Britain’s got entrepreneurial talent (in Government?)

As a Russian boxer enters the Big Brother house, a new Enterprise Czar is appointed to the UK Government. Will Sir Alan’s hiring put enterprise and its support at the heart of Government policy, or will it prove to be the joker in Gordon’s reshuffled pack?

With the economic meltdown seemingly steadying (no mention of green shoots here please!), its a positive sign to see The Apprentice’s star being appointed to advise on measures to support and grow entrepreneurs. At the same time, BERR have announced a new review into measures to employ to help SMEs access credit. 

The Growth Capital Review is one of the first measures to be taken forward from the Government’s ‘New Industry, New Jobs’ strategic plan for Britain’s recovery. The plan focuses on the resources our businesses need to prepare for the upturn and prioritises high growth firms being able to access the financing they need as opportunities emerge in a new, global economy.

The review will determine if any intervention, including a modern-day version of Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation/3i, is required to ensure small and medium sized firms with good growth potential have access to the capital they need to take advantage of the upturn.

With all of the shuffling around in Westminster,  now is the perfect time to focus on ensuring that enterprise and innovation are seen as fundamentals to the socioeconomic wellbeing of the nation. When voting yesterday in the European Elections, speculation was rife that voters would use their ballots to protest about the MPs expenses debacle. Indeed, as I looked through the manifestos crammed through my own letterbox, they all focussed on expenses on not on the issues that are really important:

• health
• crime
• education
• the economy

But as we head towards the election that really counts, the general election, I’d like the parties to add another manifesto fundamental: economic development. Without it, how are we going to pay for health services, the police and a world class educational system amongst all of the other vote winning policies? Britain was once the powerhouse of ideas, innovations and enterprise. Those within the business incubation community knows that it still is, although stiffled through a lack of investment and real support from policy makers.

So, for all of those campaign managers out there preparing the manifestos for the impending election and all the MPs who now have a lot of time on their hands after standing down, consider the importance, nay necessity, of economic development and business incubation’s role in it. It could just be a public vote winner and you may hear: “You’re Hired!”

Toni Wanklin

Marketing and Development Manager

UK Business Incubation

Tags: business incubation, election, reshuffle