A campaign to increase the number of start-up businesses in the UK, titled StartUp Britain, has been launched.
More than 60 companies have backed the campaign, which has been spearheaded by Prime Minister David Cameron as part of his ‘pro-business’ package to improve the UK economy. Cameron says entrepreneurs will run the scheme, and that there has been no public money committed to StartUp Britain.
The campaign is based on StartUp America, which was launched by US president Barack Obama in January. The schemes differ in that the US version is a government-funded project, while the UK version is being run by a group of entrepreneurs.
It is centred on an information portal website that provides advice and links to other sites on the internet on how to start up a business. Other initiatives that may be launched later include a mentoring programme and business classes.
Discounts totalling more than £1,500 in value have been offered to businesses who sign up to the campaign. These include 10 per cent off business insurance, 1,000 free ‘Start Up Guides’, and a month’s free phone rental.
Cameron comments, ‘We need to see a country where new businesses are starting up on every street, in every town; where entrepreneurs are everywhere. We put out a call to business to rise up and help us drive the recovery and StartUp Britain is part of the answer to that call. That’s what is really exciting about this. The people best placed to help business are the people who do business.’
Oli Barrett, a founding member of StartUp Britain, adds, ‘StartUp Britain is simple and powerful. It aims to be the biggest ever drive from the private sector to contribute to a robust economic recovery – an “enterprise-led recovery”, by business, for business.’
The other members of StartUp Britain are: Duncan Cheatle, The Supper Club; Rajeeb Dey, Enternships.com; Michael Hayman, Seven Hills; Emma Jones, Enterprise Nation; Lara Morgan, Company Shortcut; Richard O’Connor, Chocolate and Love; and, Jamie Murray Wells, Glasses Direct and Hearing Direct.
A number of venture capitalists have also supported the campaign. Stephen Chandler, partner and co-founder at Notion Capital, says the mentoring programme will be a key benefit for people wanting to start up.
Chandler observes, ‘Having access to entrepreneurial wisdom and support will certainly be a boon for start ups, and the help with services from marketing, IT and finance will galvanise budding entrepreneurs into action.
‘We’ve always strongly believed that the recycling of capital as well as invaluable skills and experience of proven entrepreneurs creates an eco-system that supports start ups – and drives economic recovery. So the access to mentoring support with Start Up Britain is one of the most crucial elements to the success of UK’s next generation of entrepreneurs.’
