WREXHAM has received the highest value of loans across North Wales at more than £1.6million since the launch of a loans programme in 2012.

Start Up Loans, part of the British Business Bank, has announced that it has provided over £45million worth of funding to small businesses in Wales, equating to more than 4,500 loans, since the scheme launched in 2012.

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Local authorities in North Wales - Wrexham, Flintshire, Conwy, Gwynedd, Denbighshire and Isle of Anglesey - have received a combined value of over £7million in Start Up Loans to small businesses.

Of the local authorities in North Wales, Wrexham received the highest loan value at £1.6million.

A full breakdown of loans to the top 10 local authorities in Wales since 2012, including amount lent, volume and average amount. Image: British Business Bank

A full breakdown of loans to the top 10 local authorities in Wales since 2012, including amount lent, volume and average amount. Image: British Business Bank

Across Wales, of the loans distributed, 37% have gone to female business owners and more than 7% to business owners from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds.

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Louise McCoy, commercial managing director at the British Business Bank, said: "Start Up Loans is proud to have provided £45million worth of funding to business owners across Wales since 2012. Welsh entrepreneurialism has seen us support some wonderful businesses.

"We hope that entrepreneurs across Wales are inspired by the stories of successful businesses that have launched across the Nation, thanks to the funding available via the programme. We're excited to see what the next generation of Welsh founders brings."

• The funding for the Start Up Loans programme is provided by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).