HR Industry News

Enterprise and growth crucial to UK businesses

— 20 September 2007 —

Chancellor Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Business John Hutton and Competitiveness Minister Stephen Timms, is set to ask 20 of the UK’s most successful business owners what Government can do to further growth among Britain’s businesses. The meeting today at Number 11 Downing St is the first in a series of consultation events with business owners across the UK to kick-start work on a new enterprise framework.

Entrepreneurship plays a central part in the UK’s economic success with small and medium enterprises employing 13.2 million people and contributing £369 billion to UK’s economy every year. However, while the UK compares well with other European countries, the percentage of growing firms is significantly lower than in the US.

The entrepreneurs at tomorrow’s meeting will be asked to consider what the Government can do to help small and medium enterprises take advantage of the new opportunities of increased globalisation and where they think public policy is supportive and where it is not. 

John Hutton said:
"Britain has seen a significant increase in the numbers of small businesses in the last four years. We must now build on this success and ensure these small enterprises grow and take advantage of the new global markets."

That’s why I have asked some of Britain’s most successful business people to tell us what barriers they faced and give us their ideas on what more Government can do to ensure we make the most of the entrepreneurship of the British people. John Hutton, Secretary of State for Business

John Hutton and Stephen Timms will hold 14 meetings across the UK over the next two months.

Del.icio.us Digg Newsvine Reddit Technorati Google