Whitehall is overly bureaucratic and lacks the initiatives to help wealth-creators grow the economy, according to UK entrepreneurs.

 

When asked how they would improve the current business environment, the most popular response from the UK’s business owners was to reduce the size of government.

The research, conducted by business community Entrepreneur Country, revealed that 80% of entrepreneurs believe their confidence would also be lifted with a Tory government.

Some 70% of respondents called for single central place where all business grants could be applied for. While another popular proposal was scrapping NI contributions for start-ups during their first two years of trading.

Julie Meyer, chief executive of Ariadne Capital and dragon on the BBC Dragons’ Den Online show, said: “The 2010 elections are crucial for our future economy. We need to see more recognition of, and help for, the UK’s entrepreneurs.

“Statistical evidence suggests that a vital 6% of high-growth businesses create a full 54% of all new jobs, so it’s absolutely crucial that entrepreneurs are given as much help as possible. We can’t afford to leave them hamstrung by bureaucracy when they’re trying to build global leading firms”.

 

 

Julie Meyer: is one of the leading champions for entrepreneurship in Europe. With over 20 years investment and advisory experience helping start-up businesses, she is the well known founder & CEO of Ariadne Capital, co- founder and Managing Partner of the Ariadne Capital Entrepreneurs Fund, founder of Entrepreneur Country and co-founder of First Tuesday.

American by birth and European in spirit, Julie has added a flourishing media career to her business commitments, recently joining BBC′s Online Dragon′s Den. In addition to her weekly column for London′s City A.M. and regular contributions to Business Week, Computing, FT Digital Business and Spectator Business, Julie is also a regular industry commentator on the BBC and CNBC .

As a personal project, Julie is also currently setting up an association for dads en daughters.