4. What is the Welsh Government doing to promote entrepreneurship in Mid and West Wales? OAQ51702

Entrepreneurship is the fuel of a vibrant economy, and 'Prosperity for All' and the economic action plan outline our actions and interventions to support a greater degree of entrepreneurship in Mid and West Wales and across the whole of the country. 

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for your answer. In November last year, the Welsh Government did announce a £4 million investment to establish four new business hubs. I understand that that will be part-funded by the European regional development fund. Two of the new hubs will be in my constituency: one in north-west Wales and the other in mid Wales. Of course, it's a very welcome investment, because it's expected to create jobs with above-average salaries for those areas and provide space and help for budding entrepreneurs. Cabinet Secretary, when can we expect the business hubs in north and west Wales, and mid Wales, to be established?

Can I thank the Member for her question and for the keen interest that she has shown in entrepreneurship in her region? The Member will be aware that we've already allocated £1 million for an innovation business hub in Wrexham, which will help to support the development of 100 new businesses and 260 jobs over a two-year period. I'm pleased that we've also been able to announce, subsequent to that, £4 million for other innovation and business hubs across north-west Wales, mid Wales, south-west Wales, the Valleys and the south-east Valleys as well. In total, if those figures could be replicated across each of the hubs, we'd be looking at the establishment of something in the region of 500 new businesses over the course of two years and more than 1,200 new jobs. It would only take one or two of those businesses to become a Google or an Apple for that investment to be paid back tenfold or more. It's an exciting development, and I expect to be able to announce the winning tenders for the additional four hubs before the summer recess. And, of course, dependent on the tender process, I envisage that they'll be able to be operational by the end of this calendar year.

Cabinet Secretary, one way to promote entrepreneurship more widely across Wales is to ensure that enterprise skills are taught as part of the curriculum here in Wales, to encourage children and young people to look at ways in which they can develop and manage their own projects. Therefore, can you tell us what steps the Welsh Government is taking to develop youth entrepreneurship across all parts of Wales, and can you also tell us what discussions you've had with your colleague the Cabinet Secretary for Education on this particular issue?

Well, it's been a particular issue that we've examined very closely over the course of many years, with the current education Secretary and also with her predecessor. Changes to the curriculum will be crucial in driving up an entrepreneurial spirit at an earlier age, but we're already investing heavily in the Big Ideas Wales service that's rolled out across schools in Wales. That encompasses interventions such as Enterprise Troopers and also role models. As a consequence of our investment and the concerted effort in driving up entrepreneurialism amongst younger people, we now see the greatest number of young people wanting to start up their own businesses than we've ever seen before. I think that's down to young people in Wales wanting to apply their creativity and their innovation in the modern age.