As a follow-up to my last week’s blog  on the 20 issues every budding entrepreneur must be able to address, I would now like to talk about Doug Richards’ “Manifesto for Entrepreneurs”, a call-to-action document released at last week’s event.

According to Doug, a former TV Dragon, entrepreneurs are key in leading us out of the recession but in order to succeed, the Government needs to make some radical changes.

98% of businesses in this country are small businesses and it is their activity that are responsible for the nation’s wealth. “The innovators who open new markets, create new products, deliver new services and change the processes of business itself; by the very act of creation, destroy less efficient industries, create greater productivity and as a direct result create all new wealth.”

To encourage entrepreneurs, the government needs to change its priorities – by reducing the time it takes to start a new business; streamlining or exempting the smallest businesses from complying with regulations; providing direct tax credits and freeing up the savings of families, friends and communities who wish to use their own small capital in start-ups.

The current government funded industry of business support should be replaced by an institution that simplifies the burden on startup firms. The manifesto also suggests that the government should adopt a requirement that a specific percentage of its procurement budget is set aside for small and medium businesses.

At Ortegra our business is to turn thoughts and ideas of budding entrepreneurs into reality, facilitating the whole process of starting out. Thus we know first hand  the challenges and obstacles faced by startups and stand by Doug’s suggestions that it is time to change. If, like us, you share the same views, spread the word. After all we also agree with Doug that “staying silent is part of the problem”…