Global Entrepreneurship Week starts on Monday, In celebration 30 of the UK’s leading founders outline what they think is needed to help entrepreneurs thrive – and call on the Government to back them. Here are a few of their thoughts.
Annoushka Ducas MBE, Founder, Links of London and Annoushka
“Entrepreneurship happens when creativity and collaboration collide. I’ve always found that the most exciting ideas come from working with people who think differently: goldsmiths, craftsmen, designers, digital storytellers, and financiers. Each brings a different skill, a different eye. If we want entrepreneurship to really thrive in the UK, we need to make more space for those kinds of creative partnerships where ideas can grow and be made real. Collaboration is what turns imagination into something tangible, something that lasts.”
Nick Wheeler OBE, Founder and Chair, Charles Tyrwhitt
“For entrepreneurship to thrive, we must first find the entrepreneurs. It’s not easy. Entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes. All are important, but the real gems are the ones who are committed not to making money for themselves, but have the passion and ambition to build something big and for the long term. We must then back them and remove all barriers to growth. Long term compound growth is key. Building a business from zero to £10M is ten times harder than taking it from £10M to £100M and yet too many entrepreneurs get taken out early. Find the right people to build long term, large businesses. People with the passion to create something special. People like Steve Jobs, Larry Ellison, or Michael Dell. People who understand that being an entrepreneur is about creating legacy and a strong economy. It is not just a route to an easy life.”
Sir Martin Sorrell, Founder and Executive Chairman, S4 Capital plc
“Certainly, the UK Government could change the base capital gains tax rules to make it more attractive to accumulate capital over time; or change inheritance taxes to make it more attractive to build capital and pass on to future generations; or even stimulate investment in listed equities by institutions and individuals.
However, the more fundamental issue is the need to celebrate and laud entrepreneurial success – as happens in the USA. Even in China entrepreneurial success may be more admired. The issue that needs confronting is that too often we don’t hold successful entrepreneurs in high regard – they are not seen as ‘working people.’”
Stelios Haji-Ioannou, Founder, Easy Brands
“The most impactful way to help entrepreneurship thrive in the UK and throughout the world is through encouragement, mentoring, rewarding talent, and promoting role models for the next generation. From an early age, people should be inspired to be creative, take calculated risks, and experience the rewards of being their own boss. They should understand the self-fulfilment of creating jobs and economic growth in the process. That’s exactly what I aim to do through my annual entrepreneurship awards, which provide hundreds of thousands of pounds in no-strings-attached prizes to young and disabled entrepreneurs across the UK – as well as Cyprus and the island of Ireland – via my charitable foundation.”
Leave A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.