Business Minister to talk at enterprise showcase

Organisers said Michael Fallon’s visit will represent his first official appearance at a major enterprise event.

The Conservative MP will take part in a number of events highlighting the importance of mentoring to young entrepreneurs.

He will host a panel discussion on the role of mentoring in helping young entrepreneurs develop their business ideas.

The festival takes place over three days and is expected to attract some 3,000 visitors to Sheffield to hear presentations from 60 leading entrepreneurs.

Speakers include Peter Jones, the star of BBC’s Dragons’ Den, Doug Richard, the angel investor, Edward Wray, the co-founder of Betfair, and Luke Johnson, the founder of Risk Capital Partners.

Mr Fallon said: “We have a wealth of talented entrepreneurs in the UK who are helping to support the economy by developing new and emerging businesses.

“It will be great to meet entrepreneurs, listen to how they have been able to start and grow their businesses and offer details of how the Government can help them achieve their ambitions.

“I hope that MADE will inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and look forward to being part of the festival.”

He is due to speak at an event matching rising entrepreneurial stars with mentors from the Get Mentoring programme, which is supported by the British Bankers’ Association.

He will also present awards to the winners of a Government competition to find the most enterprising locations in the UK.

He will be joined by his boss, Business Secretary Vince Cable, who is headline speaker on Thursday at MADE.

Michael Hayman, festival chairman, said: “We are delighted to welcome Michael Fallon to MADE and host his first appearance at a major enterprise event.

“This year’s festival is seeking to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs, and the Minister’s message on the importance of mentoring will make a powerful contribution to this campaign.”

Mr Fallon, a long-serving member of the Treasury Select Committee, replaced Mark Prisk in the latest Government reshuffle.

He outlined plans to scrap red tape last week in a bid to kick-start the economic recovery.

He said businesses including shops, offices and pubs will be exempt from routine health and safety inspections.

But the Government will have to work harder to properly rebalance the UK economy, according to Paul Firth, a prominent Sheffield business lawyer.

He said the MADE festival has potential to inspire a generation of new entrepreneurs and create thousands of new jobs, but this will only happen if ministers do more to encourage and support start-ups to trade over- seas.

Mr Firth, regional managing partner at Irwin Mitchell, said: “MADE has a track record for bringing together the country’s most successful business owners, inspiring people and enabling entrepreneurs to find useful contacts who can develop into effective business partners in the future.

“It is crucial however that more barriers to enterprise are removed, otherwise there is a risk that the true potential of MADE will not be recognised.

“UK Trade & Investment, the Government department charged with helping UK firms make the most of overseas markets, says that by increasing the number of companies who export by roughly a quarter, about £36bn could be added to the UK economy.

“Although entrepreneurs could certainly play a role here, more could be done to help them.”

Mr Firth added: “Providing greater support for organisations which encourages the sharing of information so that identifying networks and local partners is easier could make a big difference.

“Making finance easier to access and investing in better transport infrastructure to bring down delivery costs to other countries should also be considered in greater detail.”

The MADE festival takes place at the City Hall in Sheffield.

Other speakers include Marcus Stuttard, the head of the Alternative Investment Market, Paul Lindley, the founder of baby food brand Ella’s Kitchen, and Renaud Visage, the founder of online booking website Event- brite.

A number of the speakers will turn their attention to the growing problem of youth unemployment.

The E20 summit takes place at Chatsworth tomorrow evening and will be chaired by Lord Graffham, the Prime Minister’s enterprise adviser.

The Yorkshire Post is a media partner for MADE and is hosting a business breakfast on Thursday morning.

[email protected]