Welcome to the Make Your Mark campaign’s Enterprise Insights where only the most interesting enterprise developments and stories are delivered to you fortnightly.
Creating enterprising places
Regeneration work must do more to tackle underlying economic challenges. This DCLG consultation document puts forward “Improving rates of work and enterprise in deprived areas” as one of three priority outcomes for future regeneration activity. (Response deadline: October 31st)
Enterprise in rural areas needs to be better encouraged and supported to create sustainable rural communities according to an independent review. It calls for Regional Development Agencies and regional planning bodies to support the further development of rural enterprise hubs and proposes an exemplar programme to identify best practice.
Entrepreneurial motivations and barriers
Business founders seek work-life balance (Online poll by smallbusiness.co.uk)
More than four in five entrepreneurs are attracted by perceived advantages of running their own business, rather than seeking to escape from unsatisfactory careers. A quarter of those who set up their own business did so to achieve a better work-life balance, 20% to make their fortune, and 18% wanted to be their own boss.
DNA of an entrepreneur (International study by Hiscox, specialist insurer)
Hiscox’s found that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Europe. More than half of small business owners in the UK (52%), the Netherlands (57%), and Germany (53%) say they have no intention of limiting their expansion plans despite the prevailing economic climate. In the US, businesses are even more bullish, with 69% stating they will continue to grow their business.
Real-world education and skills
UK Commission for Employment and Skills Business Plan (UKCES, PDF: 574KB)
A nationwide programme of activity has been launched to enhance economic competitiveness and social cohesion. The UKCES, established in April 2008, set out a business plan that will help shape skills and enterprise policy in the UK including projects:
- to examine skills utilisation and high performance working in business
- to define employability and map the ‘asks’ that are made of employers in employment and skills systems
- to integrate employment and skills services in England, Wales and Scotland; improve the job prospects of low-skilled workers; and improve recruitment and career pathways for women.
In the media
Julie Meyer’s Entrepreneur Country Manifesto sets out a vision to allow entrepreneurs to get on with shaping the future growth of Europe. Her 15-point plan was met with a mixed reaction from entrepreneurs.
A controversial Policy Exchange report (PDF: 861KB) on cities called for large-scale migration from northern cities to London and the South East. This provoked widespread debate, with David Cameron distancing the Conservative party from the thinktank’s findings.
Retired entrepreneurs may have to ‘unretire’ to receive incomes from their old businesses according to press speculation. Watch out - you haven’t got rid of the boss that easily!
Youth is no barrier to entrepreneurship. Hunter and Taylor, 7 year-old Australian twins, have started a candle company to help them save the money to buy an iMac. And the Metro recently featured the UK’s own 10-year old Elsa Amiss, who is in line for a top food award after starting her own business selling duck eggs.
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