A LOCAL county councillor has welcomed data showing that more Ceredigion businesses have been established, and fewer closed down since 2020.

A recent study from Qardus has revealed that Ceredigion is the local authority where small to medium enterprises are thriving the most in the UK.

Responding to the findings, Cllr Clive Davies, Cabinet Member responsible for Economy and Regeneration, said: The figures back up what we have witnessed in Ceredigion over the past three years.

“New businesses starting and business growing, proving that Ceredigion is a good place to be in business, and to establish and grow a career in a range of sectors.

“I congratulate and thank the large number of innovative and resilient entrepreneurs behind these statistics.

“Establishing and growing a business is challenging, and we will want to continue to work with businesses in Ceredigion to support their development.”

And leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Jane Dodds MS, said small businesses needed support now more than ever.

“I was delighted to hear that, according to a recent study, Ceredigion has been labelled as the best place for small to medium enterprises to thrive in the UK,” she added.

“If anything, this should highlight the fact that it is possible for small business owners to secure a real financial foothold for both them and their businesses here in Wales.

“However, they cannot do this completely on their own.

“Whilst these figures do show promising signs, they also highlight just how difficult it is for small businesses across, not just Wales, but also the UK who are facing little to no help in dealing with the Cost-of-Living crisis.

“We must support our local businesses by reducing their business rates and providing them with the necessary resources they need to succeed.

“Small businesses are very often the heartbeat of communities across Wales - we cannot afford to sit by and watch as they slowly fade away.”