You should receive this magazine a few days before the general election. As I write, the polls indicate the closest election since 1992. Despite an unpopular government and an opposition with more cash than any UK party in recent history, televised leaders' debates have made it a three-horse race. The smart money is backing a hung parliament. This is seen by many as a disaster. It could slow down deficit reduction and lead to a downgrading of the UK's credit rating, damaging our economy and global credibility in the process.
But perhaps it will be the impetus we need for a shift to a more collaborative parliament. It could usher in an era of grown-up politics, rather than the negative "Punch and Judy" style identified by David Cameron as a cause of voter disengagement. But the auguries for cross-party working aren't good, with Cameron admitting he has had to adopt a more gladiatorial approach to Prime Minister's Questions. "You're either a Christian or a lion," as he told the Today programme.
But collaboration is something entrepreneurs thrive on and it has been central to Director and Enterprise UK developing our Enterprise Manifesto. We have had input from entrepreneurs all across the UK. Ideas have been rated and voted on and the most practical suggestions distilled into the final manifesto. Whoever wins the election will be able to use it to make the UK the best place in the world to start and run a business, an ambition all three main parties share. To see the Enterprise Manifesto, visit www.director.co.uk/manifesto.
The clear message from entrepreneurs is that they want government to create the right climate for enterprise and then get out of the way. There is also agreement that we need to boost enterprise education and make it more appealing for all sorts of people to start and run a business, often collaborating with others in the process.
Collaboration is a theme running throughout this issue. Cover star Jean Oelwang of Virgin Unite is working to bring business and the charitable and social sectors together. For those who argue that women are naturally inclined to take a more collegial approach, there is an investigation into the role of women on UK boards and there's also a special report into mergers and acquisitions.
Richard Cree