How on earth can Gordon Brown expect entrepreneurs to take their ideas and build businesses that create wealth for this country when many aspiring entrepreneurs cannot even navigate the first hurdle to starting a small business?

I watch with envy at the American system for helping small businesses with grants, loans and Small Business Innovations Research funding. The Small Business Administration (SBA) that's responsible for providing grant / loan funding operates within a legal framework and is empowered to champion all small businesses; every type of small businesses including those owned by ethnic minorities. The SBA is set targets and is evaluated on performance.

Compared to the SBA and associated State structured funding agencies our system falls way short. Not only that, entrepreneurs in the UK are confused about where to go for funding and whether they’ll even qualify.

Every week I receive announcements of yet another small US companies being granted Small Business Innovations Research (SBIR) funding that allows them to research and develop innovative technological and other products with the USA government as possible stakeholder.

When I read about our research grant scheme that is suppose to be equivalent to the USA's SBIR scheme I smile because I know there's no comparison. Our scheme falls way short!

When I read about young Londoner's not wanting to start a business of their own, but would rather work in paid jobs because they are adverse to stress, I'm saddened because at the same time, young people in the USA are winning prizes for showing entrepreneurial flair and starting businesses.

If the Chancellor or Prime Minister in waiting truly believes that entrepreneurs are the key to Britain’s future my advice to him is "don't tinker with tax incentives, instead create an environment that supports, encourages and mentors budding entrepreneurs to build thriving businesses"

David Davis
Small Business Resource