Welcome to the first issue of the Make Your Mark campaign’s policy news round-up, where only the most interesting enterprise developments and stories are delivered to you fortnightly.

Creating enterprising places

How can cities thrive in the changing economy? (Work Foundation)

This report highlights a gap between cities that are at the forefront of economic development, and others that are striving to catch up. The Guardian's map shows the striking disparity between coastal towns and more landlocked bastions of the knowledge economy. 

Taking Entrepreneurship Global (Make Your Mark)

This briefing paper highlights the need for a ‘global mindset’ amongst budding entrepreneurs to scale up business ideas, ambitions and make global connections. It provides some suggestions for nations to create an enterprise culture around the globe. 

Growing good business / social enterprise

The Future Face of Enterprise (Make Your Mark and Demos)

This report, launched by the Make Your Mark campaign and Demos, considered what the Future Face of Enterprise might look like. A range of experts reflected on themes including the geography of enterprises, the business of social change and mindsets required for an enterprising UK. The article on good business also appears on The Guardian website.

Social Entrepreneurship in the UK (Delta Economics, GEM and Barclays, PDF: 1.2MB)

35% of all nascent entrepreneurs are social entrepreneurs compared to 5.5% of actual businesses. Learn more about the current state of social entrepreneurship in the UK from the Delta Economics report. 

Brown's Public Service Vision: excellence and fairness (Cabinet Office, PDF: 904KB)

This report sets out the next phase of public service reform. Of interest is the “growing role for independent public service providers, voluntary organisations and social enterprises…and in the coming weeks we will set out how we can promote a new wave of innovation led by social enterprise whilst protecting the values of publicly funded services free at the point of use.” 

Real-world education and skills

Universities' influence on economy grows (Wired-Gov)

The report analyses innovation in the UK service sector and argues that company culture and market forces are the main drivers of innovation. Recommendations include a more flexible tax system and identifying champions of innovation across government and the public sector.

Driving up innovation in businesses

Excellence in Service Innovation (CBI/QinetiQ, PDF: 2.83MB)

The report analyses innovation in the UK service sector and argues that company culture and market forces are the main drivers of innovation. Recommendations include a more flexible tax system and identifying champions of innovation across government and the public sector. 

In the media

Two former dragon’s Den panellists were among those giving evidence to the business and enterprise select committee. MPs on the business and enterprise select committee were advised by two previous Dragon’s Den panellists. Rachel Elnaugh criticised banks for forcing entrepreneurs out of business when times get tough and Doug Richard criticised the government for capping annual investment at £2 million.

The newly formed Public Sector Research Exploitation (PSRE) fund set up by DIUS may well support future university spinouts by providing £68 million to help commercialise research.

MEPC, a real estate company, is opening a £6 million incubator to house up to 60 university spin-out companies at its business park in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

If you’re reading this you could be one of the entrepreneurs that are so busy they cannot take a summer holiday.

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