PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Small Businesses: Witham (4 December 2017)

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many small and medium-sized businesses in Witham constituency received support under each business support scheme operated by his Department since 2010.

Asked by:
Priti Patel (Conservative)

Small and medium-sized businesses in Witham can access support through GOV.UK and the Business Support Helpline. Government has also supported and invested in the creation of a network of 38 Growth Hubs (one in each Local Enterprise Partnership area), providing businesses across England with tailored advice and support. We, however, do not hold data at constituency level showing how many small and medium-sized businesses utilised this support.

The South East Business Hub acts as the first port of call for businesses in the Witham constituency. Since its launch in 2014, the South East Business Hub has engaged and supported 7853 businesses and has helped 527 individuals looking to start up a new business in the East Sussex, Essex, Kent, Medway, Southend and Thurrock areas.

As at end of June 2017, British Business Bank programmes have facilitated almost £18m to 119 businesses in the constituency of Witham*. This includes 36 Start-up Loans at a value of over £227,000.

Through our Industrial Strategy, we will continue to back small and medium-sized business to grow and create jobs by providing an environment in which they can thrive.

* This does not include the ENABLE Funding programme as we are unable to identify data at a constituency level.

Answered by:
Margot James (Conservative)
12 December 2017