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My name is Rhys, a first time dad blogging about my adventures and experiences of being a parent. [email protected]

Wales’s most entrepreneurial areas for start ups revealed

Swansea (Adobe Stock)

Start Up Loans, part of the British Business Bank, has today revealed the top local authorities for start ups across Wales, based on the number of Start Up loans successfully drawn down since 2012 by borrowers in their areas in comparison to other local authorities.

Swansea was found to be the top local authority for start ups in Wales, with 568 loans worth over £5.8 million successfully drawn down since 2012, representing 3.7 in every thousand local adults.

Swansea also saw the largest number of loans delivered, with an average loan size of £10,345 per loan.

Following Swansea’s lead Newport and Ceredigion follow in second and third place respectively, with entrepreneurs in Newport receiving 285 loans worth over £2.7m since 2012, representing 3 in every thousand adults and Ceredigion based entrepreneurs receiving 123 loans worth over £1.3m, representing 2.9 in every thousand adults within the local population.

Ceredigion’s high ranking as third top local authority in Wales for SUL drawdowns is particularly notable due to its rural status: it is the second least densely populated area in Wales.

This latest data has been made available ahead of the Bank kickstarting its first annual Business Finance Week 2022 (7-11 November 2022), hosted in conjunction with business support partners from across the UK.

The full picture for start ups in Wales’ 22 local authorities weighted against population size is as follows:

Local Authority Loans Made Amount Lent (£) Loans per 1000 Adults (18-65)
Swansea 568 5,876,408 3.7
Newport 285 2,762,515 3.0
Ceredigion 123 1,317,187 2.9
Neath Port Talbot 244 2,434,852 2.8
Monmouthshire 150 1,523,595 2.7
Pembrokeshire 188 1,769,984 2.6
Caerphilly 276 2,666,005 2.5
Torfaen 142 1,266,989 2.5
Vale of Glamorgan 195 2,213,457 2.4
Carmarthenshire 255 2,693,035 2.3
Merthyr Tydfil 86 733,900 2.3
Bridgend 199 1,841,329 2.2
Powys 160 1,620,225 2.2
Cardiff 522 5,278,620 2.1
Conwy 134 1,314,012 2.0
Blaenau Gwent 83 653,150 1.9
Isle of Anglesey 69 639,955 1.8
Rhondda Cynon Taf 253 2,390,554 1.7
Wrexham 138 1,500,493 1.7
Denbighshire 80 740,167 1.5
Gwynedd 115 1,019,200 1.5
Flintshire 127 1,445,627 1.4

A total of 4,392 loans have been delivered by the Start Up Loans programme to entrepreneurs in Wales over the past decade, worth over £43.7 million. In September, the British Business Bank announced it is expanding the programme to include new businesses that have been trading for up to three years, as well as introducing a new growth loan option for businesses that have been trading for up to five years. 

Louise McCoy, Commercial Director, Start Up Loans, said: “It’s wonderful to see Swansea recognised in Wales for its contribution to entrepreneurship. I’m always inspired by the stories of small business owners who have used the Start Up Loans programme to take the leap into business ownership. Wales has an ever growing pool of diverse small businesses and I’m pleased to see that, with the help of Start Up Loans, they’re able to access the finance they need to grow and contribute to the local economy.”