Caerphilly County Borough has been named in the top five Welsh council areas where benefit claimants have started their own business.
In total, more than 4,000 new businesses have been started by jobless benefit claimants in Wales according to official statistics released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The figures reveal that in Wales a total of 4,070 new businesses have been created using the UK Government’s New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) since it was introduced in April 2011, contributing to a British total of more than 73,000 new start-ups created through the scheme.
In Caerphilly County Borough, the figure is 270, placing it fifth out of 22 local authority areas.
Cardiff is top with 540, followed by Swansea with 410, Carmarthenshire 350 and taking fourth is Pembrokeshire with 290.
The NEA provides benefit claimants who have a solid business idea with financial support and a business mentor.
UK Employment Minister, Priti Patel, said: “We want everyone in all parts of Britain to benefit from the opportunities being created by our growing economy. We are supporting people, regardless of their background or where they are from, who want to work hard and get on.
“This scheme helps claimants with a good business idea to become their own boss so they can support themselves and their families, and turn their lives around.”
The UK is rated as the best place in Europe and one of the best places in the world to start a business, however the UK Government wants to see more people from disadvantaged communities have the opportunity to turn their dream of being a boss into a reality.
The UK Government has launched a DWP-led review, carried out by leading entrepreneur and business woman, Michelle Mone OBE, into how to support more people from these areas to set up their own business.
Disadvantaged communities may include areas where there is a higher level of unemployment, entrenched worklessness, or lower levels of education.
Secretary of State for Wales, Stephen Crabb, said: “Everyone who sets their sights and ambitions high has the support of this government, every step of the way.
“The New Enterprise Allowance is helping thousands of people in Wales choose to end a life on benefits, start their own business and be part of a new enterprise generation.
“These are the employers of the future – the ones that will transform our economy, create more jobs and build a prosperous future for Wales.”