6. Will the First Minister make a statement on support for micro businesses in Wales? OAQ(5)0417(FM)

Yes. Business support is available for entrepreneurs, micro, small and medium-sized businesses across Wales through our Business Wales service. Our focus remains on supporting innovation-driven entrepreneurs, jobs and the economy.

Thank you, First Minister. As well as the support you’ve referred to, I’m aware that Business Wales provides considerable practical support and guidance for developing businesses, such as business plans, research, marketing, managing et cetera. In Merthyr Tydfil we have a fabulous organisation called the Hwyl Hub, which offers facilitated office space for businesses to share resources and ideas under one roof. The facilitated space offers a one-stop, cost-effective environment to kick-start ideas and share skills, knowledge and success. An important part of the hub’s role is not just to provide the facilitated office space, but it provides a forum for these new or developing small businesses to share experience and good practice and mutual support.

Do you agree with me, First Minister, that initiatives like this can be incredibly beneficial to small businesses, particularly in their formative years, and have an important role to play in supporting the continued growth of new businesses in Wales, supplementing the work done by Business Wales?

Yes, I do, because sharing expertise, good practice and having a network of support is an important factor for start-ups. I know the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, in conjunction with the regional entrepreneurial acceleration programme, REAP, is currently reviewing the requirements for incubation space, including the type of spaces that are needed in Wales, in order to make sure that that provision is available in the future for microbusinesses, some of whom will grow to be substantially larger and employ more people.