SWINDON has been put in the top ten towns in the country to move to or start a company.

Business intelligence experts Blue Sheep have compiled a top towns survey to assess the performance different places across the country.

Researchers from Oxford Economic Forecasting looked at the areas of high growth, staff availability and high investment for a snapshot of UK plc.

They looked at businesses in the town across all sectors, and measured them on a sliding scale from Black Hole to Dynamic and Trailblazing depending how well they were performing.

The companies are in all types of business, ranging from manufacturing to IT work. Certain companies in the area experiencing rapid growth and expansion are also taken into account, although whether any in Swindon contributed to the high ranking has not been revealed.

Bournemouth was ranked top of the pile of the 400 towns measured, followed by Salisbury, Sutton Coldfield, Bath, Harro-gate, Taunton, Dundee, Swindon, Shrewsbury and Solihull, in that order.

David Evans, economic development manager with the Swindon Initiative, said: "It's good to see Swindon's success recognised.

"I'm not surprised to see Swindon in the top 10 as we have some really strong and dynamic businesses in the town.

"The even better news is that Swindon is still on the up. In the Swindon Initiative we're constantly talking to businesses, be they existing companies in the town or potential newcomers, about new investment and business expansion."

The report also highlights postal areas where high numbers of troubled businesses in the Black Hole category are based.

The bottom ten towns, with the lowest first, are Runcorn, Sutton in Ashfield, Spalding, Birken-head, Rochester, Croydon, Corby, Altrincham, Bury St Edmunds and Bolton.

Iain Lovatt said: "The report gives a snapshot of UK plc, where business is thriving and where others may be finding the economic climate difficult.

"For potential business relocation, knowing where business is booming could be the decisive and critical factor to future

success.

"Business performance is fluid and dynamic and needs to be taken into consideration when formulating sales activities along with other geo-demographic factors to create a complete picture of business prospects.

"Careful, accurately targeted marketing based on performance indicators will help maximise results while minimising financial risk."