Universities and colleges currently offer a range of training and support programmes for potential entrepreneurs focusing on different aspects of business start-up.
It is anticipated that necessity driven entrepreneurship is set to increase in response to the current economic climate. With more people facing redundancy there is expected to be an increase in the number of people seeing starting business as a viable career option.
With this in mind it is essential that those who wish to, receive the support they need.
The business support agenda is described as a cross-government one and the review will seek the views of other government departments and regional stakeholders to set the recommendations in context.
It is anticipated that stakeholders involved in FE and HE delivery and those who support the self-employed address their skills needs will also be asked for their views during the review.
Plans to carry out the Review of Support for Self-Employment were announced on the 20 March by Skills Secretary John Denham who has asked the ‘TV Dragon’ to report to him early this summer with his findings.
The review will:
- Identify the range of support offered by colleges and universities across England to those wanting to start their own business
- Highlight strong or innovative practice in Higher and Further Education that others can learn from
- Make recommendations about how training or access to training could be improved
- As a secondary aim to consider whether their support available to those who are already self-employed meets their needs.
EnterpriseUpfront will provide an overview of the review when it is made available.
For more information on the Department Innovation Universities and Skills visit www.dius.gov.uk