Businesses and self-employed people in Swindon and Wiltshire receive £199million in Covid grants

All seven constituencies benefit as grant support for South West passes £2billion.

Businesses and self-employed people in Swindon and Wiltshire have received £199million in government grants to support them through the coronavirus pandemic, new data shows.

Businesses have received £118million and the self-employed £81million via grants that do not need to be paid back.

Meanwhile, businesses have secured £364million in coronavirus loans.

The data highlights how all seven constituencies in Swindon and Wiltshire have benefitted from an unprecedented package of support to protect lives and livelihoods.

Salisbury has received the most in grants for businesses (£19.9million), North Swindon the most in grants for the self-employed (£13.3million) and North Wiltshire the most in loans (£63.7million).

Across the South West, businesses and self-employed people have now received over £2billion in grants.

Meanwhile, this week the UK government-owned British Business Bank issued its 75,000th loan through its Start Up Loans programme.

Since its launch in 2012, the bank has issued £50.8million in loans to 6,214 small businesses and entrepreneurs in the South West, at an average of £8,179 each.

Over £623million in loans has been issued across the country.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma said: “The Start Up Loans programme was set up by the government-owned British Business Bank to give funding and support to entrepreneurs who might otherwise struggle to access it, making a real difference to tens of thousands of entrepreneurs across the country.

“Our plan to build back better will level up every region and sector of the UK economy, backing makers, doers and innovators regardless of background.

“As well as finance, every loan recipient is offered a support package, including access to a free expert business mentor for 12 months to help them with every aspect of setting up a business.”