Enterprise: Unlocking The UK's Talent

On 12 March 2008 the Government launched a new Enterprise Strategy. The Strategy’s central vision is to make the UK the most enterprising economy in the world and the best place to start and grow a business. It is designed to unlock the nation’s entrepreneurial talents; boost enterprise skills and knowledge; help new and existing business get funding to start up and grow; and ease the burden of regulation – particularly on small firms which feel its impacts most.

The strategy has been informed by extensive consultation over the last six months, with Ministers meeting more than 600 businesses and business leaders, as well as economic analysis of what drives enterprise, growth and productivity. It sets out five key enablers to take forward the Government’s policy for enterprise in the UK:

A culture of enterprise – where everyone with entrepreneurial talent – irrespective of age, gender, race or social background – is inspired and not afraid to take up the challenge of turning their ideas into wealth.
Knowledge and skills – a lifelong journey for enterprise education, starting in our primary schools, continuing in our universities and embedded in the workplace, equipping employees and owners with the tools to unlock their entrepreneurial talent.
Access to finance – ensuring that our entrepreneurs and small business owners have the knowledge, skills and opportunity to access the finance they need to make their enterprising ideas a reality.
Regulatory framework – keeping legislation to a minimum, reducing the burdens of regulation, inspection and enforcement without removing essential protections, and clearly communicating any changes.
Business innovation – ensuring that UK business is in position to capitalise on global trends, by helping them develop and successfully commercialise innovative products, process and services.

The strategy also considers the wider benefits of enterprise – where it can be used as a tool to bring significant social and economic benefits to the more deprived parts of our country, and to those groups in the population heavily represented there.

The full text of the Enterprise Strategy, published as a supplementary paper to the Budget 2008:

Enterprise: unlocking the UK's talent

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