PM challenges potential entrepreneurs to unleash the ‘Business in You’

The prime minister David Cameron has today unveiled a major campaign to boost entrepreneurship in the UK, following last week’s reports that he would launch a new start-up initiative.

The nationwide ‘Business in You’ campaign – which was launched in partnership with StartUp Britain – aims to inspire potential entrepreneurs to start their own businesses and to encourage existing small businesses to grow.

Based on the concept that there is “a business in everyone”, the campaign will champion the stories of nine inspirational UK entrepreneurs, from a variety of backgrounds, who have used their passion or talent to develop successful businesses.

The ambassadors include Jamal Edwards, the 21-year-old founder of SBTV – an innovative broadcast company which has amassed more than 50 milllion YouTube views.

Moonfruit’s Wendy Tan-White, Alastair Mitchell of Huddle, Richard Moross from moo.com and Paul Lindley, founder of Ella’s Kitchen – one of the 10 fastest growing private companies in the UK – are also among the campaign heroes.

Cameron further pledged to make up to 300 empty and under-used government offices available to entrepreneurs struggling to find suitably flexible and affordable work spaces, from which to start or grow their businesses.

Launching the campaign in front of an audience in Leeds this morning, Cameron said:

“Small businesses and entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of the British economy and I am determined that we, working with the private sector, do everything we can to help them to start up and to grow in 2012.

“I want to encourage people to go for it and make this the year of enterprise – whether that is fulfilling their dream of starting a new business or taking the leap to grow their business, to employ more staff, or to start exporting.”

The initiative will draw on the resources of a number of private sector partners to offer potential entrepreneurs advice on starting up, including workshops, web-based seminars and video tutorials, covering topics such as finding finance and mentors.

Michael Hayman, co-founder of StartUp Britain added: “Is there a business inside you? We believe the answer is yes and we want to inspire those with a dream to make it a reality by starting their own business.

“All around the country are people proving that you can make it in Britain, be your own boss and create the jobs that can help transform communities. This campaign champions the courage and determination of Britain’s entrepreneurs – the people that change things. The people that have a go.”

For more information on the campaign, visit the Business in You website