The Welsh Government Business Start-up programme has helped create more than 10,000 jobs to date – with a further 13,000 jobs set to be created by June 2015, Business Minister Edwina Hart will announce today (Wednesday November 14).
The latest figures will be revealed by the Minister when she addresses the Entrepreneurs Wales 2012 Conference in Cardiff.
To date 4,350 new enterprises have been established – creating 10,000 plus jobs – since the programme was launched in July 2008. The milestone 10,000 jobs figure was achieved last month.
The Business Start-up programme, jointly funded by the Welsh Government and the European Regional Development Fund, runs until June 2015 when it is forecast a further 13,000 jobs will have been created by an additional 5000 new businesses.
Speaking ahead of the sell-out conference later today the Minister said: “Entrepreneurs and business owners are the heart and soul of the Welsh economy and their success is key to Wales’ future economic growth.
“We want to encourage and support entrepreneurs in Wales and helping those wishing to start and grow their business remains one of my priorities. I am therefore delighted to release these latest figures for new enterprises and jobs that have been created in Wales following direct support received from the Business Start-Up initiative.”
Mrs Hart added that the Welsh Government is already implementing a number of key recommendations in the Micro-Business Report for Wales to support small enterprises.
A Micro-Business Loan Fund has been launched and a new mentoring service for SMEs and the Business Wales – One Stop Shop will become operational in January 2013 to provide additional support for businesses.