Ceredigion Preseli crowned as Wales’s Small Business Capital.

• Ceredigion Preseli has the highest amount of small businesses in Wales.  
• Small businesses make up over half of all businesses in every U.K. constituency.
• Aberafan Maesteg has the lowest amount of small businesses in the Wales.
• Toni Dawson of Geraldo’s gives her thoughts.

As the U.K. enters the biggest shopping period of the year, hundreds of thousands of businesses will experience sales which may make or break them.

As people all over the country are urged to shop local, confectioners Geraldo’s have analysed data to find out which areas of the country have the most small and micro businesses.

They analysed data produced for a House of Commons report, which detailed a breakdown of businesses by size in each U.K. constituency. Using the data, they were able to find out which areas had the most businesses with 0-4 employees, as well as what percentage of the overall businesses in the area fell into this category.

In Wales, Ceredigion Preseli had the highest amount of small businesses with 4,525 located within the area. This was followed by Caerfyrddin with 4,375.

The smallest amount in the country was found in Aberafan Maesteg with just 1,355, followed by Rhondda and Ogmore with 1,360.

The Cities of London and Westminster had the most overall small businesses in the U.K, with 49,160 spread across their combined 9.41 square mile area. This was followed by Holborn and St Pancras with 22,610 and Hackney South and Shoreditch with 14,695.

Four areas were tied for the highest percentage of small businesses in the area, Streatham and Croydon North, Lewisham West and East Dulwich, Mitcham and Morden and Harrow East all saw small businesses make up 88% of the businesses in their area.

On the other end of the scale, Na h-Eileanan an Iar had the lowest amount of small businesses with just 920. This was followed by Glasgow North East with 1,225.

The Hamble Valley had the lowest percentage at just 64%, followed closely by Belfast North with 65%.

Toni Dawson, Owner of Geraldo’s shared her thoughts:

“Running a small business can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it takes an enormous amount of effort and time to shape it and keep it moving forward.

“In 2023 it was estimated that 20% of small businesses close within their first year, and 60% can collapse within their first 3 years of existence, and with the increase in costs that have come in the past 12 months, that figure could easily rise.

“The statistics show us that even in areas with the lowest percentages, small and micro businesses make up more than half of the organisations in any area. This is why it’s so important to support those businesses whenever possible.

“From providing work places, bolstering the local economy, to providing vital services or simply increasing the choice people have in where they spend their money, small businesses are an incredibly important part of a local community, but ultimately, they need the support of the communities they serve.”

“I’ve been very fortunate to have the support of the local community here in Largs for almost 25 years in business through many ups and downs, and that support has helped Geraldo’s to grow in ways I couldn’t have imagined when I first started out.”