Archive for the ‘Blog-NFEA’ Category
-
My Parting Shot – by George Derbyshire
Wednesday 4 May 2011By George Derbyshire, retiring Chief Executive of NFEA - the national enterprise network Until recently there was a tradition that retiring British ambassadors sent the Foreign Office a valedictory dispatch, a parting shot, a chance to get a few things off their chests about their hosts, their employers in the FO ...[more] -
Start Up Britain
Wednesday 30 March 2011I see the Twitterati are getting excited about Start Up Britain. And in the current climate perhaps a certain amount of cynicism can be excused. But with the best part of 500,000 people a year starting a new business already, there is more than enough room for everyone who wants to ...[more] -
So, how much did he put on a pint?
Wednesday 23 March 2011I remember the time when Budget Days were ones of great excitement. Nobody knew what was going to be announced - what's he doing on cigarettes, beer, income tax, etc? - and there was always a headline grabbing surprise. I think a chancellor once had to resign for giving a sneak preview ...[more] -
It’s how you tell ‘em…
Tuesday 15 March 2011Expect to see some positive media coverage shortly….about positive media coverage. According to BIS, new research shows that media coverage of entrepreneurs: “is helping more people to consider a career as their own boss” And: “one in five non-entrepreneurs are being motivated to start their own business having watched programmes such as Dragons Den, ...[more] -
Enterprise & Morals
Tuesday 8 March 2011Interesting speech from David Cameron this weekend. "Enterprise is not just about markets, it's about morals. We understand that enterprise is not just an economic good, it's a social good too." Couldn't agree more. And it's not just words from the PM. The Government will be "rolling up our sleeves and ...[more] -
Mark Prisk on Enterprise Agencies
Tuesday 22 February 2011I am grateful to our friends at Bad News for permission to reproduce their article following Mark Prisk's live Q&A on the Guardian's website. This article was written by small business commentator and publisher Cobweb Information - www.cobwebinfo.com. Also to Kevin Horne for seizing the opportunity to get stuck in on our behalf! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This ...[more] -
Regional Growth Fund massively oversubscribed
Monday 21 February 2011Here is an update on the round 1 RGF bids. Congratulations to the North West on submitting 89 of the 464 bids made. Someone has been quick off the mark! The bids total £2.78bn and given that this was only the first of three rounds of bidding into a £1.4bn fund, it ...[more] -
Business adviser shares start-up tips
Monday 7 February 2011Kim Hills Spedding, a business adviser who will be well known to colleagues in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire has reflected on his long experience: http://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/business/business_guru_pens_advice_tome_1_2291645 The Really Practical Guide to Starting Up Your Own Business is a very straightforward practical book which will be of value to any one starting a business ...[more] -
The Demise of Enterprise…UK
Friday 28 January 2011I read about the forthcoming closure of Enterprise UK with some sadness. I, and NFEA, have been involved since its earliest days, when three or four people camped out in space borrowed from the CBI in Centrepoint. Indeed NFEA director Sally Agass acted as interim Chief Executive on one occasion. The organisation has some ...[more] -
Grim up North
Tuesday 4 January 2011I seem to have caused a bit of a stir with my letter to the Sunday Times, reproduced below: It's a shame Robert Watts' excellent article on the challenges of job creation was spoiled by disparaging comments from a respected professional institute about self-employed people and start-ups. We expect 2011 will ...[more]