THE Government’s Start-Up Loans Scheme has helped 546 entrepreneurs in the West Midlands set up their own business.

Across the country 10,000 Start-Up Loans have now been awarded, worth a total of £50 million.

The statistics were welcomed by Dudley South MP, Conservative Chris Kelly.

He said: “In the West Midlands £3,056,026 has been lent to 546 budding entrepreneurs and £101,000 has been lent to 21 entrepreneurs here in Dudley.”