Welcome to the Make Your Mark campaign’s Enterprise Insights where only the most interesting enterprise developments and stories are delivered to you fortnightly.

In this packed edition of Enterprise Insights, we talk to world famous academic Scott A. Shane, as well as wrapping up the year with a selection of our favourite publications of 2009.

Building Britain's future

Building Britain’s Recovery: Achieving full employment (DWP – pdf: 2.15MB)

Encouraging self-employment and entrepreneurship will be a key part of reducing unemployment in the UK, according to a new Government White Paper. The paper, published by the Department for Work and Pensions, outlines how the Government is responding to an increased appetite for self-employment amongst those currently out of work, including; raising awareness of this option amongst Job Centre Plus advisors, placing Business Link advisors at Job Centre Plus offices, as well as funding more advice and financial assistance.

The shape of business: the next ten years (Confederation of British Industry – pdf: 1.8MB)

Business in the UK will be fundamentally transformed in the next ten years, driven by changes to finance, public trust, demography, technology and the new low carbon economy, according to a prospective reflection paper by the CBI. The paper suggests ways that businesses will have to react to these changes, including a reduced reliance on debt, more flexible working and a greater focus on sustainability and ethics. Over the next five years, they predict slow but sustainable growth in the economy as companies respond to these changes, but suggest that this will ‘ultimately make UK businesses stronger’.

Driving up innovation in businesses

Personal characteristics for innovation, such as self-efficacy, creativity and risk propensity, need to be developed in individuals, rather than perceiving some people as innovative and others as not, according to a new report by NESTA. The report suggests that attitudes and behaviours towards innovation can be enhanced within the education system for young people and within the workplace, and that the Government plays a significant role in the promotion of this.

Growing good business/ social enterprise

Entrepreneurs need to be supported with better regulation, improved financial and commercial awareness and streamlined business support, a policy manifesto from the ICAEW argues. The manifesto, from the UK’s leading accountancy body, looks at areas for Government reform ahead of the General Election next year. They suggest that the two areas in most need of attention are in creating an environment for enterprise that delivers value for money, as well as ensuring sustainability in the economy.

Thinking Business in Policy: an interim report (HM Treasury – pdf: 1.4MB)

Relationships between businesses and policy makers need to be strengthened, in order to understand better the effects of Government policies and encourage creativity and innovation in the policy making process, a report on business engagement pilots by the Government argues. During the next few months the Government are running a series of pilots to assess the impact of policies on businesses and how their views can be heard, as well as analysis of the impact of policy on business supply chains. Companies and organisations are asked to respond to the Government, who will be making recommendations in spring 2010.

Speakers' corner

American academic and winner of the 2009 Global Award for Entrepreneurship Research, Scott A Shane, talks to Enterprise Insights about;

• His groundbreaking research in the quest for entrepreneurial DNA
• How genetics can help us understand entrepreneurial behaviour
• Why policy makers need to be less ‘one size fits all’
• How academics are holding entrepreneurship back

Last month, each of the political party leaders wrote to Enterprise UK about the importance of entrepreneurship and Global Entrepreneurship Week, which now feature in our Speakers’ Corner. This concludes a great year of interesting and prolific individuals and organisations talking about entrepreneurship, including Professor Zoltan Acs, Wayne Hemingway and the ICAEW. 

In the media

The Government has announced the introduction of a 10% corporation tax on income stemming from UK patents in this year’s pre-Budget Report. Other measures, designed to help individuals and businesses now and encourage new growth, include a guarantee of work or training for any under 24 out of work for six months, an indefinite extension of the Time to Pay scheme and new funds made available to support the low carbon economy.

2009 Publications of the Year

Over the past year we’ve highlighted a number of great publications, which we hope you’ve found as interesting as we have. Here we’ve selected a few of our 2009 favourites (there's no real rigour to the judging process - we just liked them)

Now

The grey economy, NESTA
A great contribution to our understanding of the role of over 50s entrepreneurs in the economy.

Future

Grit, The Young Foundation
A well argued and fresh look at the attitudes and capabilities young people need to succeed.

Future Fit, CBI and Universities UK
The voice of business powerfully showing the value companies place on enterprising attitudes and skills.

Ambition 2020, UKCES
A comprehensively researched and cogently argued stock take of skills in the UK.

Global

UK 2008 Monitoring Report, Global Entrepreneurship Monitor
The ‘world’s most authoritative comparative study of entrepreneurial activity’, says it all.

The Economic Future Just Happened, Kaufmann Foundation
A well timed and informative analysis of entrepreneurship during recessions.

Local

Aspiration and attainment amongst young people in deprived communities, Social Exclusion Taskforce, DCSF, CLG
Well researched report published alongside the ‘New opportunities’ social mobility White Paper.

The state of enterprise education, YPEF
The Young People’s Enterprise Forum contributed with this excellent report on enterprise education provision in Yorkshire.
 

This will be our last newsletter of 2009, so until next year, we wish you an enterprising festive season and happy New Year!