Read Philip Salter’s article in City AM about how he thinks now is the prime time for entrepreneurs to get involved with policy.
Plugging The Gender Funding Gap
The Entrepreneurs Network’s Annabel Denham has written for the Huffington Post about our previous and upcoming Female Founders Forum projects.
Read the full article here.
Too Many Men?
Our recent female founders report is still receiving press coverage. Female founders forum member Debbie Wosskow writes in The Guardian about her plan to change the investment imbalance. And The National has also written about our report.
The 7 Myths Of High Growth Firms
A recent debate article by Ross Brown, Suzanne Mawson and Colin Mason caught my eye. Myth-busting and entrepreneurship policy: the case of high growth firms challenges some common held beliefs about high growth firms…
Read the full article here.
Coverage for Untapped Unicorns
The Entrepreneurs Network’s report on the Untapped Unicorns – the underfunded female entrepreneurs – has received widespread media coverage.
In summary the report showed that there is an evident gender bias against female entrepreneurs receiving funding from capital providers; despite the fact that female-led businesses are less likely to fail. The Entrepreneurs Network’s Annabel Denham comments that this data is frustrating and recommends a change in education, culture and data collecting to combat the evident bias.
Sexism in start-up investment leaves UK businesses male-dominated, The Telegraph
We need to stop sexism in start-up investment, The Guardian
Eight Stats That Show How Britain Fails Its Female Entrepreneurs, Forbes
Unitapped unicorns: It’s time to close the scale-up investment gender gap, City AM
Pelvic floor exercise device maker Elvie receives £6m funding to launch more products, The Telegraph
Mind the funding-gap: Why we need more female founded scale-ups, Forbes
Greater efforts required to fund female-led firms, The Scotsman
The Big Interview: Jackie Waring, founder and chief of Investing Women, The Scotsman
How to tap into government funding for female entrepreneurs, SmallBusiness.co.uk
Call to ‘untap funding’ for female entrepreneurs, BusinessCloud.co.uk
Female entrepreneurs need more access to funding, according to report, WeAreTheCity.com
Lack of investment opportunities sees female startup founders lose out, BusinessAdvice.co.uk
How Britain can drive the growth of female entrepreneurship, Startups.co.uk
Untapped Unicorns: scaling up female entrepreneurship, Barclays
Untapped unicorns in North East England (and how we are helping Shorthand Social
Investment culture remains very much male-dominated The National
Plugging the Gender Funding Gap, The Huffington Post
Local councils fail to support business growth
A report by the Business Census 2017 showed that most businesses feel local council support is getting worse, with 7 out of 10 of businesses feeling let down. The areas that were most unhappy were the East of England and Northern Ireland, whereas London and Scotland were most content with support. Philip Salter, founder of The Entrepreneurs Network, advised that although “this isn’t the time to shake things up, it should be a prod to government at every level that many Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and Growth Hubs aren’t yet firing on all cylinders.” To boost support from local councils, we should put more money into LEPs and increase Metro Mayors.
Read the full LocalGov article here.
Local government business support has dwindled
The support that local governments give to businesses has weakened this past year, according to a survey by Business Census 2017 Report, with now 70% of businesses unhappy with the help. The survey also found that increasingly businesses are concerned about the global state of politics, although the majority surveyed have not been affected by Brexit so far.
As Philip buy ativan online india Salter of the Entrepreneurs Network put it, “2016 delivered uncertainty by the bucket load. Whatever the medium to long-term impact of Brexit, there can few who doubt that in the short run there will be a bumpy ride. 2017 may be a little more interesting than many would want.”
Read the full article here.
How the landlords aren’t moving fast enough
The latest Proptech roundtable on the transformation of the property market stressed the importance of landlords keeping up with increasingly fast-moving tech companies. Co-working could be one solution, but the roundtable also showed that it’s not just the landlords that are holding businesses back. Internet connectivity, insurance buy ativan online overnightproblems and exorbitant taxes on property development all were raised. Overall, businesses need to work alongside the government and the property market to make the UK an even more attractive setting for new tech companies.
To read the full Tech City News article, clickhere.
We can’t afford to lose the Enterprise Investment Scheme
Lord Howard Flight recently wrote an article for Conservative Home, stressing the importance of continuing the Enterprise Investment Scheme. The EIS offers tax incentives for high risk equity investment in SMEs, and has been crucial to the success of entrepreneurship in Britain over the last decade. Flight references the Entrepreneurs Network’s study – which found that only 25% of MPs knew about EIS – to call on a greater awareness of MPs about the scheme.
To read the full Conservative Home article, click here.
Women are leaders, not female leaders
“In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders.”
Given the wave of growth in of women entrepreneurs over the past few years, it seems that Sheryl Sandberg is right. As Annabel Denham shows in a Huffington Post article, the future looks bright for businesswomen, with women-led companies growing at explosive rates as Founders4Schools’s studies show. With the gap narrowing between female and male led companies, female-focused investment platforms such as AllBright are sprouting up and creating new networks and crowdfunding opportunities.
To read the full article, click here.
Barclays report shines the spotlight on British start-ups
A new Barclays report has showed that the UK had a better environment for growth in the months leading up to the referendum than at any other time since 2011, due to access to finance, improved regulation and increased research and innovation. However, as Annabel Denham writes in Huffpost Politics, the environment for British entrepreneurship is still far from perfect.
