Group Think

We’re so back. Or more accurately, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Entrepreneurship is, of which we’re the Secretariat. We’ve got big plans for the year ahead, but are always open to new ideas, and very open to working in collaboration with others – more on this later.

We’ve been Secretariat of the APPG for Entrepreneurship since 2018, but APPGs have a far longer history, dating back, at least in a more formal structure, to 1937 when two backbench Members of Parliament set up an all-party American committee to extend the knowledge of the United States within the British Parliament and elsewhere. The British-American Parliamentary Group (BAPG) is still around and certainly has its work cut out!

APPGs offer MPs and Peers a way to collaborate outside the rigid structures of party whips. Over time, the number of APPGs boomed, with everything from Advertising to Zoos represented. As the number grew, so did the need for stricter regulation. As a consequence, there are now fewer APPGs overall, and fewer focused on those not-so-inconsequential topics of business and wealth creation. That’s why we think the APPG we run is one of the most important.

So how can you get involved? First, sign up for the APPG’s monthly newsletter. This will give you an insider’s view of what’s going on and coming up in Parliament that is relevant to entrepreneurs and those who support them. Second, let us know if you want to host an Officer or Member of the APPG for an event. And finally, we are looking for between three and five keystone sponsors to support the work of the APPG, so just let me know if this is something you’d be interested in.

We’re very excited about the APPG. Our Officers include Tris Osborne MP (Labour), Victoria Collins MP (Liberal Democrat), Lord Leigh of Hurley (Conservative) and Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea (Crossbench) – all representing different political traditions, but all united in their determination to do their bit in making the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business.

We also have some exceptional Members, including serial entrepreneur Angus MacDonald MP, who founded eFinancialCareers among many other businesses, the Rt Hon the Baroness Neville-Jones DCMG (to give her full title), who sits on the Lords Science and Technology Committee, and rising star Callum Anderson MP who is the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Peter Kyle. The list goes on.

Truro to Tallinn

As we have argued ever since Britain voted to leave the European Union, it’s in each side’s interest to negotiate a UK-EU youth mobility scheme, replicating those we have with several other nations already. That’s why we welcome news that no fewer than 62 MPs have signed a letter calling for time-limited visas for 18- to 30-year-olds from Europe to travel and work freely in Britain, and vice versa. Briefings suggest that the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, is warming up the idea, albeit only if we insist on a ‘one-in, one-out’ approach to limit its contribution to net migration figures.

While I would like to see open travel, given the political constraints around immigration I’ve made this exact pragmatic case – after all, limited liberalisation is better than none at all. As regular readers may remember, I wrote:

“[J]ust 23,000 people came to the UK on Youth Mobility Visas in 2023, with as many young Brits going the other way (particularly to Australia). Also, most of these schemes are capped – Uruguay at 500 people, Canada at 8,000, and Australia at 45,000. We could negotiate for a capped EU Youth Mobility Visa scheme to offset the political risk associated with unexpectedly large numbers.”

Our country needs young blood. As our Research Director, Eamonn Ives, argued here last year:

“Like many countries, Britain’s population is steadily ageing. In 2022, around a fifth of the population were aged 65 years or older. Fifty years prior, the figure stood at 13%. Projections from the Office for National Statistics suggest that, 50 years hence, 27% of the population will be.

“While there are reasons to celebrate this trend – people living healthier, longer lives is surely a good thing – there’s no getting away from the fact that it also creates problems in need of solutions. A population which skews old means those of working age have to toil all the harder to cover the costs of pensions and other benefits.

“Allowing young, aspirational individuals to come into the country and contribute towards the economy is a surefire way to address this demographic dilemma. And if our analysis is anything to go by, it proves that immigrants play an outsized role right where it matters most – founding the fast-growing and innovative businesses that haul an economy into the future.”

On the subject of immigration, we’re on the lookout for a sponsor for Job Creators 2025. If you want to back one of our most impactful reports, get in touch.

Purposeful Profit

Britain’s Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) is a tax-advantaged way to reward employees and boost the growth of smaller companies. But while the economy has changed since it was first introduced, EMI hasn’t always kept up – with some now saying that it’s no longer fit for purpose.

We’re keen to test ideas for how it could be improved to ensure it is delivering for the companies it’s trying to support. If you have thoughts on EMI – either as a business owner who has offered it, an employee who’s made use of it, or other outside expertise – let us know and we’ll be in touch.

Three Big Ideas #30

Three Big Ideas is our weekly roundup of ideas (and our takes on them) in entrepreneurship, innovation, science and technology, handpicked by the team.

