Strategy boards, knowledge transfer networks, development agencies, innovation centres, sector skills councils, workforce management schemes – the list goes on and on.
When will the government learn that all these “initiatives” will never work? Is it because they’re wrong to try to help? No. Is it because the people that work in them are not dedicated? Definitely not!
The failure of these organisations is solely based on their inability to appoint and fund commercial companies who have a proven track record in the business world (their hands are tied). Unfortunately, government programmes focus on “outputs” (statistics to make THEM look good), not profit – and the last time I looked my business survives and grows on the latter.
One of the only areas working well under this situation is university research access, but all too often UK tech inventors don’t need a bunch of students to test or seek out functionality – they need professional marketing, financial and HR assistance to get their ground-breaking products out there.
In the past year I have met with 17 government sponsored organisations. In each case my clients could, and would, offer exceptional value to the enhancement of UK competitiveness, but the answer was always the same, “Sorry we cannot be seen to part fund or appoint commercial organisations to help as other, like businesses, could call foul play.”
What a ridiculous notion. Government should be over-the-moon that successful companies have a desire and vision on how they can help – and at a highly reduced cost. But I suppose that when they can’t even decide on a stable brand name for their initiatives there’s little hope for anything changing fast.
Could we chase the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on this? Oh, sorry I mean BERR, no actually they have just changed their name again to BIS (The Dept. for Business Innovation & Skills).
I rest my case.
Suggest you take a look at http://www.bis.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/GoingForGrowth.pdf do understand what DBIS is proposing to do to solve the funding problem for SMEs
Great comment and I approve of the rat as i am feeling exactly the same. we have a very successful KTP and have delivered an enteroiirse system that manages transcreation of marketing material in a real time page building space via the web. A real Cloud delivery that will make around £350 sales this year. Kingston University have been great on the academic side and we are to be out up for an award. Kinsgton University Commercial will not sponsor us, will not work with us jointly, although they use the system. I wanted to do a trade mission to china with the UKTI team. All Kingston had to do was support it and jointly market the event. They refused as it showed favoritism and we might get a commercial gain. What make money out of their efforts how capitalist. Education Management and Government need an overhaul. Conservatives won’t be any better. What we need is Citizen Smith. If only, if only!
Sorry about typos. less haste more pace