News

• Small Business Taskforce statement
  The Centre has joined other small business organisations to call upon the government to ensure the UK retains its leading global entrepreneurship position as it negotiates exit from the European Union.
• The number of businesses in the UK hits record high (Telegraph)
  The number of businesses in the UK has hit 5.5m, increasing by 23% since 2010, according to government data.
• Legal decision on the status of Uber drivers imminent (CityAM)
  An employment tribunal is expected to make a decision this week on whether Uber drivers are workers and entitled to sick pay and holidays. 
• Small businesses in financial distress following introduction of National Living Wage (Economia)
  97,342 small businesses have been struggling to absorb the higher staff costs associated with the new NLW, according to an insolvency firm. 
• Axe business rates and replace them with a sales tax - Sage boss (Mail Online)
• SMEs are optimistic but are struggling to bridge the talent gap (EliteBusiness)
  A new report from Albion Ventures reveals that while 73% of SMEs are expecting to grow in the next two years, they feel hindered by their ability to source skilled workers.

Opinion

• Work in progress (Matthew Taylor, chief executive, The RSA)
  Ahead of his Review of Modern Employment, Matthew explores how and why employment policy has evolved in the post-war period, and where it might go next.
• Britain is suffering because politicians don't get tech (Anthony Hilton, Evening Standard)
• The UK needs tech talent and it doesn't matter where it comes from (for now) (Gerard Grech, chief executive, Tech City UK)
• New Home Office rules will stop the growth of small business (Rohan Silva, founder, Second Home)
• Entrepreneurs are crazy, but they change the world (Luke Lang, co-founder, CrowdCube)
  Luke responds to a letter in the Guardian from a startup employee criticising the often "pointless, rudderless" culture.

Features

• The lesser known entrepreneurs of India - soldiers' wives (Qz)
• How dating app Her is creating a global community (EliteBusiness)
• There are 145 entrepreneurship courses at Stanford (Steve Blank)