In this week, Eamonn Ives urges the Chancellor to call ‘cut!’ on tenuous taxbreaks for film studios, Philip Salter discusses the parallels between 17th Century brewing and our modern economy today, and Anastasia Bektimirova implores us to think of growth as a mode of transport, not a destination.

Guarding Golden Geese

Few policy issues hit as hard as tax. While entrepreneurs care about a lot – from access to talent and finance, to regulation and infrastructure, to making British culture more entrepreneurial – it’s only when changes to taxes are mooted that my inbox starts overflowing.

This is to be expected. While some think the art of taxation consists of plucking the goose so as to get the most feathers with the least hissing, entrepreneurs know full well that the real damage isn’t the hissing, but stopping them from creating the wealth that pays for everything else.

This week, the Tony Blair Institute released A Pro-Growth Roadmap for Business-Tax Reform. One recommendation I’m particularly keen on is allowing businesses to deduct the full cost of all plant and machinery expenditure (including on vehicles and, crucially for a lot of Britain’s startups, intangibles) and introducing ‘neutral’ cost recovery for buildings so that allowances keep pace with inflation and the time value of money.

All the way back in June 2018, my former colleague Sam Dumitriu wrote a report for the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Entrepreneurship making one of the first cases for full expensing in the UK. For those with an interest in how policy change really happens, read this article from The Economist.

Another recommendation I’m pleased to see is the idea to swap the existing business rates system for a commercial‑landowner tax that only taxes unimproved land value, shifting formal liability to landlords and removing penalties on developing or upgrading property.

Our Adviser Andrew Dixon OBE deserves full credit for this policy idea, which the TBI report gives by pointing people towards his brilliant Taxing Land, Not Investment report. As I wrote at the time: “Business rates are a tax on investment, adding to Britain’s productivity woes. Introducing a Commercial Landowner Levy would remove a key disincentive to investment and reduce administration costs for thousands of business owners. This is exactly the sort of policy entrepreneurs need to thrive.”

But it’s not all roses. The TBI report also calls for Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR), formerly Entrepreneurs’ Relief, to be scrapped. As entrepreneurs know only too well – particularly the thousands who have moved or are moving their business abroad – the relief has already been slashed, with the maximum amount of gains that are subject to the lower rate reduced from £10 million to £1 million in 2020, and the last Budget increased the tax rate on disposals from 10% to 18%.

While the report is right to point to the lack of evidence across the whole business population, we know from speaking to many of the world’s most successful founders that it has acted as a massive incentive for them to start and keep their businesses in Britain.

We’re keen to build the evidence base to prove this beyond doubt, and make the case that the Treasury should retarget the relief at founders who are scaling businesses to incentivise the world’s best entrepreneurs to start, grow and sell multiple businesses in Britain.

When the geese do need to hiss, we’re the megaphone (as we were when rumours swirled that Capital Gains Tax was going to be hiked significantly). All of which is to say, let me know if you think BADR is worth hissing about.

Protecting the Ecosystem

We’re launching a new meetup group for entrepreneurship ecosystem builders. As Natalia Loza, who is partnering with us on this, explains:

This gathering is for those working behind the scenes to make entrepreneurship thrive. Whether you’re leading or sponsoring an accelerator, venture builder, corporate innovation team, policymaking body, university innovation office, innovation agency, or any other venture support organisation – your work is vital in helping founders and businesses launch, grow, and succeed.

What’s in it for you?

• Meaningful connections with like-minded ecosystem builders

• Fresh insights from others navigating similar challenges and opportunities

• And yes – coffee, croissants, and great conversation in good company

Say WhatsApp?

After a bit of experimenting, phase one of our WhatsApp Community is working. Anyone can join our Community – just tap here. While you can’t post yet, you can respond to our announcements, which we try to keep to a couple per week.

We’ve also got our Adviser group up and running (request to join here) and the APPG for Entrepreneurship Advisory Board group (request to join here).

Next week, we’ll roll out our Supporters group and we’ll also launch our Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Builders (see above). Phase two will be opening up more groups through a comprehensive application form.

Three Big Ideas #29

Three Big Ideas is our weekly roundup of ideas (and our takes on them) in entrepreneurship, innovation, science and technology, handpicked by the team.

In this week, Eamonn Ives urges founders to heed Pablo Picasso, Philip Salter makes the case for unshackling more public data, and Jessie May Green delves into why carbon credit markets could be falling short of their true potential.

