Archive for December, 2007

and why would they???

This blurb from a source close to us sent this snippet of information:

“According to the latest Flash Eurobarometer on entrepreneurial mindset the EU is still lagging behind the US, but over half of the EU’s young people find it desirable to become entrepreneurs within the next five years. The aim of the survey is to have a better understanding of entrepreneurship, to identify what is fuelling entrepreneurial mindsets, what encourages people to become entrepreneurs and which obstacles exist. The results of the 2007 survey will help the Commission in the shaping of its policy-making”

Firstly, the wording in this introduction to the survey is enough to make you want to run and hide in your nearest nine to five job.  What the heck is a Eurobarometer?  The whole thing is just off putting.

Anyway, looking past all of that, the actual survey itself is quite interesting.  It’s difficult to see why anybody would actively want to partake in starting up in business if they have a comfortable existence with a regular wage from a steady nine to five job.  The government seems to do nothing to incentivise would-be business owners anymore.  Every time we speak to our accountant here at Atlas he tells us about another “perk” that has been withdrawn and another tax that we need to pay.  On one level it’s depressing to see the barriers to business start-up entry being raised all the time, and on a purely selfish level, we hate being penalised for being good at what we do (i.e. writing software, charging a fee for it, and making a healthy profit).  That’s not to say we don’t want to pay ANY tax, we’d just like to see value for money and new businesses start-ups not being hindered. 

Please Mr. Brown, put something on your Christmas wish list for small businesses…

Full details of the survey can be found here.

We were recently provided with the official recording of the award ceremony for the event that honoured Simon Swords with “Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2007”.  So rather than keep this to ourselves we thought we’d share.

It should be noted that Simon does not smile once while making his way to the stage.  We think that Simon was either trying to play it cool or just concentrating so that he didn’t fall over on the way to the stage.  We’ll leave it to you to decide which one!