Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to develop community enterprises and entrepreneurship that are based around (1) local, and (2) circular, economies within town centres.

His Majesty’s Government recognises the positive contribution of social and community enterprises to society and the economy, including their vital role supporting local areas.

DCMS has launched the £4.1 million Social Enterprise Boost Fund to provide targeted support for early-stage social enterprises in disadvantaged places. This new fund will provide capacity-building such as business support, training, networking, one-to-one support and peer learning, and includes £1.5 million of grants for entrepreneurs to kick-start their social enterprises.

In addition to the Social Enterprise Boost Fund, DCMS supports the sector through the £900,000 Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Contract Readiness Fund, developed to increase social and community enterprise participation in public service delivery.

BEIS provides support through The Start Up Loans Company, a subsidiary of the British Business Bank, providing loans between £500 and £25,000 and pre- and post-application support to new entrepreneurs across the UK, including a year of free business mentoring for successful applicants.