New inquiry to examine why young people from poorer backgrounds outside major cities are being held back from starting businesses
A major new Commission into Social Mobility and Entrepreneurship will today be launched by Labour Business to investigate why talented young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are being denied the opportunity to start and grow businesses in towns, coastal communities and rural areas across Britain outside of London and the South East.
The Commission will explore whether aspiring entrepreneurs outside the UK’s major cities face structural barriers that prevent them from turning ideas into successful businesses, limiting both social mobility and economic growth.
While cities can often benefit from established networks of universities, investors, mentors and business support organisations, many communities elsewhere lack the entrepreneurial ecosystems needed to help new businesses succeed.
The inquiry will examine obstacles including access to finance, the availability of mentors and role models, transport and connectivity challenges, and wider support structures available to young entrepreneurs from low-income backgrounds.
The Commission will undertake constituency visits, hear evidence from business founders and experts, and conduct detailed research to identify practical measures that could unlock entrepreneurial talent in every part of the country.
The Commission is being chaired by Mark Glover, Labour Business Vice Chair, entrepreneur and Professor of Practice at the University of Glasgow.
Glover said:
“Talent is evenly distributed across the United Kingdom. Opportunity is not. Too often, where a young person grows up determines whether they have access to the networks, finance and support needed to start a business.
Entrepreneurship remains one of the most powerful routes to social mobility and to grow an economy, yet for many young people outside our biggest cities, the odds are stacked against them.
This Commission will identify the barriers preventing talented individuals from realising their ambitions and develop practical recommendations to help create a stronger culture of entrepreneurship in every corner of the country.”
The Commission brings together Labour Business members, entrepreneurs and industry experts from sectors including technology, energy, communications and business services.
Its findings and recommendations will be presented to the Labour Party ahead of the 2027 Labour Party Conference, with the aim of informing future policy on enterprise, regional growth and social mobility.