Dragon hails Birmingham’s entrepreneurial spirit
BIRMINGHAM could emerge from recession as a world class capital for entrepreneurs, but needs to be freed from regulatory red tape, according to Doug Richard, one of the country’s leading entrepreneurs.
Former Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Doug Richard said the city could be a new entrepreneur powerhouse for start-ups and is one of the key UK cities to make the difference between national recession and recovery.
He said the city’s entrepreneurs could be a major catalyst in the economic fight back but has voiced concerns that the policies of successive governments continue to cripple entrepreneurial endeavour.
He is releasing an Entrepreneurs Manifesto calling for a new system of tax breaks to encourage start-ups. He claims the initiative can be paid for by a radical overhaul of the government business support structure and that entrepreneurs must move up the list of national priorities.
Mr Richard, founder of the Cambridge Angels and the School for Startups, says: “Birmingham has major potential that can be released in the economic fight back.
“However, we must support those who take on the risk of starting a new business. Given our urgent need for economic growth now, we must reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses and support a section of society who could be pivotal in lifting the UK out of recession.”
His comments support an accumulation of recent evidence suggesting that Birmingham is gathering a head of steam as a hub for entrepreneurs.
As a recent winner in the European Cities Entrepreneurship Ranking and number one rating in the Cushman and Wakefield Monitor the city is galvanising a reputation as one of the leading centres for business in Europe.
2010 sees the launch of B-SEEN, a business start-up support programme for graduates in Birmingham. A joint venture between the three universities in the city – University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University and Aston University – B-SEEN is a local solution to harness the high density of graduate talent in the area.
However, Mr Richard warned against complacency. To back business he claims that a new deal for entrepreneurs is required to stimulate a “recession buster” solution for the UK.
He has called for a:
• System of direct credits for angel and family investment in small businesses
• Broad commitment to apprenticeship support across all forms of business
• Demand that UK government set aside part of its procurement budget for small business
• Super high broadband to every person in Britain.
“Birmingham has everything it needs to capitalise on the opportunities of the 21st century. However national government must unshackle the only means of increasing wealth and social mobility in the city: the entrepreneurial culture,” he said.
Mr Richard is a high profile entrepreneur with 20 years’ experience in the development and leadership of technology and software ventures. He featured in the first two series of Dragons’ Den and is the founder of School for Startups, and co-founder of the Cambridge Angels.
