Andrew Griffiths MP is the new Minister for Small Business. He takes over from Margot James MP, who moves to DCMS. Margot's knowledge isn't completely lost though, as she will be overseeing digital policy. Griffiths is Member of Parliament for Burton and Uttoxeter. Prior to getting involved in politics, he worked for his family engineering business and then in property and finance for a High Street Building Society. He was previously Chief of Staff to Theresa May and Eric Pickles. Here's his Parliament page, his personal website and a useful Economia article. I'm sure we will have him in for an event before too long.
Calling all techies!
Tech Nation launches its 2018 survey today. Your responses will be included in Tech City UK’s flagship Tech Nation report 2018, which will comprehensively map the state of the digital tech sector in the UK. Complete the survey here.
Evidence-based businesses
London Business School has released its key findings from the inaugural Leadership Survey (pdf). Employee engagement was the single biggest issue keeping leaders awake at night. There's a lot to unpack from the report, but one finding that interested me was that only 2% of business leaders said interventions executed in their organisations are always evidence-based, while 20% believe it happens often, 39% sometimes, 28% rarely and 11% never.
All-Party people
In case you missed it, check out the APPG for Entrepreneurship's Calls for Evidence on Tax Reform, Enterprise Education and Women in Leadership.
Our Events
A Parliament That Works For Entrepreneurs?
Panelists include: Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP & Gillian Keegan MP
31 January 2018
12.45pm to 2.15pm
50 Broadway, Westminster, London
Free (as usual!)
RSVP
This event will consider: how MPs can improve their understanding of what entrepreneurs need; how Parliament can better engage with entrepreneurs and discuss policy changes and how entrepreneurs can influence Government, politics and policy.
Leap 100 Power Breakfast Rishi Khosla, Co-Founder, OakNorth
From Start-up, to Scale up, to Sale...then Doing it Again
7 February 2018
7.45am to 9.15am
Mishcon de Reya, 70 Kingsway, London
Free (as usual!)
Find out more
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This event will consider: the challenges of starting and scaling a business; the lessons of exiting; the difference of building a business for the second time.
News & Views
- Productivity is the question, but is tech the answer?
- James Clark busts some myths about The London Stock Exchange
- All we need are women investors
- Pimlico Plumbers founder, Charlie Mullins OBE is gunning for Boris' old job
- Criticism of Millennials must stop, according to Real Business
- More bad news for science and tech jobs in the UK because of Brexit
- Big Issue founder talks about homelessness and the House of Lords in the FT
Friends of the Network
Events
Make It Your Business: London
23 January 2018
6.30pm to 8.30pm
Airspace, 29-31 Oxford Street, London
Cost: £10 (Or free if you become a member)
RSVP
Join Make It Your Business for a panel event with guest speakers: Katrina Sale, founder, Wisetree; Ada Zhao (Curated Crowd); Alice Wingfield Digby (Wingfield Digby) and Phoebe Gormley (Gormley & Gamble).
Gamification in Insurance
30 January 2018
5pm to 9pm
Rocketspace, London
Cost: Free
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An Coppens, a leading expert in gamification design for employee and learner engagement, with over 15 years experience in creating behaviour change through creative and innovative solutions, will be giving a keynote into how gamification is relevant in the Insurance industry.
The Leap Academy – Restructuring for Growth
14 February 2018
8.30pm to 10.30pm
Africa House, 70 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6AH
Cost: Free
RSVP
Join Mishcon for a workshop on how restructuring can best position your business for growth. This session will look at the following: Common reasons to restructure – why do it?; How to prepare for restructuring and how long might it take?; What does restructuring entail, what form can it take?; What are the big tax issues?; What are the big pitfalls/what to anticipate? Speakers include Laura Chandler, Corporate Legal Director and Head of Reorganisations Group at Mishcon de Reya and John Skoulding, Corporate Tax Partner at Mishcon de Reya.
Student Enterprise Conference
17 & 18 February 2018
10pm to 5pm
Aston University, Aston Express Way, Birmingham
Cost: £12.50 (using the code SECPARTNERS18)
Find out more
Join NACUE for two days of interactive workshops, panelled discussions and keynotes. Curated for a creative and innovative audience of 'Creators, Connectors and Captains'.
Getting the Most from your Network
22 February 2018
9am to 1pm
The Office Group, Albert House, 26-260 Old Street, London
Cost: Non-members: £150 +VAT (£95 for members)
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In this session attendees will learn how to purposefully build their network to accelerate personal and business growth.
Competitions
Student Start-up of the Year competition
Deadline: 25 February 2018
Prizes: A host of prizes to help you and your business ideas flourish and grow, including cash investment.
Find out more
Enterprise Nation has relaunched their Student Start-up of the Year competition, powered by Enterprise Trust. The competition provides young people and recent graduates with the opportunity to win a host of prizes to help you and your business ideas flourish and grow.
This is taken from our weekly e-bulletin published on 15th January 2018. Sign up here.