ECONOMIC RECOVERY IS A PRIORITY economy into a double-

FOR THE UK BUT WHO SHOULD BE IN dip recession, sparking

THE DRIVING SEAT? heated discussion about

how to respond.

The veteran

entrepreneur described

small and medium

sized businesses as the

A question

FOCUS

“engines of any healthy

economy” and argued

ofLEADERSHIP

that the government

should do more to

encourage lending,

reduce costs and

The task of generating economic cut red tape.

growth in the UK has become a

question of who should take the The next generation

Branson wants to see

lead: business or government? lower business rates

and a relaxation of

‘

If the government

wants businesses

to invest and grow

V irgin chief Richard

Branson recently

weighed in to the

the rules on small and

start-up companies.

He also advocates a

at a time of global debate over who national insurance

uncertainty, it is responsible for holiday for the first two

needs to generate spearheading the fight years of a new staff

stability and a against recession. member’s employment

better business and lessons in school

environment at Figures released last on business and money-

home by setting month revealed that management skills to

’

business free the UK economy create a new generation

John Longworth,

shrank by 0.3pc in of business owners.

Director General, BCC the first three months

4 of 2012, pushing the