In his regular column for Caerphilly Observer, Caerphilly Business Forum’s chair Tony Sheehan looks at entrepreneurial activity in Wales.
A new report out this week has confirmed what many of us in the Caerphilly Business Forum already suspected, that despite the recession, entrepreneurial activity in Wales has seen a sharp increase.
The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor UK: Wales Report 2011 found the level of early stage entrepreneurial activity in Wales in 2011 was 8.1%, up significantly from 5.8% in 2010 and ahead of the UK rate of 7.6%.
During my time as Chair of the Caerphilly Business Forum, this doesn’t come as any shock to me.
The fact that those involved in early stage entrepreneurial activity in Wales were the most likely in the UK to be doing so out of necessity, rather than because they saw an ‘exciting opportunity’, is no bad thing. This to me shows a positive attitude and the determination to go out and find opportunities where none are forthcoming.
Another positive stat to come out of the report is that there is a record level of Welsh women looking to run their own business. In fact, the increase in overall early stage entrepreneurial activity was aided by a record high of 6.1% of working-age women becoming entrepreneurs.
You have only to look at the outstanding candidates that are constantly nominated for our Caerphilly Business Forum Business Awards Businesswoman of the year, to know that there are some inspirational female success stories out there. Last year’s winner Esther Apoussidis and her business Coffee Continental are certainly a case in point.
That Wales is able to lead Britain in entrepreneurship is inspirational and next Friday at the annual Caerphilly Business Forum Awards I am looking forward to celebrating Caerphilly’s contribution to this significant achievement.
If anyone would like to join us at the awards ceremony itself there are still a limited number of tickets available for the event at Llancaiach Fawr Manor on Friday November 23. Tickets can be bought by emailing awards@cbforum.co.uk
Tony Sheehan
Chairman, Caerphilly Business Forum
For more information about Caerphilly Business Forum and its events call 029 2125 1395 or email Natalie@cbforum.co.uk