<p>A burgeoning "app economy" and new social media platforms are giving the UK a technology-focused shot in the arm and helping it become a global player in the information sector.</p><p>That's according to accounting services company NoPalaver, which says that the number of businesses operating in the sector has risen 14% to more than 300,000 compared with two years ago.</p><p>Social media is driving growth of IT start-ups and helping raise the profile of tech hubs such as East London's Silicon Roundabout in Tech City, it says, which is in turn breeding innovation in the sector.Going alone</p><p>While the majority of the companies (19.17%) are small companies with less than 50 employees, the vast majority (79.7%) are sole contractors, the company found.</p><p><a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/management/it-firms-up-37-000-in-two-years-driven-by-social-media-and-apps--1202365">Keep reading...</a></p>