While skills shortages are holding businesses back, low corporation tax and better regulatory conditions have helped improve conditions for the entrepreneur. Similarly, although the budget could have done more to lift the burden on businesses, pledges to invest in infrastructure and innovation will be a boost. Overall, the report suggests that “the wider picture is mixed” and we must hope that the Spring budget will make this country even more entrepreneur-friendly.
To read the full article, click here.
£400m venture capital boost will help, but we need to support growing firms even more
Chancellor Philip Hammond announced in the Autumn statement his plan to pump £400m of venture capital funds into the British Business Bank, unlocking £1bn of new finance for growing firms. Philip Salter responded in an article for Real Business:
Philip Salter, director of The Entrepreneurs Network, said:
“£400m into venture capital funds through the British Business Bank makes sense in the context of Brexit, given the expected need to transition from the European Investment Fund (EIF) after we leave the European Union.
“But the Spring Budget should be an opportunity to grasp the nettle: unburdening enterprise through cuts to the most destructive taxes and simplifying incentives – like the Enterprise Investment Schemes and Employees Share Schemes – while avoiding the excesses of previous Chancellors.”
To read the full article, click here.
Small Business Taskforce have no easy task
The Telegraph has reported on the creation of the Small Business Taskforce – a group of organisations, including The Entrepreneurs Network, who have come together to champion SMEs in the UK. The Taskforce is key to protecting British businesses as it offers ministers a “sounding board” so they may understand how new regulations will effect businesses before they come into place. The Taskforce was created at a time of great change as Britain gradually prepares to leave the EU and the new government establishes itself, but it offers stability and a voice for millions of workers involved in SMEs around the UK.
The Taskforce’s open letter to ministers outlines the five central issues it wants to tackle:
- A flexible workforce including ensuring EU workers already in the UK have long-term resident rights
- A workable tax regime with small businesses consulted about any proposed changes
- Accessible business support
- International trade for all
- Consultation with small business
Read the full Telegraph article here.
Roundtable: Transformation of the commercial property market
Philip Salter attended the a roundtable on the transformation of the property market, which was written up by Yessi Bello Perez of Tech City News:
“Philip Salter, director of The Entrepreneurs Network – a think tank for growing businesses and entrepreneurs – said there is a shortage of office space in cities such as London.
“The cost of renting is significant and is largely dependant on the current state of supply and demand. Price is also influenced by bad planning policies,” he explained.”
Read the full article here on page 29 of the Tech City News digital edition.
Huffington Post article: Small Business Taskforce is a big force for good
The Huffington Post has reported on the Small Business Taskforce – a group of 14 business bodies (including The Entrepreneurs Network) who have come together to ensure Britain remains a start-up friendly country after Brexit. The Small Business Taskforce is calling on the new government to work out trade buy ativan from canada deals, budgets and immigration policies that help small companies as well as more established ones. Together, they represent over 1,000,000 businesses and the Taskforce includes Coadec, Social Enterprise UK and Forum of Private Business.
Read the full article here.
Immigrants are one of our greatest strengths – and the government needs to recognise that
Many people can’t help but feel that the new government has somewhat turned its back on immigrants and entrepreneurs. Although Home Secretary Amber Rudd quickly backtracked on her plans to force firms to disclose their number of foreign workers, business-owners and workers alike remain concerned about can i buy ativan online the future of British enterprise.
This is why Philip Salter caught up with four entrepreneurs of four different nationalities (Romanian, Italian, American and British) to hear about their worries and why immigration is vital for the UK’s economy and society.
Read the full Forbes article here.
Fighting to make enterprise a priority again
The Economist’s article included The Entrepreneur’s Network as a key group campaigning for a business-friendly Britain. There are fears that the UK has become less attractive to entrepreneurs following the Brexit vote, with the number of new business registrations slowing down as of June. However, the article suggests that policies such as cutting corporation tax, handing out city visas and giving guarantees for long-term EU residents could combat this uncertainty and help Britain keep its reputation as a top place for start-ups in Europe.
Read the full Economist article here.
Why letting go matters: Philip Salter’s interview with entrepreneur Charlie Mowat
Around the Leap 100 roundtable, most people would admit to being control freaks. However, as Charlie Mowat points out, there comes a time when your start-up is simply too big to micromanage and, as a founder, you need to hand over responsibility. For Mowat, this meant hiring heads of department, focusing on strategy rather than day-to-day affairs and letting other make mistakes. As he puts it himself: “I had to learn how to exert that control in a way that’s healthy for the business but satisfied my needs.”
Read the full City AM article here.
The future is bright – and here are nine people to prove it
Philip Salter interviews nine key players in their own industries who will be speaking at Nesta FutureFest. From gaming to sextech to food, they all have their own reasons to be positive about the future.
Read the Forbes interview here.
An interview with three Sirius businesswomen
The Sirius Programme helps high growth business ideas from international students to start-up in the UK, and it it thanks to them that we can tap into so much global entrepreneurial spirit to boost our own economy. The Brexit vote has raised many questions about the future of business in the UK but it is clear that we should do everything we can to keep harnessing the potential of these young entrepreneurs.
Philip Salter talks to three of the most successful female Sirius alumni here in Forbes.