No Uncertain Terms

In this week’s issue of Perennial Gale, I explore how political uncertainty weighs on entrepreneurship, investment and innovation. Drawing on recent research and real-world examples – from the fallout of Brexit to the policy whiplash after Trump’s first term – I show how unpredictable policy environments can stall new business formation, shrink investor appetite and slow productivity growth. Even whispers of tax changes have recently prompted founders to rush exits ahead of possible reforms.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. There’s evidence that some firms respond to uncertainty by doubling down on R&D, treating turbulence as a strategic window to out-innovate competitors. While uncertainty depresses aggregate activity, the entrepreneurial instinct to adapt and push forward remains a vital counterforce. As we await the next Budget and possible further shifts in policy, the question isn’t whether uncertainty will persist – it’s how the most ambitious firms will navigate through it.

In addition, we want to hear from entrepreneurs. We’re responding to a government consultation on e-invoicing, and we’re looking into accelerators and incubators. Get in touch with Eamonn or Anastasia respectively to feed your views in.

Three Big Ideas #28

Three Big Ideas is our weekly roundup of ideas (and our takes on them) in entrepreneurship, innovation, science and technology, handpicked by the team.

In this week, Philip Salter takes stock of how to boost European scaleups, Eamonn Ives ponders a new way to think about GDP per capita, and Anastasia Bektimirova explains what she’s excited about as ARIA announces its second cohort of Programme Directors.

Anyone…?

Whatever mistakes you’ve made this week, take solace in the fact that you didn’t wipe $2.5 trillion of value off Wall Street and drive your country towards recession. And that’s ignoring the damage inflicted across the globe. No, that was Donald John Trump, the 47th President of the United States.

While on the face of it we got off relatively lightly, make no mistake: this is bad news for Britain’s entrepreneurs. While we ‘only’ got hit with 10% tariffs, our economy does not exist in isolation. When markets around the rest of the world stutter, so too will our own. These tariffs will destroy trading relationships for millions of individual firms, which may take years to adjust to – if at all. Positive-sum gains accrued from specialisation and exposure to international competition will evaporate.

As I’ve argued on these pages before, the government should be unstinting in its promotion of free trade around the world: “Free trade might be a little passé these days, but we shouldn’t forget the lessons of our forebears like Adam Smith who demolished the mercantilist worldview in the Wealth of Nations, and Richard Cobden, who tirelessly campaigned for free trade for the good of the poorest and to broker peace between nations.”

The methodology Trump’s team has used to impose tariffs is nothing short of madness. Despite claims to the contrary, they didn’t calculate tariff rates and non-tariff barriers. Instead, they just took the US trade deficit for each country and divided it by the country’s exports.

The tiny island of St Pierre et Miquelon got slammed with a 99% tariff because somebody bought $3.4 million worth of crustaceans in July 2024, but your deepest sympathies should go out to the entrepreneurs of Vietnam and Thailand and their populations, who will suffer deeply from these tariffs, both through direct exposure to US imports, but also indirectly via exports to the US through other countries.

There’s simply no escaping Econ 101. Trump needn’t have even pulled himself away from his TV addiction to learn this. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off does a good enough job of explaining why the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act of 1930 – legislation that raised tariffs on imports in an attempt to protect American industries and generate more revenue for the government – worsened the Great Depression by stifling international trade rather than helping the economy recover. Anyone…? Anyone…?

Mark my words. Trump’s tariffs will fail. Perhaps we can take solace in The Economist’s Mike Bird’s insight that aggressive protectionism is often followed by a long backlash: “The Corn Laws, Smoot-Hawley, and interwar European trade restrictions sparked the resurgence of free-trade liberalism in the generations that followed them.”

Jolly Good Fellows

Defeating Trump’s mercantilism and equivalents in the UK will require a lot of people to put up a strong fight. To that end, it’s great to see our good friends at UK Day One expanding to create the much-needed Centre for British Progress. I’m delighted that Anastasia Bektimirova, our Head of Science and Technology, has joined as one of their Fellows. I strongly recommend reading their long read Rediscovering British Progress.

Party Time

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Entrepreneurship will soon be back, with Tris Osborne MP (Labour), Victoria Collins MP (Liberal Democrats), Lord Leigh of Hurley (Conservative) and Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea (Crossbench). As the Secretariat we’ve got big plans, so how can you get involved?

First, if you’re an MP or Peer, you can still become a Member. Get in touch with our APPG Coordinator, Jessie, to let her know.

Second, if you or your company supports entrepreneurs you may want to support the APPG. We are looking for up to four supporters for 2025/26. Drop me an email so I can send through more information.

