There are many advantages to reaching a large, smart and entrepreneurial audience through this newsletter each week. One of the most valuable is that, whenever we’re hiring, I can rely on you to share opportunities widely. Now is your time to shine — we’re on the hunt for a new researcher to join our team.
In this role, the successful candidate will have the chance to quickly build a public profile, access rooms that are closed to most and do work that genuinely moves the needle. If you’re self-motivated, care deeply about what we do and have an entrepreneurial spirit — or know someone who fits the bill — all the details are here.
We are, if I may say so, a small team that punches well above its weight in the think tank world — producing policy reports, engaging policymakers and helping shape the agenda on the issues that matter most to Britain’s founders.
To that end, please consider forwarding this on; liking, commenting on, or reposting my LinkedIn post; and doing the same with Eamonn Ives’ post on X to help to ensure the opportunity reaches the right people. The stronger our talent, the more effective we will be in making it easier to start and scale a business in the UK.
Beyond Infinity
Innovation is a hallmark of our species, and the entrepreneurs who channel it are the architects of the modern world. To support those pushing the frontiers of science and technology, we are launching a new Science and Technology Forum within The Entrepreneurs Network.
Led by our Head of Science and Technology, Mann Virdee, the Forum will serve as a dedicated platform for science-focused entrepreneurs in Britain, helping to bridge the gap between the lab, the boardroom and Westminster. Our aim is to make the UK the leading global destination to start and scale a science-led business.
The Forum will focus on the UK’s priority sectors — including AI, quantum technologies, engineering biology and semiconductors — by identifying and dismantling regulatory barriers; conducting deep dives into the frontier economy to inform policymakers; and hosting high-level briefings that connect leading scientists and technologists with decision-makers.
We are committed to closing the commercialisation gap and harnessing innovation for national prosperity. To learn more or get involved, contact Mann here.
Building the Case
In any think tank or business group, much of the activity happens below the surface, while most people understandably only see the finished outputs.
That’s why I’ve started sending a weekly update to our Patrons and Advisers, sharing more detail on our work with government, politicians, parties, regulators and others. You can become an Adviser here.
We have also begun publishing our consultation responses. This week alone, we responded to two.
First, our response to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s consultation on establishing a Development Corporation. We didn’t mince our words: “The shortage of housing, office space and laboratory space in Greater Cambridge is not merely a social problem — it is an economic emergency that directly undermines the UK’s capacity for innovation and growth.”
Between 2011 and 2019, 41,000 jobs were created in the area without a commensurate increase in housing; median house prices now stand at eleven times average earnings, and the shortage of lab space constrains the life sciences and deep tech firms the cluster depends on.
We supported the Development Corporation proposal, but urged the Government to be more ambitious in the powers it confers, particularly around plan-making and land value capture. Read the full response here.
Meanwhile, our response to the Department for Business and Trade’s consultation on refining the UK’s competition regime sought to strike the right balance: a regime that is too loose risks incumbents stifling innovative startups; too tight, and founders struggle to attract investment, form partnerships and exit.
While there were proposals to commend, we pushed back the idea of giving the CMA algorithm investigation powers. We argued that smaller startups may lack the resources and expertise to manage investigatory demands, and that such burdens could materially hinder their growth.
We were not alone in this concern — entrepreneurs and investors we spoke to agreed. As one VC told us:
“These powers currently only exist under the digital markets regime, which was designed with large incumbents in mind. Extending them across all competition and consumer protection work means early-stage companies, particularly in AI and software, could face substantial compliance burdens that are wholly disproportionate to their size and resources. A startup with a small engineering team being required to build bespoke testing environments, alter product behaviour, or produce data it doesn’t already hold could face costs that genuinely threaten its viability. There’s a real risk this makes the UK a less attractive place to build and scale technology businesses.”
This is not the end of our work on these issues. Get in touch if either of these things matter to you.
King's Gambit
Earlier today, I joined a Department for Business and Trade roundtable on supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs. The focus was a proposed fifth category in the King’s Awards for Enterprise to recognise young founders, planned for launch in May to coincide with the awards’ 60th anniversary.
We will soon share a broader set of activities for our Young Entrepreneurs Forum, but I would also welcome hearing from anyone keen to do more in this space — we are currently developing a number of ideas.