§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support has been offered to small businesses in Tamworth constituency in each year since 1997. [185835]
§ Nigel GriffithsBetween 1997 and 2000 support to small businesses in Tamworth was provided by Staffordshire Training and Enterprise Council and subsequently it has been provided by the Business Link Operator for Staffordshire, Staffordshire Business Support Limited.
The total number of businesses advised or helped by Staffordshire Business Support Limited since April 2000 is 1,552. Specific support has included business start-up advice to 118 enterprises with workforce development, Investors in People, international trade, marketing and financial advice also being provided. Of the total enterprises assisted, 111 were female run and 35 were ethnic minority run enterprises.
Within the Tamworth constituency, businesses have been eligible for help from the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme, the SMART Award and the Enterprise Grant Scheme. Since 1997, the SMART Award and its successor, the Research and Development Scheme, awarded grants totalling £480,000 to four enterprises and the Enterprise Grant scheme has enabled a further six enterprises to receive grants totalling £130,350.