January 22, 2007 | Monday
More must be done to encourage north west enterprise
By Simon Whittick in Company News |Latitude People |Search Expertise
Below is a press release regarding the launch of the Ernst & Young programme 2007:
North West business start-ups succeed despite, not because of government attempts to boost enterprise, says an award-winning regional entrepreneur.
Dylan Thwaites, of Warrington and London based Latitude Group, wants to see less red tape, more business-related education, and an end to negative public perceptions of entrepreneurs’ role in society.
Thwaites, a star-contestant of Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year award last year, warns that fewer people are likely to start up their own ventures due to obstacles such as over-regulation and not being taught business basics at school.
His view is backed by fresh research by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) showing that the number of men setting up their own businesses has fallen for the fourth year in a row, while the rise in female entrepreneurs has stalled.
The GEM found only 7.9 per cent of working age British men now run ‘young’ businesses (less than 3.5 years old), down from 9.8 percent in 2004. Although the number of female entrepreneurs rose significantly between 2003 and 2005, last year the upward trend stalled and now stands at 3.6 per cent of working age women.
Thwaites says: “In terms of encouraging entrepreneurship, the government does not do enough. There is little incentive for entrepreneurs and little or no teaching in schools or colleges to encourage entrepreneurialism. Encouraging entrepreneurs should start in schools.”
Nevertheless, Thwaites thinks highly of the Entrepreneur of the Year awards and is encouraging North West business people to enter the 2007 programme, currently being launched.
Aimed at public and private business leaders at least two years after incorporation, the programme is for founders and executives who joined a businesses later in its development and have contributed to further success. Entrants must have a business leadership track record of at least two years and demonstrate ambition, success and desire to access a global network of like-minded business leaders.
Thwaites, national Entrepreneur of the Year winner in the Technology & Communications category, says: “This is an exceptionally good programme, very impressive, and a genuine attempt to understand entrepreneurs and their businesses. The programme is absolutely supportive of entrepreneurs, from a networking and recognition point of view.”
Commenting on the creation of a UK enterprise culture, Thwaites adds: “Entrepreneurialism is key to the economy, employing a great deal of people. Yet sometimes in our society it feels that there is resentment towards the private sector and this discourages entrepreneurs.”
Thwaites believes the benefits and advantages for entrepreneurs being located in the UK are few while the disadvantages are many, not least high tax and excessive regulation.
“It is easy to understand why entrepreneurs are tempted to go off-shore because the UK’s heavy tax burden puts people off. Also, the government must cut back on regulation. For instance, the red tape surrounding the employment of people, health and safety, taxes,” adds Thwaites.
“If we are serious about encouraging entrepreneurs in the UK, we need better education in schools and colleges, and just as importantly, a culture shift. People need to appreciate that creating wealth is a good thing, because it creates jobs – for instance Latitude employs 100 people on well above the national wage, in high quality jobs.”
Despite the obstacles of doing business in the UK, Thwaites rates the North West as a top-notch location for entrepreneurship. “The North West has a pool of highly talented graduates. The universities are turning out good quality people which makes for a reservoir of skilled people in the region, who make ideal recruits for knowledge-based businesses such as Latitude.”
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