Anyone who has ever written a news story will tell you that “dog bites man” rarely grabs a headline. But one of yesterday’s lead stories was a version of an even less likely headline: “dog doesn’t bite man”. The government, apparently, is proposing a scheme to cut down on attacks by dangerous dogs. It’s another well-intentioned example of sledgehammer legislation, which won’t hinder those it’s designed to police, and won’t benefit those it’s designed to protect. Perhaps what the government should have done is sit a bunch of entrepreneurs in a room and ask them for a more practical solution.

I spent last night at the first Manifesto camp hosted by Enterprise UK, at The Hub near King’s Cross, London. I’m now convinced that such gatherings should be the way forward for all government policy decisions. The entrepreneurs were there to discuss the Enterprise Manifesto, and in particular, the UK’s enterprise culture and its relationship with the education system. Ideas sparked around the room for two and a half hours and refreshingly no one suggested more legislation or more quangos.

There was disagreement about whether or not some folk are born with certain traits that make them more likely to start a business, but everyone accepted that entrepreneurs only flourish where there is a culture to support them. An interesting example was cited of the mixed success microfinance schemes have enjoyed in different developing countries. In some countries, organisations such as Grameen Bank have helped to create a flourishing micro enterprise culture. Elsewhere they have just driven poor people into more debt.

One thing that quickly emerged was that everyone has a different take on what it means to be an entrepreneur. Where chartered accountant and architect are well-defined roles, entrepreneur can mean anything from Sir Richard Branson to the man or woman running the local village post office. The ambition, motivation and skills required are different, but both have a role to play in the UK economy.

Oli Barrett, a major force behind Enterprise UK’s excellent Make Your Mark with a Tenner scheme, suggested a broader definition. What matters, he suggested, is encouraging people to “start something”. Taking away the traditional entrepreneurial language frees people up. Creating and starting things, Barrett argued, boosts people’s self-confidence, improving decision-making, resource management and the way people see and sell themselves to others. These are all skills that entrepreneurs need, but that everyone can benefit from regardless of what they do.

Reducing the entrepreneurial act down to “starting something” is an appealing thought. It highlights the importance of creativity in the enterprise economy. It also presents an exciting possibility for a new type of politics. Barrrett suggests that employers should ask all new recruits to explain what they have started. By the same token, I’d suggest that politicians should be judged on what they are starting or creating. If every piece of legislation was scrutinised for what it will create of benefit, we’d see far less of the current malaise of “good idea, poor execution”. As entrepreneurs and investors instinctively know, ideas are worthless without execution.

Visit www.director.co.uk/manifesto to have your say.

Richard Cree

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