Only 4% Of British Founders Believe The Government Understands Needs, Survey Finds

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights

According to our inaugural Entrepreneurs Survey, a striking 84 per cent of founders believe the Government does not understand their needs – while barely 4 per cent think it does

The survey, conducted with re agency Public First, paints a picture of mounting frustration as fundraising dries up, talent shortages bite, and uncertainty over economic policy deepens

One in ten founders say they expect to leave the UK in the next 12 months, and one in six plan to sell their es outright

Asked why, respondents pointed to high taxes, complex regulation and fears of a looming downturn

Just 19 per cent are optimistic the wider UK economy over the next year, versus 63 per cent who are pessimistic – even though 69 per cent remain upbeat their own firms

Sean Kohli, Chair of the Young Entrepreneurs Forum, warned the drift abroad is no longer a trickle: “It’s concerning to see entrepreneurial talent leaving the UK

This has now developed into a significant issue that requires attention

Britain would benefit from some course adjustments

Too often, we place hurdles in the path of risk-taking and innovation

Naturally, ambitious entrepreneurs and founders will be drawn to ecosystems that actively support their growth and vision. ” MORE FOR YOU Raising capital tops the list of pain points

Three-quarters of founders (75 per cent) say it is currently difficult to secure investment in Britain, a finding echoed by Irina Pafomova, Co-Founder of Zestic AI and an active early-stage investor: “Being a founder of an AI as well as an early-stage investor, I find that un in the US, the UK funding market has neither the speed, nor sufficient capacity to support ambitious es

In our space, things are moving at lightning speed, and many founders are distracted by constant fundraising (in small chunks) rather than focusing on building the

Immigration policy is another flashpoint: 88 per cent rate it as important to the UK ecosystem, yet visa barriers persist

Anne-Laure Le Cunff, Founder of Ness Labs, says that talent mobility and innovation go hand in hand: “As an immigrant founder building a distributed team, I’ve seen first-hand how access to global talent not only fuels innovation but also drives long-term growth

Yet some of the most brilliant people I collaborate with simply can’t get visas

If the UK wants to stay competitive, it needs to make it easier for ambitious people from anywhere to build here. ” When drilled on policy specifics, 84 per cent held a negative view of the overall tax burden, while 65 per cent criticised the regulatory load

Asked where the Government should focus trade negotiations, a majority (56 per cent) prioritised closer ties with the European Union, ahead of “rest-of-world” (26 per cent) or the United States (14 per cent)

Eamonn Ives, Re Director, said the figures should serve as a wake-up call: “Entrepreneurs and the start-ups they found are a critical source of economic growth and innovation, so it’s essential for policymakers to know how to support their needs

The fact so few founders believe the Government understands what they require to grow is highly concerning

Whether it’s by lowering the burden of taxation or simplifying our immigration system, the Government should be unstinting in ensuring that Britain is set up to actively support wealth creation here within our own shores

If it doesn’t, we shouldn’t be surprised to see great companies being founded elsewhere instead. ” Despite the litany of obstacles, entrepreneurs haven’t lost their appetite for building es: 77 per cent say life as a founder has become harder since they started, yet 55 per cent would still encourage someone else to take the plunge

Entrepreneurs are nothing if not optimistic – 69 per cent are optimistic their despite the headwinds

Just imagine how high that would be if they also believed politicians were backing them as much as they back themselves

Editorial StandardsRes & PermissionsLOADING PLAYER.