5. Debate: Entrepreneurship: A National Imperative

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:34 pm on 28 November 2017.

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Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 4:34, 28 November 2017

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm conscious of time and so I'll limit my comments to individual Members to as little time as possible. I think it is clear, though, that as well as an ecosystem or a community of enablers, what is absolutely vital in fostering greater sense of entrepreneurship is a cultural change within Wales, a behavioural change, an attitudinal change. Many Members used examples of places around the world where entrepreneurialism and innovation-driven entrepreneurialism is particularly successful in contributing to higher productivity level. Aarhus, Mannheim, other parts of the world—what is absolutely clear from all of those places is that they have the right ecosystem, the right support networks, but they also have a very distinct cultural approach to entrepreneurship—a cultural approach that we need to adopt and embrace with a concerted effort, not only to invest in the structures that are required to foster new business start-ups, but also to encourage a behavioural change. No national body in its own right will enable a significant increase in business start-ups. There is a need to bring together individual interests and collective community interests. I'd be very interested to learn more about the example of Ridgeway golf club. I think what Hefin David said and what Vikki Howells said about the need to address self-employment challenges for people who wish to be employed in, if you like, jobs of the everyday and that they're taken on board—that's why we're keen in schools to ensure that enterprise troopers and that role models don't just encourage young people into tech-led, cutting-edge entrepreneurship activities, but give young people a sense of pride in taking on self-employment in any field that young people wish to pursue.

I also think that it's absolutely essential that the fair work board take on board what Vikki Howells was saying about the disadvantage that were in place in seeking self-employment. I do think that it's a great advantage of Be The Spark: having a woman in charge of that particular initiative.

I'm going to close in terms of the need for everybody to work together. I'm going to close with a comment from Clint Betts, the chief executive officer of Silicon Slopes, a non-profit organisation for entrepreneurs in Utah. When he visited Wales recently, Clint stated that he believes the critical element in building the right ecosystem is that everybody recognises there is no competition in community building. That's the spirit that I want to move forward, and I want to work with Members across this Chamber to fulfil the potential that I know is out there.