Big Society in the Welsh Economy

Despite the Welsh Assembly Government trotting out stats showing that the vast majority of those who have used business support services in Wales have been satisfied with the service, a group of influential businessmen in Wales have set up a rival non-for-profit enterprise to help deliver prosperity to the nation.

The businessmen have cited instances of bureaucracy and red tape getting in the way of efficient support for start-ups and major assistance for growing companies. From my own experience of working with businesses in Wales, it is not a surprise that frustrations with the myriad of public sector business support organisations have finally forced a private sector alternative.

I think this is a great example of the "Big Society" that David Cameron is keen to propagate across the UK should he become Prime Minister. At a time when indepth business support is so desperately needed to help the Welsh economy to ride the downturn and prosper ahead of the recovery, it is heartening to see these businessmen take a stand and declare that reliance on the public sector will not stimulate wealth creation.

This should be an example for other would-be social entrepreneurs in Wales.