Welcome to the Make Your Mark campaign’s Enterprise Insights where only the most interesting enterprise developments and stories are delivered to you fortnightly.
Unlocking enterprise potential
New opportunities: Fair chances for the future (Cabinet Office - pdf: 1.18MB)
The Government has launched a new White Paper aiming to encourage social mobility – key to which is, ‘encouraging a culture in which talent can be unlocked and flourish, recognising differences in enterprise culture across different social groups, reducing the fear of failure that holds enterprise back, and giving everyone the opportunity to be entrepreneurial’.
New measures proposed within the White Paper include new online business mentoring schemes aimed at different demographic groups and offering financial support for people who are unemployed and want to start a business.
Released alongside the social mobility White Paper, this report examines behavioural change strategies to change the attitudes and behaviours of young people with low aspiration, according to research by the Social Exclusion Task Force. They believe that low aspirations are most prevalent amongst white boys and within particular types of neighbourhood.
Whilst there are a significant number of current initiatives working in this area, they believe that more could be done to co-ordinate efforts to create a cultural change, a better alignment in the purposes of interventions and a greater integration of schools with local government and businesses.
Supporting businesses and growth
Attacking the recession (Nesta – pdf: 1.88KB)
Networking entrepreneurs will lead the UK out of recession to ‘emerge as a more innovative, greener, more sustainable and diversified economy’, according to an argument by Charles Leadbeater and James Meadway on how the Government should respond to the economic downturn. They propose a wave of measures the Government should adopt, such as investing in communications infrastructure; online peer-to-peer business mentoring; and ensuring schools establish a ‘focus on entrepreneurship and business skills’.
Creating enterprising places
Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2008 Report (pdf: 1.6MB)
The tenth annual report from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor – which compares entrepreneurship in 43 countries through surveys and expert interviews – shows that entrepreneurship is considered a good career choice in the UK (52%) and that a comparatively high proportion of individuals have the knowledge and skills to start a business (45%).
For the first time, the report divides countries into ‘types of economy’ – with the UK as one of 18 ‘innovation-driven economy’ producing innovative, opportunity-seeking entrepreneurial activity. Whilst the UK ranks comparatively well amongst the 18 innovation-driven economies, a smaller proportion of people in the UK personally know someone who has started a business within the past two years (23%) compared to France (33%) and Denmark (43%).
In the media
The Government has unveiled a package of new financial help for SMEs, including a £10bn Working Capital Scheme, a £1.3bn Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme and a £75m Capital for Enterprise Fund.
Successful entrepreneur and star of TV’s Dragons' Den, James Caan, has been appointed the Co-Chair of BERR’s Ethnic Minority Task Force – which aims to boost business growth in black and minority ethnic (BME) firms and encourage more BME entrepreneurs.
A £35m business start-up programme has launched in the North West of England through Business Link. Meanwhile the innovative East of England Development Agency is offering £3,000 worth of vouchers for businesses to get one-on-one collaboration with local universities.
Entrepreneurs can bid for £1,000 to get their business started, with a £10,000 additional prize for the winner, in Shell’s Young Entrepreneur of Year competition – previously won by Make Your Mark ambassador Jamie Murray-Wells.
Creating enterprising places
The Enterprising Places Network (EPN) aims to gather together exemplars of enterprise practice across the UK, capture experiences of local development, share inspirational stories, and catalyse debate around key elements of enterprise.
Would you like to know more, or share ideas on;
- Showcasing innovative approaches to enterprise, linking like minded places?
- Connecting to others through the sharing of good practice?
- Providing an interactive forum that connects Enterprising Britain winners and entrants?
- Stimulating debate and discussion across the UK on creating enterprising places?
- Sharing experience and inspirational stories, and linking ideas to action?
If so, and if you would like to join this free membership network, host a future event, or know of any potential other members, themes, or discussion topics please contact epn@makeyourmark.org.uk!
Step into the spotlight…
Are you an enterprising young Brit? Do you know someone who should be in the spotlight? The fifth Daily Mail Enterprising Young Brits Awards is now open and calling for entries so if you or someone you know is aged 30 or under and has made their idea happen in a new, innovative or inspiring way, what are you waiting for?!
For more info and to enter visit www.makeyourmark.org.uk/youngbrits
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