West Wales: Economic Review and Small Business Support Audit

This paper provides an analysis of the economy and labour market of West Wales, which isdefined as Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and Pembrokeshire. Some key points emerging fromthis are:- the important but declining role of agriculture, the growing importance of tourism, theimportance of self-employment and mico-enterprises, the role of the public sector, the existenceof a relatively well qualified workforce, and the uneven level of prosperity and developmentacross the three counties. This analysis then serves as the context for the review of small firmsupport agencies within the region. Existing polices are reviewed, and are typically found to besupply-lead rather than demand-driven in origin. The mechanisms in place for developing newpolices are then outlined. Finally, conclusions are drawn and recommendations made regardinggaps (and duplications) in current service provision, and from those that are likely to arise fromfuture needs within the local economy.[...]