Minister Bruton publishes Entrepreneurship Forum Report

Government aims to better support start-ups – who create two thirds of all new jobs across economy

The Report of the Entrepreneurship Forum was launched today (Thursday) by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD and Chair of the Forum, entrepreneur and Investor Sean O’ Sullivan together with Minister of State for Small Business John Perry TD.

The Forum was established as part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs 2013. Given that two thirds of all new jobs across the economy are created by businesses in the first five years of existence, the Government is determined to look at new ways of providing supports for entrepreneurs and start-ups.

69 recommendations have been put forward by the Forum in their Report. Many of the recommendations require Government action, but there are also recommendations aimed at businesses, entrepreneurs and industry representative bodies to engage them in building a stronger entrepreneurial culture in Ireland.

Included in the Report’s recommendations are:
· Use of unoccupied and NAMA buildings for a total of 50,000 square feet of co-working space
· Mandatory training in commercialisation of business ideas for all third-level science, technology, engineering and maths students
· Changes to law to support employee stock option programmes
· A national education strategy for entrepreneurship at all levels of the education system
· A mentoring network driven by entrepreneurs
· Tax incentives for investment in enterprise
· In the long-term – a flat tax of 15-20% on all types of income

Many of the recommendations contained in the report will be implemented as part of the Action Plan for Jobs process, and Minister Bruton in consultation with colleagues will prepare the first ever Government Entrepreneurship Policy Statement for agreement by Government and publication shortly.

Launching the Report, Minister Bruton said:

“Two thirds of all new jobs come from start-up businesses in the first five years of their existence. Entrepreneurs are the heroes of the economy, creating businesses, jobs and growth from which the rest of us benefit, and Ireland has some amazing entrepreneurs, but not nearly enough. That is why, as part of the Action Plan for Jobs, we are determined to look at new ways of supporting and facilitating entrepreneurs so we can have more start-ups and ultimately more jobs. And that is why we have asked entrepreneurs themselves, people who have actually done it, to tell us what they think we need to do to achieve this goal.

“What they are telling us is that Government cannot create entrepreneurs and start-ups, but what we can do is remove barriers and support an environment where more businesses can start. What we are publishing today is an excellent evidence-based document with 69 concrete recommendations for what Government can do to achieve this. Implementing all recommendations may not be possible – but if the past decade has shown us anything it is that advice from experts should be listened to and debated.

“I wish to thank all the members of the Forum and in particular Sean O’Sullivan for the leadership, expertise and time-commitment they have voluntarily contributed to this project”.

Chair of the Forum Sean O’ Sullivan said:

“We believe that Ireland has the opportunity to become the most competitive country in Europe if it adopts – and embraces – some key structural changes. The Forum’s recommendations in immigration, finance, and public policy reform are ambitious but concrete, and we call on Government to make tough political decisions. But more importantly, the foundation of a strong startup community is a culture of citizenship where individuals embrace success, give back, and take responsibility to build a better society. This Report is a call to action”.

The Forum’s Report was launched at the startup hub Dogpatch Labs in Dublin’s Barrow Street which provides technology entrepreneurs with access to experienced mentors, free space, connectivity, and a community of peers that encourage a constant atmosphere of innovation.

One of the major themes of the Report is the need for entrepreneurs in all parts of the country to become more engaged with other entrepreneurs and to look more towards their own peers and less to Government supports to achieve their goals. Volunteerism and organising activities such as events for networking, peer mentoring and knowledge sharing are highlighted by the Forum as being essential. The Report emphasises that these engaged entrepreneurs, their companies and their staff are the heart of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Forum says Ireland already has that heart. The report can be found at: www.djei.ie/enterprise/smes/EntrepreneurshipForumReport2014.pdf

ENDS

For further information contact:

Press Office, Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, 01-6312200, [email protected]/* */

NOTES FOR EDITORS

‘Entrepreneurship in Ireland – Strengthening the Startup Community’ is available in PDF format on the website link . It is also available in hard copy from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

Membership of the Entrepreneurship Forum

Chair: Sean O’ Sullivan – Managing Director and founder of SOSventures and Carma

Joe Cunningham – Founder, Aldiscon, APiON, AePONA, Accuris, Ammeon, ex CTO, Logica Mobile Networks, Aldiscon

Thomas Cooney – Professor of Entrepreneurship, College of Business, Dublin Institute of Technology

Tom Hayes – Micro Enterprise and Small Business, Enterprise Ireland

Wendy Gray – SME Policy, Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation

Daniel Ramamoorthy – Co-founder and CEO of Treehouse, entrepreneurial hub in Dublin for international entrepreneurs

Tom Keogh – Founder – Keogh’s Crisps

Noelle O’Connor – CEO, TanOrganic

Purpose of the Report

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton committed to produce a National Entrepreneurship Policy Statement within the context of the Action Plan for Jobs 2013. To support the development of a National Entrepreneurship Policy Statement, the Minister has been keen to hold a wide consultation with interested parties and to take suggestions and advice from people who have actually taken the entrepreneurial route and can provide a relevant insight into the responses needed in the current economic environment.
To this end, Minister Bruton carried out 3 specific actions last year:
1. Firstly he launched a public consultation in May 2013 inviting interested parties to submit written views and suggestions to support the development of a National Entrepreneurship Policy Statement. 74 written submissions were received.
2. Secondly, a number of face to face meetings were hosted by Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation officials throughout the summer and autumn of 2013 with various entrepreneurs and stakeholders to obtain further views and ideas.
3. Thirdly Minister Bruton established an Entrepreneurship Forum in May 2013 to examine the current environment and policy framework and to come up with recommendations aimed at further supporting entrepreneurship and business start-ups.

The inputs, ideas and recommendations obtained from all of this work are a valuable contribution to the development of the Government’s National Entrepreneurship Policy Statement which Minister Bruton will shortly bring to Government for consideration and approval. Many of the Forum’s recommendations fall within the Department’s area of responsibility and are currently being assessed. Other recommendations fall under the remit of other Departments and they will be consulted closely. A feasibility and operational assessment is required to facilitate informed decision making on the recommendations and their suitability for inclusion in the forthcoming National Entrepreneurship Policy Statement.