Third, if you represent entrepreneurs, you may be able to join our Advisory Board. We catch up every month to discuss policy issues, research and events relating to all things entrepreneurship. Drop Eamonn Ives an email to find out more.

Fresh Thinking

Another week, another new Adviser. This week, I’m pleased to announce that James Callander, Managing Director of Freshminds is joining our growing ranks. As he says:

“I have always been super enthusiastic about the world of business and entrepreneurs – while it can be hugely risky and not for everyone, I think that running your own company is a wonderful privilege and something we (as a society) should encourage as an engine of job and wealth creation.”

If you’re keen to join James as an Adviser, get in touch.

Data with Destiny

Over in the Analysis page of our Substack, our Head of Science and Technology Anastasia Bektimirova writes about her latest report, Governing in the Age of AI: Building Britain’s National Data Library, and how to drive innovation and growth through a new National Data Library.

Three Big Ideas #27

Three Big Ideas is our weekly roundup of ideas (and our takes on them) in entrepreneurship, innovation, science and technology, handpicked by the team.

In this week, Eamonn Ives draws attention to ways to reform the Office for Budget Responsibility in a pro-growth fashion, Anastasia Bektimirova asks whether tokenisation of the economy may require us to rethink institutions, and Jessie May Green looks at how smart siting could boost the rollout of renewable power.

Real Dynamo

For too long, there has been a chasm between rhetoric and reality – between the way that too many politicians talk and think about growth, and the realities of productivity. It’s time to bridge this gap. It’s time to focus on business dynamism.

To butcher a Paul Krugman quote, business dynamism isn’t everything, but, in the long run, it is almost everything. As the ERC’s State of Small Business Britain Report 2024, which was released this week, clearly states: “The link between business dynamism and productivity growth at the national level is an empirically established fact.”

Business dynamism is the pace at which businesses start up, expand, shrink, or close down. It matters because high dynamism usually goes hand-in-hand with greater innovation, stronger productivity growth, and more job opportunities. When new businesses emerge, and existing firms grow or adapt quickly, it tends to promote competition, fresh ideas, and economic vitality. Conversely, if dynamism wanes – reflected in fewer startups and lower rates of growth – innovation can slow, job creation can stall, and overall economic progress may suffer.

In the UK, Professor Mark Hart has been leading this research for many years. He finds that, on average, about a quarter of UK jobs are either created or destroyed each year. However, the overall job reallocation rate has declined over time, suggesting lower levels of business dynamism. Notably, only 3-5% of existing jobs are created by newly launched businesses (startups), and that proportion has been falling in recent years.

One of the implications for policymakers is the need to think about policies to support wider categories of businesses – whether that’s startups reaching £1 million turnover within three years; established firms growing from £1-2 million turnover to over £3 million; or so-called “productivity heroes” that are increasing revenue per employee while also creating new jobs.

There are debates to be had about how to slice and dice the categories. And there are full-on arguments to be had about the policies needed to support them – where they overlap and where they differ. But there can be no arguing at all about the importance of business dynamism.

We’re planning to do more on this issue. Drop me an email if you’re keen to be involved.

Spring Lose

In case you missed it, we gave our reaction to the Chancellor’s Spring Statement. We covered everything from revised growth forecasts, additional investment pledged for defence capabilities, Making Tax Digital and the consultation on R&D tax relief.

As many of you will know only too well, R&D tax relief is an ongoing debacle. It was a major point of contention at a roundtable we held the day after. In fact, our Research Director Eamonn Ives wants to hear from you if you’ve been stung by recent changes to R&D tax credits.

Two other ongoing bones of contention also cropped up – the impending hike to Employer’s National Insurance Contributions, and forthcoming regulations contained in the Employment Rights Bill.

Group Focus

We are collaborating with Enterprise Nation to deliver a joint response to the Government’s call for evidence on e-invoicing, with a view to understanding how to further promote its use among Britain’s small businesses. We’re looking for views from all sides. If you want to have your say, join our focus group from 12pm to 1pm on 9 April to share your thoughts.

Esprit de Cork

The latest Adviser to join our growing ranks is Julian Cork, COO and Board Member of Landbay, a leading UK prime buy-to-let mortgage lender which he has helped scale the platform to a loan book of over £3.3 billion. As he says:

“Entrepreneurship matters. It is one of the most powerful engines of innovation, job creation, and societal progress. Founders and startups don’t just build businesses, they solve real-world problems, challenge conventions, and drive economic dynamism. For the UK to remain globally competitive, it must continue to be a place where entrepreneurs can thrive – where ambition is supported, innovation is celebrated, and barriers to growth are removed.”

