Entrepreneur Minister Appeal Issued

George Osborne has been urged to use his Budget to create a new minister for entrepreneurship in a bid to spark a "golden age'' for new business start-ups.

Jim Duffy, chief executive of Entrepreneurial Spark, made the plea to the Chancellor, insisting creating a new cabinet-level post could help provide billions of pounds for the UK economy.

Entrepreneurial Spark, which aims to help new companies grow in their early stages, says it has helped companies which have created more than 1,000 jobs and generated a combined turnover of more than £41 million.

Business leaders including Sir Tom Hunter and Anne Gloag, the co-founder of Stagecoach, have already worked with the project, with Mr Duffy suggesting them as candidates for the new role.

A minister for entrepreneurship could take on the role of championing entrepreneurs and helping them grow their businesses and the UK economy.

Mr Duffy said: "Everywhere we go, we are hugely encouraged by the great business ideas, drive and determination of these budding business leaders.

"But they also repeatedly tell us of the same frustrations and the same challenges they have faced and the difficulties they still have to contend with.

"In one stroke on Wednesday, George Osborne could create the office of minister for entrepreneurs.

"The right person in that role could create legislation that would offer practical help to start-ups, for example raising the VAT threshold for small businesses to £100,000 and freeing thousands of start-ups from that administrative burden.

"This Budget can help kick-start a 'golden age' that allows ten thousands of start-up businesses to create billions for Britain and appointing a minister for that purpose would be a huge first step.''

Entrepreneurial Spark started working with business start-ups at its "hatcheries'' in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Ayrshire, before expanding across the UK, to Birmingham, Bristol and Leeds. Mr Duffy said: "Start-up businesses and a new generation of entrepreneurs are bringing billions of pounds into the UK economy, creating thousands of jobs and making a huge contribution to communities across the length and breadth of Britain.

"New firms under our banner have already created more than 1,000 jobs, have turned over more than £41 million and been awarded almost 400 patents.

"But there is so much more they can do with greater support at government level.

"We have a Minister for Business but the needs of start-ups can be very different from those of large and established firms or giant multi-nationals.

"They deserve, and Britain would benefit hugely from, a minister at cabinet level who can influence legislation to provide greater support for start-ups and raise awareness of the massive economic and social benefits these businesses bring.''

He continued: "At our initial three hatcheries in Scotland, we benefited massively from having entrepreneurs in residence of the calibre of Sir Tom Hunter, Lord Haughey and Ann Gloag OBE. They are exactly the kind of people who would be brilliant in the role.''