Charity Begins at Startups
Startups and charities tend to inhabit very different worlds, but some innovative entrepreneurs and third sector organisations are breaking down their silos, which is the subject of a great new report from our friends at Nesta.
Better Together shows how the third sector is experimenting with a range of collaboration models to engage with startups, such as co-working spaces, accelerator programmes and investment funds.
The Alzheimer’s Society, for example, has an Accelerator Programme that launched in 2018 supporting innovators to develop products or services that can benefit thousands of people affected by dementia. It offers investment of up to ￡100,000 and a 12-month programme with tailored support depending on the startup’s need, including the opportunity to test and develop products with people affected by dementia.
Entrepreneurs considering collaborations may want to scour the report for opportunities, such as the Friends of the Earth Experiments, The Children’s Society and Bethnal Green Ventures Partnership, and the UNICEF Innovation Fund.
Among the recommendations for policymakers is a tweak to the Charity Commission’s guidelines targeted at encouraging innovation in the sector. The report suggests that there is too much focus on mitigating risk, and guidance should be added on how trustees can support or encourage innovation, growth or increasing impact. For example, Charlotte Guiver of Versus Arthritis describes the current governance requirements as “immensely time consuming”, when discussing setting up an arms-length social venture.
Octopus's springboard
Octopus is calling for the government to help create a plan to enable a 'nation of entrepreneurs' to support the UK’s post-pandemic recovery.
As Octopus co-founder Chris Hulatt sets out in The Times, the Springboard campaign is calling on the government to provide individual grants of ￡10,000 to create 100,000 businesses. Alongside this, they’re asking successful founders and companies to back the programme by offering mentorship to participants.
Chris and his co-founder Simon Rogerson are Advisers to The Entrepreneurs Network and have supported us since the very start. Springboard isn’t meant to be the last word in policies to ensure an entrepreneur-led recovery. As Chris concludes in his article: “Businesses big and small must work with politicians on a campaign to encourage and support new businesses. Providing a financial cushion — as well as networks and skills — is one idea that should work. There must be more great ideas out there. Let’s hear them.”
If you’d like to offer mentorship or support to the Springboard campaign, or would like to stay up to date with developments, you can sign up to the campaign here.
Don't spite
Sam Dumtiru has an article in City AM this week on why a digital tax is no way to reward our innovative online retailers. As Sam explains, “since the lockdown, thousands of small shops have used e-commerce to stay afloat and diversify their income when the government shut down their ability to trade physically. In fact, the government is rumoured to be looking at ways to build on SMEs’ shift online during lockdown.” Of course, business rates need reform, but hitting online retail with another tax isn’t the right way to save the high street.
Trading places
Next year the transition period with the European Union will end. This means that controls will be placed on the movement of goods between Great Britain and the EU. With businesses somewhat preoccupied – what with one thing and another – the Government has decided to introduce the new border controls in three stages up until 1 July 2021.
The Border Operating Model provides the technical detail on how the border with the EU will work after the transition period and the actions that traders, hauliers, ports and carriers need to take. If you trade with the EU, you may want to take a look, although it's quite a long read.
More digestible trade guides on how to import and export goods are available in the form of a ‘journey’, so that you can see steps you need to take to ensure that your goods are transported successfully. You can also use the checker tool to work out what actions your business needs to take.
What you really, really want
I’m always keen to get feedback about our work so we can do things better. To that end, it would be great if you could let us know what you think about our newsletters. What is useful? What is superfluous? What could be added? Are there any technical issues that we should fix? Anything that helps us do a better job of bridging the gap between entrepreneurs and policymakers. I’m all ears.