We couldn’t agree more. Find out how you can join Julian as our next Adviser here.

Real Dynamo

In this week’s issue of Perennial Gale, I argue that if we’re serious about fixing Britain’s sluggish productivity, we need to stop speaking in vague platitudes about growth and start focusing on business dynamism. As the latest State of Small Business Britain Report makes clear, the link between dynamism and productivity is no longer up for debate. When businesses start, scale, adapt, or even exit at a healthy clip, the result is more innovation, more competition, and a more vibrant economy.

Yet Britain’s dynamism is faltering. Fewer startups are breaking through, and job churn – a key indicator of economic vitality – is declining. The challenge for policymakers is to support not just more startups, but a wider range of firms at different stages of growth. That means targeted policies for everything from high-growth early-stage businesses to mid-sized firms boosting productivity and creating new jobs. However we frame the debate, one thing is clear – business dynamism is not a nice-to-have, it’s the engine of progress.

In addition, we gave our reaction to the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, issued a call for entrepreneurs to speak their minds at our event on e-invoicing with Enterprise Nation, and said hello to Julian Cork as our latest new Adviser.

Spring Statement 2025

This afternoon, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves gave her Spring Statement. Read below for our team’s snap reaction to some of the main points concerning economic growth, innovation and entrepreneurship.

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On the revised growth forecasts
Eamonn Ives, Research Director at The Entrepreneurs Network, said:

“For a Government which regards growth as its central mission, today’s forecasts are the epitome of a mixed bag. Supporters of the Chancellor will point to the upward revisions to growth figures from 2027. These are fuelled by the Office for Budget Responsibility deciding it can now evaluate the estimated impact of Labour’s planning reforms – which it thinks could single-handedly raise growth by 0.5%.

“Detractors, however, will note that growth projections for 2026 were slashed in half – to an abysmal 1%. What’s more, even if subsequent years do see higher output than previously anticipated, Britain will nonetheless fail to break 2% annual GDP growth by the end of this Parliament. Contrary to the cheers of Labour backbenchers, that should be no cause for celebration from anyone. Furthermore, while the OBR has factored in the positive growth effects of planning reforms, it has not done the same for the forthcoming regulations promised in the Employment Rights Bill. Should this legislation slow down hiring or impose additional burdens on employers, we should only expect yet more changes to the forecasts – and not in a welcome direction.” 

On the additional investment pledged for defence capabilities
Anastasia Bektimirova, Head of Science and Technology at The Entrepreneurs Network, said:

“Today’s announcements signal recognition that our security landscape demands not just greater investment, but a fundamental transformation in how we deliver military capability. The £2.2 billion uplift for the Ministry of Defence, including investment towards technologies such as autonomous systems and AI-enabled capabilities, is welcome. The focus on bringing these innovative technologies to the frontline faster through UK Defence Innovation supported with £400 million ringfenced budget, scaling over time, is promising, as is the segmented procurement approach which could finally address the notoriously slow acquisition processes that have hampered our defence capabilities.

“But as always, the true test will be implementation. The new Defence Growth Board must include frontier expertise from the defence tech ecosystem, especially given the Government’s commitment to make it easier for startups to bring innovative technologies to the frontline at speed. Success will be measured not by announcements or budgets, but by whether our frontline forces can rapidly deploy cutting-edge capabilities that replace the dated systems they’ve been relying on for far too long.”

On the announcement on tax reliefs for entrepreneurs and investors
Eamonn Ives, Research Director at The Entrepreneurs Network, said:

“Britain is Europe’s leading entrepreneurial ecosystem but it didn’t get that mantle by chance. It took years of careful policy making to incubate an environment where founders, investors and alike can take bets on launching dynamic startups and growing them to scale. Longstanding and globally revered tax reliefs like the Enterprise Management Incentives Scheme, the Enterprise Investment Scheme and the Venture Capital Trust Scheme all fall firmly into this category – supporting not only home-grown entrepreneurs but also enticing foreign talent from around the world to choose Britain as their place to build. 

“The Government’s announcement to convene a series of roundtables to examine these reliefs is therefore encouraging. Though they have proven successful to date, aspects of some now require inspection – not least around limits and thresholds for qualifying companies which have stayed static since their inception. With minor tweaks, we can ensure they continue to deliver for our precious entrepreneurial ecosystem, and by extension, the whole of the British economy.”

