Creating a renaissance in British enterprise, says Gordon Brown

10 06 2004 United Kingdom

The Chancellor addressed a packed hall in Westminster at the launch of UK Business Week conference, outlining the economic achievements and business awards for enterprise

Gordon Brown performed the formal opening of UK Business Week in London last Tuesday, thanking everyone in business for seeing the country through the worst of the world economic downturn.

Referring to the increased competition from China and the rest of Asia, “British businesses are not only well placed to meet the challenges,” said Gordon Brown, “but we have the opportunity, by opening up enterprise to all, to experience a British enterprise renaissance.”

His major themes were about encouraging start-up enterprises in disadvantaged areas, red tape and removing the barriers that hold businesses back from investing and growing. Gordon Brown promised action to reform our planning laws, to tackle the huge backlog in transport investment, and to help develop the new technologies of the future.

Red tape and regulation

Under the present regime, the enforcement agencies claim that the technical complexities of all the red tape prevent them providing a single point of contact with business owners. But at the same time, owners of small businesses are expected to be part-time experts in every aspect of compliance with all the laws and regulations.

Businesses will specially welcome the Chancellor picking up a proposal made by the Federation of Small Businesses, to reduce duplication in the number of bodies for inspections and enforcement and the wasteful costs involved.

Gordon Brown also announced a change which will mean that, for the first time, Whitehall procedures for minimizing the impact of additional red tape will properly be enforced. If no proper assessment of the impact of new regulations on business has been carried out, Whitehall will actually prevent the implementation of new policies by government departments.

For new regulations with a major impact on business, they will only be allowed to go ahead after being submitted to a cabinet route, involving a strengthened Panel for Regulatory Accountability.

Opening up enterprise to all

Gordon Brown declared that there would be no ‘no-go areas for enterprise’ in any part of Britain, instead a business culture which makes people feel that enterprise is not for an elite but potentially for all.

The main initiative he announced is National Enterprise Week - November 15th to 22nd - focused on inspiring 14 to 25 year olds to be enterprising. This will be set up by the British Chambers of Commerce, CBI, the Prince's Trust and eight other organisations.

Celebrating the entrepreneur

The Chancellor also turned to existing businesses. “Gone for ever must be the days of sheltering uncompetitive industries,” he said. “Britain is now ready for the next round of enterprise reforms and a step change in creating a more dynamic enterprise culture.”

He announced an annual competition for the British town or city of enterprise and discussions about a new Queen’s Award for enterprise. A new initiative is for 200 new enterprise zones but he gave no date for their introduction.

“We’ve boosted the rewards from success,” claimed Gordon Brown, “and we want to encourage the risk taker and those with ambition to turn their ideas into reality and make the most of their talents.

“I believe we can build on our hard-won economic stability to foster a British enterprise renaissance that will benefit us all,” he said.

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