PRESS RELEASE: Improved Enterprise Training and Support Vital for UK Economic Success

 The event, co-hosted by the International Association of Book-keepers (IAB) and the Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative (SFEDI) was arranged with the aim of assisting Sector Skills Councils to achieve effective engagement with small businesses and to consider policy changes necessary to increase Enterprise and support for the owners of small  and micro businesses in the UK. Senior figures from key organisations who represent or serve small businesses and who are members of the SFEDI Advisory Board also attended the event.

In his address Malcolm Trotter, IAB Chief Executive, stated that, “..the success of start-ups is becoming more and more vital to our economic well-being as a nation”. He added that, “ .. it would seem more than likely that by 2020 perhaps as many as one in four of us will be self-employed or an owner-manager of a small business at some point in our working lives. In periods of recession and redundancy, self-employment is a key solution for many.  If the personal and economic well-being of the nation depends on their success, it is essential then that as a nation we properly address the skills needs and business support of start-ups and developing businesses.”

Whilst acknowledging the good work and funding that already exists to support start-ups, Malcolm Trotter criticised the fact that the availability of funding and support varies from region to region. He also made the observation that funding is too often only short-term or those starting businesses are unaware of what is available, not helped by the names of start-up programmes also being different as you go around the UK.

What Malcolm Trotter wishes to see is for enterprise learning and support to be raised to a new level across the UK. He wants enterprise training to be put on the same sort of national footing as, for example, Apprenticeships. He believes that enterprise learning should be a priority for funding. What he suggests is needed is a national ‘flagship’ programme that will provide a menu of training and support available in every region and that can be tailored to the needs of each individual starting-up and developing their business.  This could be made a reality, he claims, through true public/private partnership .
Malcolm Trotter went on to praise the work and vital role of SFEDI saying that it is, “.. uniquely placed to bring together all parties involved in enterprise. It can work with Government, its agencies and other sector bodies and Sector Skills Councils to raise enterprise skills in the UK. Indeed, with SFEDI’s continuing championing of the vital needs for enterprise skills and support and its expertise in this area, I am certain that current start-up support is greater than would otherwise be provided and hopes for the future remain bright.”  He also acknowledged those that have channelled their energy into SFEDI over the past 11 years or so, not least Tony Robinson OBE.

Key note addresses  provided by Nigel Hudson, a SFEDI Advisory Board Member and Managing Director of Stratagia Ltd., and Ruth Lowbridge, a SFEDI director highlighted the key messages coming out of SFEDI research, the unique position and access that SFEDI has to small firms and the enterprise ‘sector’ and the policy responses needed.
Nigel Hudson drew attention to the fundamental questions, 'what is enterprise' and 'why does it matter'. By way of a useful analogy, Nigel pointed to the critical nature of enterprise, when he noted, ".. the enterprise community is like a giant sand dune; it's huge but made up of millions of tiny parts, constantly being replenished and liable to get everywhere..", the key message being that enterprise is economically vital and important to every sector.

Ruth Lowbridge underlined the importance of enterprise and within it, the context of SFEDI's work. The theme of Ruth's address was one of collaboration, pointing to the reach of the SFEDI Advisory Board as the largest representative and expert body currently engaged with 4 in 5 of all start ups, self employed and existing small and home business owners. Ruth stated that ".. only by working together can we ensure that enterprise is given a 'real standing' and becomes a 'real' career choice..".