NEW businesswomen in the north west are certainly making their mark.

Barclays has disclosed that the region is one of the top for female start-ups with 11 women per 1,000 setting up in the north west.

And in the UK as a whole, entrepreneurial activity amongst women in the UK has grown by 28 per cent since 2000.

Research shows that the number of females setting up in business has grownfrom 117,000 in 2000 to 150,000 in the last year - the highest level ever recorded.

Eight in ten people believe that it is now easier for women to start their own business and this is evident among so-called singletons, where it has increased by 11 per cent since 2000, to 26 per cent today.

The main drivers behind the overall surge in female start-ups are; wanting to be their own boss (39 per cent) and have more independence (rise of 11 per cent to 15 per cent).

Ian Goodrick, head of small business for Barclays in the north west says: "With a staggering 28 per cent increase in business start-ups, today's female entrepreneur continues to demonstrate how she can successfully contribute towards UK businesses and the economy."