23 November 2009, 16:40 PM
  • The Government is being urged to see Global Entrepreneurship Week, which finished yesterday, as a catalyst to help start-up and young businesses

The call follows research showing perceived business opportunities in the UK have declined compared with those in other high-income countries.

Latest findings from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) revealed that 27% of UK respondents anticipated ‘good opportunities’ for entrepreneurship in 2008 - 8% less than in 2007.

Only Iceland, Ireland and Spain reported larger declines out of the 43 countries surveyed.

Unsurprisingly, MPs remain positive about the country’s business landscape.

“Britain is a good place to do business,” said Pat McFadden, Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), before praising Global Entrepreneurship Week.

“It’s designed to foster talent, inspire people either to start-up on their or maybe to think and work in an enterprising way in whatever career they choose in the future,” he said.

The week involved a range of free events across the UK, including seminars on finance, women and entrepreneurship, networking and growing a business.

However, industry bodies are not convinced that the theory is supported in practice.

“This event must be more than a talking shop,” said Nick Palin, director of finance for the Forum of Private Business (FPB).

“It must be the springboard from which the Government creates an environment that fosters entrepreneurship and business growth, particularly as the UK comes out of recession,” he explained.