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Over one hundred local jobs created with support from the Business Start-up Fund
Tuesday 21 April 2026
New and growing businesses across Bridgend County Borough have created more than one hundred jobs over the last year with support from the council’s Business Start-up Fund.
Since April 2025, the fund has supported local entrepreneurs to establish and expand their businesses, leading to the creation of over one hundred jobs across the county borough.
The Business Start-up Fund provides capital grants of up to £4,000, covering up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs (excluding VAT). The funding helps new businesses purchase equipment and essential assets needed to get started or grow.
By supporting early-stage businesses, the scheme aims to encourage entrepreneurship, strengthen the local economy and create new employment opportunities for local people.
Businesses supported by the fund operate across a range of sectors and locations throughout Bridgend County Borough. Many are helping to bring new activity to local high streets, while others are establishing themselves in commercial and industrial premises.
One business to benefit from the scheme is Copperhouse Films Ltd.
“We’re incredibly grateful to have received match funding through the Business Start-up Fund, supported by Bridgend County Borough Council. The funding has enabled us to invest in high-end equipment and enhance our production capabilities, improving the quality of our work and allowing us to take on larger, more ambitious projects. It has also given us the confidence to grow the business sustainably and create new opportunities in the local creative industry sector.”
“The funding came at exactly the right time, as I was ready to launch my deli and needed to invest in essential kitchen equipment. I’m incredibly grateful for the support provided by Bridgend County Borough Council, not only through the funding but also through opportunities such as trading at the Maesteg on the Menu food and drink event. It has made a real difference in helping me get started.”
“We’re proud that Bridgend County Borough is a place where entrepreneurial aspirations can thrive. The success of the Business Start-Up Support Fund shows what’s possible when we invest in our residents’ ambitions – more than one hundred new jobs created in the space of a year. This is more than a fund; it’s a catalyst for growth, innovation, and opportunity across our county borough. Supporting local entrepreneurs is a top priority for us – enabling them to turn their ideas into thriving businesses. We’re building a stronger, more dynamic and thriving county borough —one business at a time.”
The Business Start-up Fund is delivered by Bridgend County Borough Council in partnership with UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE).
Anyone interested in starting a business in Bridgend County Borough or applying to the Business Start-up Fund can find further information by visiting the council’s website or contacting the Economic Development and Enterprise team.
