THE past year has seen "considerable growth" for northern entrepreneurs according to new figures.

The results of professional services firm EY's latest survey showed that 76 per cent of entrepreneurs in the North of England have increased their headcount, with 36 per cent of these businesses creating more than 50 new jobs.

The EY survey also revealed that almost all of the entrepreneurs surveyed, 93 per cent, expect their turnover to increase in the next three years.

However, just 27 per cent felt they are able to attract the right talent, suggesting that the northern skilled labour market remains challenging for many businesses.

EY surveyed 51 northern entrepreneurs to assess how their firms have performed in recent years and whether they expect to grow in the future, as well as to gather their views on the factors that they feel can help or hinder growth.

Nearly all of the entrepreneurs surveyed in the north, have well-established businesses as 80 per cent of respondents have run their companies for at least a decade.

EY found that 80 per cent of businesses in the north have seen growth in their turnover in the last year, compared to 75 per cent nationally, with more than half witnessing a turnover increase of more than 5 per cent.

Looking ahead, over the next three years, 98 per cent of northern entrepreneurs surveyed expect their business to grow further, with 59 per cent expecting annual growth of more than 10 per cent.