in Yorkshire’s small-business growth since the COVID pandemic and I welcome any SMEs within Doncaster Central to reach out to me and tell me of your experience creating a business in our city.

Boosted by our new city-status, Doncaster has a great environment for businesses to grow in with good travel connections, regeneration projects including the iPort and Unity Yorkshire, as well as a strong strategic vision through the City of Doncaster Council.

We have great-quality skills providers in Doncaster, including Doncaster College and Doncaster UTC, and the wider South Yorkshire region which provide the training to fuel future business endeavours. When businesses do start-up, the City of Doncaster Council delivers the Launchpad programme, to help ambitious entrepreneurs set up and run successful businesses.

There remains significant work to do in terms of further sustainable economic growth and jobs in Doncaster. A key step to unlocking this growth will be in the re-opening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones is spearheading on behalf of the region.”

Seema Desai, COO at iwoca said: “The North of England continues to prove its immense economic capacity and resilience despite the blow that the Covid-19 pandemic delivered to small businesses across the country. For example, Doncaster’s recovery in sectors such as transport are bolstering job creation and enabling growth in years to come.”