On the consultation on R&D tax relief
Philip Salter, Founder of The Entrepreneurs Network, said:

“For many founders of the UK’s most innovative companies, delays and uncertainty around the UK’s R&D tax credits regime have hit them hard. While the Government has made efforts to improve the system, more work is needed, with the announced consultation offering an opportunity to improve the system.

“However, the consultation is too focused on widening the use of advance assurance. While this can provide certainty to businesses, it’s not without an administrative burden – both for businesses and the government – and fails to address the more serious problems in the system: delays, errors, and a lack of avenues to reach HMRC.”

On the continuation of Making Tax Digital
Philip Salter, Founder of The Entrepreneurs Network, said:

“Continuing the rollout of Making Tax Digital is the correct decision from the Government. This will nudge Britain’s businesses towards increasing their productivity, as it reduces the time entrepreneurs devote to dealing with tax, while minimising inaccuracies. As a next step, the Government now needs a solid plan to present at the next Budget for the four million taxpayers who have income below the £20,000 threshold.”

Three Big Ideas #26

Three Big Ideas is our weekly roundup of ideas (and our takes on them) in entrepreneurship, innovation, science and technology, handpicked by the team.

In this week, Eamonn Ives calls for the Digital Services Tax to be scrapped, Anastasia Bektimirova examines what ‘Everythingism’ is and how it impedes good policymaking, and Jessie May Green looks into the innovators trying to solve water scarcity.

Winds of Change

Welcome to Perennial Gale – the new home for our Friday newsletter. Its name isn’t a reference to this weekend’s inclement weather forecast, but a quote from Joseph Schumpeter’s description of capitalism as “the perennial gale of creative destruction.” His observation in 1942 was that capitalism is neither stable nor static, but constantly shaped by innovation, entrepreneurship and change. Entrepreneurs are central to this, driving forward economic progress by disrupting existing systems – what he termed “creative destruction.”

Schumpeter was one of the first economists to take entrepreneurship seriously. It was his work, along with that of many others, which inspired us to start The Entrepreneurs Network over a decade ago. While there were, and still are, lots of people lobbying on behalf of the more static parts of the economy – whether large incumbents or small businesses – there was the need for an organisation focused on ensuring that ambitious entrepreneurs across all sectors of the economy have a voice in Westminster. We are that voice.

The wider movement that we are part of is starting to win the battle of ideas. Just this week, the Prime Minister penned an unequivocal piece for City A.M.:

“To deliver economic growth – the number one mission of this government – we need to unleash the power of the private sector. Entrepreneurs who work day and night to build a business from scratch. Family companies that have passed know-how across the generations. Iconic British companies employing thousands of people across all sectors. Investors who provide the capital and expertise that fuels growth and innovation.”

But winning the battle of ideas is only half the challenge. We also need to see change – and the right sort of change. The Government’s New Approach to Ensure Regulators and Regulation Support Growth has a lot going for it in identifying the complex, duplicative and uncertain state of regulation in Britain. It also correctly highlights the excessive risk aversion from regulators, and the high administrative costs regulations impose on businesses (potentially up to 3-4% of GDP). But action is needed.

To support us in helping the government make that change, we need the support of the thousands of entrepreneurs who read this: first, to tell us what your challenges are; second, to speak directly to policymakers and policy influencers at our events; and third, to continue to back and spread the word about our work and campaigns.

On point one, we will now be asking you every week to tell us what your business challenges are (more on this below). These can be any sort of challenge. If it’s a policy challenge, we’ll pass it on directly to policymakers. If it’s a business challenge, we’ll let you know if we know someone who can help. But even your most practical challenge will still be useful for policymakers. After all, the government is already spending billions on trying – and too often failing – to help with these too.

On point two, we have two upcoming events that might be of interest. On Thursday morning we will be at OakNorth reflecting on the Chancellor’s Spring Statement (request a place here). Your insights will directly inform our reaction. Then, on the morning of 1 April, we will be with Steve Rigby at Blick Rothenberg to discuss the serious matter of the impact of inheritance tax changes on entrepreneurs and family businesses (request a place here). Beyond being one of our Patrons, Steve has become a mega-influencer (for want of a better word) in policy circles. See what three things he thinks can steer the country in the right direction (paywall – The Times) and don’t miss his sterling performance on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.

Go Forth

Friend of the Network and Co-Founder of The Data City, Tom Forth, has been busy reading no fewer than 14 things published about the National Data Library (NDL), and has penned a blog on what he finds good, what he finds weak, and what he thinks the NDL should be (and, most importantly, where in the country it should be located). It’s a thorough piece which I recommend to anyone following the NDL’s progress (or seeming lack thereof).

