SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE MUST BE RE-CREATED OUTSIDE OF LONDON AND THE SOUTH EAST
16/04/07 | 17:07
Highlighting the fact that twice as many businesses per head of population are formed in the Thames Valley as they are in the Tees Valley, David argued for enterprise to be encouraged and celebrated in order to end the 'dependency culture' that persists in too much of our society.
In order to achieve this, David called for the introduction of new-style 'Enterprise Zones', saying:
'In the 1980s we had Enterprise Zones – which successfully transformed many of the areas of the country worst hit by decline of large scale industries. Should we not be experimenting in areas with the very worst levels of dependency now – high unemployment, high levels of incapacity benefit and low levels of enterprise - with new style zones where companies that start up could be exempt not just from business rates but from Employment legislation and National Insurance contributions? The other major theme in David's keynote speech was the problems facing our education system. He highlighted the shocking figure that '1.2 million young people are not in education, not in employment and not in training' and went on to say:
'The fact that half our young people are leaving school without 5 decent GCSE’s. It is nothing short of a national disgrace.'
David warned the Government that its proposed diplomas were very much the last chance to prove that the education system can be reformed without radical change. If they do not work David argued:
'It is the time to look at the re-introduction of selection at the age of 13 – to re-introduce grammar schools which were the great escape route for the working class in post-war Britain until they were dismembered in the 1970’s; and also to re-introduce Technical Schools for the 21st Century – not metal work and woodwork but IT; specialist engineering ; science– linked to academic study. Not a dustbin for those who are not academic, but a true high quality vocational route with academic study as part of it.'
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACT:NOTES TO EDITORS:The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is the National Voice of Local Business.
The BCC sits at the heart of a powerful nationwide network of Accredited Chambers of Commerce serving business across the UK, which employ over five million people.