The Start Up Loans programme, part of the British Business Bank, today announces that it has delivered a combined £15m of funding to small businesses in four key local authorities in Wales since the programme launched in 2012.
Swansea has received the highest value of loans at £6m, distributed to almost 600 small businesses, and the counties of Newport, Carmarthenshire and Caerphilly have each received over £3m worth of funding as of February 2024.
Across Wales, small businesses have received a total of more than £48m in 4,700 loans, with the average loan amount more than £10,000.
The British Business Bank Start Up Loans programme provides government backed loans of up to £25,000 per individual, up to a maximum of £100,000 per business. In addition to finance, successful applicants receive free mentoring, access to resources and advice.
See below for a full breakdown of loans to the top 10 local authorities in Wales since 2012, including amount lent, volume and average amount.
Top entrepreneurial local authorities in Wales:
| Local Authority | Amount Lent (£) | Loans Made | Average Loan Amount (£) |
| Swansea | 6,060,908 | 582 | 10,414 |
| Cardiff | 5,681,973 | 552 | 10,293 |
| Newport | 3,123,915 | 308 | 10,143 |
| Carmarthenshire | 3,051,035 | 284 | 10,743 |
| Caerphilly | 3,001,285 | 298 | 10,071 |
| Neath Port Talbot | 2,634,352 | 263 | 10,017 |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf | 2,561,897 | 266 | 9,631 |
| Vale of Glamorgan | 2,400,757 | 210 | 11,432 |
| Bridgend | 2,118,829 | 226 | 9,375 |
| Pembrokeshire | 1,890,484 | 197 | 9,596 |
Louise McCoy, Commercial Managing Director, Small Business Lending at the British Business Bank, said: “Start Up Loans is proud to have provided more than £48m worth of funding to business owners across Wales since 2012, and notably to Swansea, Newport, Carmarthenshire and Caerphilly which have just reached these significant funding milestones.
“We hope that aspiring business owners from across Wales are inspired by the stories of successful businesses that have launched across the nation, thanks to the funding available via the programme.”
