An IT company which has seen a 50 per cent rise in enquiries from potential franchisees as unemployment rates continue to soar is targeting people in Birmingham who have recently been made redundant.

As unemployment levels reach the highest they have been in the UK for 12 years, The PC Support Group has seen an increase in people looking to start their own business. Managing director Phil Bird said: “Far from scratching their heads wondering where their career is going, people should see this as perfect timing to start up their own business doing something they enjoy and building something of value.”