THE West Midlands has seen a 16 per cent increase in levels of enterprise in the past five years with Worcestershire performing well, according to the latest report from the world's largest study on economic trends.

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor analyses levels of entrepreneurial activity in 42 countries.

Latest figures for the West Midlands have seen 3,000 adults surveyed in a bid to establish total enterprise activity across the region and the findings have been hailed by regional development agency Advantage West Midlands as a massive step forward for the region.

The GEM shows that the West Midlands has experienced an increase in total enterprise activity from 5.3 per cent in 2006 to 6.3 in 2007, against a backdrop nationally of a fall from 5.8 per cent to 5.6 per cent.

"This shows the West Midlands moving from seventh among 12 regions and countries in the UK to second only to London."

Nick Paul, Advantage West Midlands chairman, said: "A great deal of the credit for the upturn in enterprise performance is due to the efforts of the West Midlands Enterprise Board and I am delighted to hear that their efforts are paying dividends.

"Worcestershire has played a key role in this performance increase and the county has a long-established history of entrepreneurialism.

"This is a real success story and it is absolutely vital that we continue and make our region the number one in the UK for enterprise."