Divide Intervention
Is breaking up the Treasury Britain's answer to growth?
I hope you’ll forgive another push, but our Entrepreneurs Survey is now open. If you’ve already completed it — thank you. If not, we’d value any founders who are reading to give just ten minutes of their time to do so.
We know your time is precious, so we wouldn’t ask you to spend it on us if we didn’t think it was worth it. Your responses will form the basis of our submission to the Treasury’s call for evidence on tax support for entrepreneurs, which closes soon. And while I can’t promise that the Government will do everything necessary to make the tax system perfect for entrepreneurs, this really is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference.
I’ve used Margaret Mead’s quote before and will do so again: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
If you’re not a founder, you can help us by forwarding this to entrepreneurs in your network and reposting this LinkedIn post (also feel free to connect with me while you’re there).
It’s Not Me
The Liberal Democrats have proposed breaking up the Treasury and replacing it with a new Department for Growth based in Birmingham if they were to enter government.
The proposed department would set taxes, design growth strategy, oversee major infrastructure decisions and shape spending rules. The Department for Business and Trade would be merged into it, while a separate Department for Public Expenditure would oversee spending.
All the way back in 2014, Giles Wilkes and Stian Westlake (an Adviser to us) argued for a similar idea. As with many Nesta papers from that period, it is still worth reading — not least because it explains how the reform could fail if poorly implemented.
The main risks are weaker fiscal discipline, the loss of the Treasury as an internal challenger to departmental spending demands, and coordination problems between tax, spending and growth policy. It would also shift power toward the Prime Minister and would rely on a politically strong growth department — without that, the old behaviour likely re-emerges informally.
Nevertheless, it’s a bold idea worthy of serious consideration from all parties. It also shows the long arm of influence that top quality research can have.
Still Believe
This week, Tim Shipman claimed in The Spectator (paywall) that even loyalists think Keir Starmer lacks a ‘philosophical worldview’. If the Prime Minister is on the hunt for one, we have one ready and waiting. The clearest articulation is in our statement of What We Believe, namely that:
“Entrepreneurship is one of the most powerful engines of productivity and progress. Throughout history, entrepreneurial ventures have transformed societies, lifting people from subsistence to prosperity.”
Our first signatory was Adviser Richard Browning — Founder, CEO and Chief Test Pilot of Gravity Industries. But the idea isn’t limited to entrepreneurs (or Prime Ministers). If you share our worldview, add your name to our website here.
Rise Up
Barclays is working with Female Founders Rise on The Rise Report of Female Entrepreneurship 2026. You can sign up here to receive a copy in your inbox. Women’s Health Horizons is inviting female healthtech founders and senior leaders to apply to speak at its conference on 10 March.
Rally Round
Bradley Jones, Founder of ThatRound, has joined us as an Adviser. A serial entrepreneur and angel investor, Bradley is focused on improving how UK-based startups raise capital.
Bradley sees the UK as one of Europe’s strongest places to build a company: deep financial services, strong early-stage incentives, leading universities and growing regional hubs. He believes founders need a stronger policy voice — “entrepreneurs on the front line should help shape the rules of the game” — and values our role translating founder experience into reform.
You can learn more about joining our growing ambitious band of Advisers here.
Message from our Partner
At Fora, we create flexible workspaces that empower ambitious businesses to thrive. With over 70 locations across London, the UK and Germany, our spaces are designed to fuel productivity, creativity and growth.
Now, we’re bringing that vision to The Jellicoe at King’s Cross — a dedicated hub for founders and fast-growing companies. Here, flexibility meets opportunity: scale at speed with agile workspace solutions, connect with a curated community of entrepreneurs and investors, and enjoy all the perks of a Fora membership, from wellness spaces and hospitality-grade service to events that open doors.
Surround yourself with innovators and global tech giants in one of London’s most exciting neighbourhoods.
If you’re building the next big thing, this is where you want to be.