And if you work with data in academia or the private sector and want to make sure the NDL is developed in a way that serves your needs, you can do your part by filling out the survey we’re running together with the Tony Blair Institute.

Words of Advice

For over a decade, we have been the voice for entrepreneurs in Britain – conducting original research, campaigning for change and building an extensive network of ambitious founders, innovators and other key players in the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Drawing on this expertise, we’ve decided to establish The Entrepreneurs Network Advisory to help shape policy landscapes and support businesses navigate complex regulatory environments. This formalises work that we’ve already been doing, including policy consultancy for entrepreneurs, public affairs and stakeholder engagement, polling and focus groups, media advocacy for entrepreneurial impact, and government advisory. Find out more here.

Three Big Ideas #25

Three Big Ideas is our weekly roundup of ideas (and our takes on them) in entrepreneurship, innovation, science and technology, handpicked by the team.

In this week, Eamonn Ives argues the case for technological solutions over behavioural adaptations, Anastasia Bektimirova weighs in on a debate about entreprenerial scholars, and Philip Salter explains why the path of liberalism is the one he’d prefer to take.

Login Required

Phew! What a week in the world of policy. Even without Trump’s tariffs, there is more than enough fodder to write about – from welfare reforms, to growing concerns over the Employment Rights Bill, to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill being revealed, and half a dozen other things besides.

We’ll get into each of these at some point. But today, I want to write about One Login. Well, more precisely, I want to encourage you to read James O’Malley’s excellent article on why the new GOV.UK login system is the first step in a radical transformation of the British state.

Inspired by the successful Government Digital Service (GDS), established in 2011, the UK has now launched a new Digital Centre of Government, bringing various digital initiatives under one coherent strategy. O’Malley contrasts this careful evolution with Elon Musk’s “bull in a china shop approach” to DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency).

One Login aims to consolidate hundreds of government logins into a single credential. Currently accessible for services like veteran ID cards and DBS checks, major services such as Universal Credit and HMRC remain separate for cautionary reasons.

For businesses, this means a lot less bureaucracy. For example, as I’ve been writing for years now, in Estonia it is estimated that these sorts of reforms save business owners around 12 million hours every year. (Given there are around 36 British companies for every Estonian one, an – admittedly very crude – estimate for time that could be saved here would be approximately 430 million hours per year!)  

A key ambition is the ‘once-only’ principle, meaning you’ll only have to submit your information once, leaving government responsible for updating records across departments automatically – similar to the existing ‘Tell Us Once’ service used for death notifications. This is, as I wrote in our essay collection endorsed by Tony Blair and Stripe’s Patrick Collison, “the way of the future.”

Do read O’Malley’s piece to get the full breadth of the potential. But ambition is one thing, and reality is another. The first hurdle will be ensuring these aspirations aren’t dented by the upcoming Spending Review.

n+1 = innovation
Following the announcement that former Science Minister Lord Willetts has been appointed as Chair of the Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO), this week was perfect timing to publish my interview with John Fingleton CBE to get his perspectives on how Britain should go about regulating markets in a way that encourages more innovation and economic growth.

I first heard John speak when he was head of the Office of Fair Trading (the precursor to the Competition and Markets Authority) and have followed his insights on all things regulation for years.

Our conversation covered what it would take for RIO to hit the ground running – how it should work with other bodies, how regulators can embrace risk in a risk-averse society, and how regulators should approach the AI sector.

Sense on Security
We’re delighted to welcome Julia O’Toole, Co-CEO of MyCena, as an Adviser. Combining mathematics and neuroscience, she spent over 20 years researching cybersecurity gaps, creating a pioneering mathematical model that eliminates human-managed credentials and prevents credential-based attacks. Her expertise combines advanced encryption, cybersecurity practices, and practical business solutions for digital safety.

Julia thinks: “If the UK government aligned their policies with innovative companies’ needs, improved connections between entrepreneurs and resources, and optimised procurement and grant processes, it could enable more technological advancement, driving growth, jobs, and competitiveness.”

We couldn’t agree more. Drop me a message if you’re keen to join as an Adviser.

One More Week
Our migration of this newsletter to Substack will be delayed by a week, as it turns out too many of you receive our newsletter to do this without Substack first doing a human review. You should get a friendly welcome email confirming this. If you want to get ahead of the game though, simply subscribe here.

Three Big Ideas #24

Three Big Ideas is our weekly roundup of ideas (and our takes on them) in entrepreneurship, innovation, science and technology, handpicked by the team.

