Can you inspire a recovery?
The March Budget was described by the Chancellor as the most pro-enterprise in a generation. But can policies alone create a ‘culture of entrepreneurship’ in the UK? What actually motivates people to start a business and is it possible to pass that inspiration on? We’ve got the thoughts of senior politicians and small-business owners - and we’d love to know yours, too.
In March, the Chancellor, George Osborne, announced a Budget intended to make it easier for people to start and run a business. One thing the Chancellor didn’t address was what actually motivates people to start a business in the first place.
That came the following week at the launch of a set of Government-backed enterprise initiatives, where the Prime Minister talked about the need to “make the dream of entrepreneurship accessible to everyone”.
“The recovery we need is going to be a private-sector led recovery,” Mr Cameron said. “We’ve got to get behind the start-ups, the new and the young and businesses that haven’t even been born yet.”
The Government is backing educational schemes, such as the Enterprise Champions Programme and the Tenner Tycoon initiative. But where does inspiration actually come from? We spoke to three business-owners to ask them what motivated them to start their venture and what they’re doing to encourage others.
- “We need to see a shift in our nation’s attitude towards entrepreneurship. There are plenty of people with aspirations but we need to nurture entrepreneurship, not discourage it.” Peter Jones
Start up inspirations
Jo Behari - family and friends
East London-based Jo Behari is founder of Home Jane, the UK’s first female property maintenance and home improvement company. Jo has recently launched The Good Life Centre, presents the Channel Four series ‘Make, Do and Mend’ and speaks at business conferences and in schools.
“Two people inspired me to start my business, firstly my Dad, who has always run his own business and encouraged me to start mine. I always felt he was superhuman to be able to run his business - either superhuman or really clever. I was neither, but at least I’d have Dad’s support and guidance, so I thought I couldn't go far wrong.”
She was also inspired by a friend from university. “She was running her own business successfully and I thought we had got the same degree and I knew her well enough to know she wasn't superhuman. I realised that if she could do it, I could, too. And like my Dad, she would encourage me. Would I like to inspire others to start their own business? Certainly, it's important to have real-life role models to look up to and I only hope I can be one of those.”
- “All the surveys show that unless you come from an entrepreneurial family, most people switch off and don’t engage in entrepreneurship. How do you deal with the cultural problem around entrepreneurship in this country?” Vince Cable, Business Secretary
Sharon Stephens - talent and opportunity
Sharon Stephens is the co-founder, with Rachel Bryan, of Veritas Language Solutions. Based in Swansea, the award-winning firm provides translation and interpreting services and is growing rapidly.
“Rachel and I had graduated from Swansea University with first class honours in translation and we wanted to use the knowledge and skills we’d gained at university in the best way possible,” recalls Sharon. “We saw an opportunity to provide a higher quality translation service, one that was more intelligent and more accurate - that was a major inspiration. Generally speaking, the quality evident in the wider translation industry is low.
“We realised that our key target market comprised of companies looking to export and we were determined to provide the high level of support they needed.”
Sharon says she is eager to inspire others to embrace their entrepreneurial side. “We want to pass on our knowledge to young people in our community and inspire them to achieve their own ambitions. To this end, we’ve given talks at local comprehensive schools and at Swansea University.”
Simon McGivern and James Phillips - a gap in the market
Simon McGivern co-founded 2010 HSBC Start Up Stars finalist Ila Security with James Philips in 2008. The firm develops chic personal safety devices for women.
“We really wanted to make something that was genuinely useful and identified a gap in the market for stylish personal security products for women,” says CEO Simon. “Women in the UK are growing increasingly concerned for their safety.”
Sales director James continues: “There were no stylish options available when it came to personal safety products, so most women did not carry anything with them to protect themselves. Therefore, we set about developing a brand that would help women feel safer by using stylish technology.
“It has been, and still is, an incredibly exciting experience and we would definitely recommend other people to start their own businesses. Although it is very hard work, working on something that you started yourself is incredible, and going to work never feels like a chore.”
- What inspired you to start your business? What are you doing to encourage others? Can we inspire a recovery? Let us know and we’ll feature some of your comments in next month’s Business Matters.
