Scotland's private sector lags UK

Scotland has the lowest ratio of businesses per head of population in the UK, according to figures published by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS). At the outset of 2010, Scotland had 672 private sector enterprises per 10,000 adults, while England had 922, Northern Ireland 860 and Wales 783.

McGrigors partner Barry McCaig said the data highlights the problems facing Scotland's entrepreneurs in creating jobs, adding it was "of concern" that some English regions appear to have a greater share of the "professional, scientific and technical activities" sector.