Our Next Events
An Evening Reception to Celebrate the UK’s International Entrepreneurs
🗓 Tuesday, 17 February 2026
🕐 6pm to 8.30pm
📍 Shoreditch, London
ℹ️ An evening reception to celebrate the contribution of international talent to Britain’s entrepreneurial ecosystem
⏩ Request a place
An Audience with the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP
🗓 Tuesday, 24 February 2026
🕐 5pm to 7pm
📍 Westminster, London
ℹ️ Join us in Westminster for an exclusive fireside chat with Jeremy Hunt, exploring the UK economy, entrepreneurship and politics
⏩ Request a place
Ecosystem Builders Meetup: Birmingham
🗓 Thursday, 5 March 2026
🕐 11am to 12.30pm (workspace available for the whole day)
📍 The Compound, Birmingham
ℹ️ Our first Ecosystem Builders Meetup in Birmingham
⏩ Request a place
Founders Dinner: Philanthropy at the Frontier of UK Science
🗓 Wednesday, 11 March 2026
🕐 7pm to 10pm
📍 Central London
ℹ️ A roundtable dinner for exited science and technology founders to discuss funding mechanisms for the UK’s fundamental research and frontier innovation
⏩ Request a place
Fora Founders’ Coworking Day
🗓 Friday, 13 March 2026
🕐 10am to 5pm
📍 Fora, The Jellicoe, King’s Cross
ℹ️ Join us for a relaxed day of coworking and connection at The Jellicoe, bringing founders together to work side by side, share insights, and network from morning coffee through the afternoon
⏩ Request a place
Ecosystem Builders Meetup: Level39 (Canary Wharf)
🗓 Thursday, 9 April 2026
🕐 9.30am to 11am
📍 Canary Wharf, London
ℹ️ An informal morning meetup at Level39 – a workspace and network for innovators, investors, and industry experts in Canary Wharf
⏩ Request a place
Ecosystem Builders Meetup: Exeter
🗓 Friday, 24 April 2026
🕐 11am to 12.30pm
📍 Exeter Innovation Hub, Exeter
ℹ️ Our first Ecosystem Builders Meetup in Exeter
⏩ Request a place
News and Views
We published our latest instalment in our Three Big Ideas series
Data showed growth in the final quarter of 2025 was up, but only just
“You want the prime minister to be waking up thinking about who are the five companies that could really, really matter,” says Ian Hogarth in an interview with Richard Tyler (Paywall — The Times)
The Business and Trade Committee criticised the lack of support on offer for small businesses
The Government made further signals that it wants to strengthen its economic relationship with Europe
The Liberal Democrats pledged to replace the Treasury with a new ‘Department for Growth’ if elected (Paywall — The Telegraph)
VenturePath issued their latest analysis of venture trends in the United Kingdom
AI Minister Kanishka Narayan said that Britain will reimburse visa fees and speed up processing for international AI talent in a bid to turn the country into a global hub for the technology
Chip maker Fractile announced plans to invest £100 million into its operations, including creating a new engineering facility
Mayowa Ogunremi writes about the role of gut feelings in early-stage investing
Join us
If you haven’t already, it would be great if you would consider joining The Entrepreneurs Network. Our Supporters, Advisers and Corporate Partners are essential in helping us understand what entrepreneurs need to flourish and are closely connected with our work. If you already support us — thank you.
Friends of the Network
Startup Huddle Oxford
🗓 Thursday, 19 February 2026
🕐 6pm to 8pm
📍 BIPC, Oxford
ℹ️ Meet with the Oxfordshire entrepreneurial ecosystem at what is recognised as the world’s largest monthly startup networking event
⏩ Find out more
Megaverse × Townhouses: Is This the Future?
🗓 Saturday, 28 February 2026
🕐 7pm to 10pm
📍 Bristol
ℹ️ Join interactive studio Megaverse and Indie-Rock band Townhouses for a fully immersive live show exploring new ways audiences and artists can connect
⏩ Find out more
Kingsley Napley’s Tech Briefing
🗓 Wednesday, 4 March 2026
🕐 6pm to 8pm
📍 Shoreditch, London
ℹ️ What tech businesses need to know in 2026
⏩ Find out more
Expression of Interest: Ofcom Innovation Focus Groups
🗓 12, 19, and 26 March 2026
🕐 12pm to 1.30pm
📍 Online
ℹ️ Ofcom are currently exploring the experiences of entrepreneurs, early-stage startups, and small businesses when engaging with regulation
⏩ Request a place
Best wishes,
Philip
Philip Salter
Founder
The Entrepreneurs Network