Small businesses 'can help to change the world'

Date: 16th January 2008

Entrepreneurs and small business owners have an important role to play in tackling major social problems around the world, speakers at a recent conference stated.

Delegates at the World Entrepreneurship Summit, held last week at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London, were urged to welcome their role as potential "change agents" for the world.

Speakers at the event included leading economist Doctor Rebecca Harding and founder of the Catalyst Group George Polk, who both spoke of the wider social responsibilities of the UK's small companies and entrepreneurs, Accountingweb.co.uk reports.

"There are too many problems in the world not to use entrepreneurial enthusiasm, innovation and a different way of thinking," Dr Harding said in her opening address.

"It is exactly the skills you develop as an entrepreneur that you need to address social problems," added Mr Polk, whose organisation provides business leaders with education on public policy issues.

Dr Harding is chief economist at the Work Foundation and a senior fellow at London Business School.