In this week, Eamonn Ives implores smart entrepreneurs to work on reducing the cost of far-UVC, Anastasia Bektimirova unpacks a new report that criticises Whitehall’s siloed approach to Industrial Strategy, and Jessie May Green asks whether President Trump’s DEI pushback will ripple across to the UK.

n+1 = innovation

In our latest interview, Philip Salter spoke to John Fingleton CBE, Chair of Fingleton and former CEO of the Office for Fair Trading (the precursor to the Competition and Markets Authority). They discussed how to make a success of the new Regulatory Innovation Office, how to reform competition policy to support growth, and much more.

New Wave

I’m delighted to share that today we’ve launched our Young Entrepreneurs Forum. It aims to connect and empower young people building incredible things across the world, and influence governments to create better enabling environments for young entrepreneurs.

For the Forum’s inaugural year, we will focus primarily on identifying solutions to barriers preventing a greater culture of entrepreneurship among young people here in the UK. We will do this by hosting meetup events for young entrepreneurs to gather their thoughts and insights, which will ultimately feed into a policy report and be launched later this year in the Houses of Parliament.

Needless to say, this won’t be headed by an old-timer like myself. We’re grateful to Sean Kohli for chairing and supporting us on this project. Sean is an undergraduate student studying at UCLA and also a General Partner of an early-stage fund spun out of the Why You Should Join newsletter, which highlights early-stage startups on track to becoming generational companies. He also manages a growth and opportunity fund in Luxembourg, backing transformative later-stage startups, and serves on the board of Team Vitality, Europe’s leading esports organisation.

Sean’s involvement stems from a deep-rooted commitment to elevating the UK’s startup ecosystem, shaped by his experiences as an entrepreneur and venture capitalist in the US. In the wake of a new AI-driven epoch, he believes that the UK must accelerate its pace of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit by empowering our brightest and most ambitious minds to build this country’s future. We wholeheartedly agree.

Young people can join the Forum here. By joining you’ll be invited to our meetups, be invited to share your views to shape the final report and be invited to the launch in the Houses of Parliament.

To be clear, this isn’t just for those who have registered a business. We also want young people from the UK and around the world who have built tech, started charities or run campaigns. This is all about ambition.

If you take nothing else from today’s newsletter, forward this onto the most ambitious young people know.

Our country needs them!

Down to Business
Our country also needs more companies exporting and more innovators procuring. We know both these areas of business are replete with hurdles.

That’s why we’re hosting two online meetings with the Department for Business and Trade on Overcoming Barriers to Procurement and Overcoming Barriers to Exporting. If you have experience of either, request a place today.

Data with Destiny
Last week, our joint paper with the Tony Blair Institute set out a delivery roadmap for the National Data Library (NDL).

Now it’s your turn to tell us how to make the NDL as useful as it can possibly be. Are there existing but inaccessible government data, or new datasets that should be created that would advance your work? What supporting services would help you work effectively with these datasets? What bottlenecks most limit your progress?

We want to understand the real barriers you face. If you work with data in academia or the private sector, and think that the NDL could help your work, tell us.

No More Monkeying
As many of you will have spotted, we’re doing a lot more on Substack. As of next week, this newsletter will come to you via Substack (currently it’s delivered via MailChimp).

Apart from a couple of design changes, you won’t notice the difference. Nevertheless, it’s good manners to let you know, so if you would like to be taken off the list or have any questions or concerns please let me know.

Community Pillars
With a healthy dose of trepidation, we’ve created our first open group on our WhatsApp community. It’s to discuss “how to make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business”. You can join here. Just to note, your phone number will be visible to others in the community.

Separately, Advisers and Patrons should join this private group, and Supporters should join this private group. Find out more about becoming an Adviser, Patron or Supporter here. If you’re unsure if you’re one, drop me an email.

If this is all too confusing, you can just join the Community here. Within the community, nobody else can see your number unless you are already in their contacts.

ChatEMA
Finally, our good friends at Enterprise Nation have recently launched Ask EMA – an AI-powered personal business assistant, designed to provide instant, personalised business support whenever you need it. Play with it here.

Three Big Ideas #23

Three Big Ideas is our weekly roundup of ideas (and our takes on them) in entrepreneurship, innovation, science and technology, handpicked by the team.

In this week, Eamonn Ives questions whether culture really can explain the economic gap between Britain and the US, Philip Salter weighs up the case for and against banning non-competes and Anastasia Bektimirova makes a plea for greater diversity in funding innovation.