Carl Hopkins joins Entrepreneurs’ Forum

Nov 18 2010 by Henryk Zientek, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A STAR of TV’s Secret Millionaire has been invited to give his views on business matters to the Government.

Brighouse-based Carl Hopkins has been named as one of the members of a new Entrepreneurs’ Forum – to provide informal and personal advice on new business and enterprise policies.

The forum has been set up by Business Secretary Vince Cable to hear the views of successful business people on “unleashing enterprise and encouraging entrepreneurship”.

The forum would help “break down the barriers that deter people from taking the leap into starting a business and encourage them to make a job, not take a job”.

He said there was an “incredible opportunity for those willing to take a risk, for small businesses to flourish and for innovations to drive growth and create jobs.”

Mr Hopkins joins other prominent business people on the forum, including Yorkshire property boss Jan Fletcher, Dragon’s Den panellist and investor James Caan and Tim Campbell, founder of the Bright Ideas Trust.

Mr Hopkins runs kloog – a business “angel” service where he shares some of the experiences he has garnered during his marketing career with other businesses.

He is also involved with Joblink Solutions – a community involvement helping the individuals and organisations preparing young people to become self-employed and start out on a journey into enterprise.

Mr Hopkins said: “The forum is there for government to listen to people on the ground, There is no set agenda.

“I am concerned about things like the loss of the regional development agencies and the centralisation of Business Links.

“This forum is a great chance to put the concerns of small businesses in front of ministers.

“I meet lots of would-be entrepreneurs and small business owners who are frustrated about red tape, health and safety, access to finance and the increased expense of employing people.

“I am also involved in the social enterprises which will be expected to deliver more services in the future.”

Mr Hopkins said the invitation to join the forum came out of the blue. The forum is expected to meet every three months with the first meeting to be held early in the new year.

“It won’t be a talking shop,” Mr Hopkins insisted. “With the quality of people around the table they will expect to see things happen and they will be eager to voice their opinions.”

Mr Cable said the forum members had been chosen for the experience they could bring to the development of enterprise policy.

He said: “People with the courage to start up a business will be crucial to driving the growth of the economy.

“Start-ups create jobs, stimulate innovation and provide a competitive spur to existing businesses to encourage them to increase their productivity.

“I am delighted with the quality of the membership of my new forum and look forward to bouncing ideas off them and hearing their views.”