‘Real, continuous action’ needed to develop policy on entrepreneurship

There was a broad welcome yesterday for the recommendations by the Entrepreneurship Forum for the support and growth of micro and small business over the coming years, firmly shifting the onus onto Government to make things a reality.

“The success of this report will be in the development of a national policy on entrepreneurship and the setting up of an oversight body, comprised of relevant actors, to monitor outcomes and suggest future initiatives, with the entrepreneur as its central focus,” noted Mark Fielding, chief executive of small firms lobby group, Isme.

He welcomed the proposals, but said “real continuous action” is now warranted, “rather than simply a report published”.

Echoing that sentiment, employers’ representative, Ibec called on Government to immediately move to put in place a national strategy.

“Government, along with business, needs to do more to help new companies get started and provide them with the opportunities needed to succeed,” according to Ibec’s director of business representation, Mary Rose Burke.

“The regulatory environment needs to better support start-ups, tax and business supports need to be updated to keep Ireland competitive and the education systems needs to better foster entrepreneurial skills. It is vital that the Government’s upcoming National Entrepreneurship Policy Statement leads to meaningful and lasting change.”

Small Firms’ Association chairman, AJ Noonan noted a history of “many outstanding reports” resulting in nothing more than rhetoric.

“That type of response to this report will result in a piecemeal approach to addressing the needs of entrepreneurs and small businesses.

“There are now 200,000 small businesses in Ireland, with 13,000 new businesses being established each year. Entrepreneurship is alive and well, but must be nurtured and developed with a renewed focus from both agencies and government.”

Isme also bemoaned the Department of the Environment’s involvement — via management of local enterprise offices — in micro enterprise direction, saying it lacks the experience of dealing with entrepreneurs.

“The introduction of the Department of the Environment is confusing, divisive, wholly unnecessary and will set back entrepreneurship by decades,” said Mr Fielding.