The Maple Review has called for a national micro-capital system and a public-private Business Skills Guarantee for secondary schools after finding that economic hardship remains a major barrier to entrepreneurship in the UK.
The independent government-backed review, spearheaded by Small Business Britain and supported by Xero, published its final report after a year-long inquiry into the barriers faced by entrepreneurs who have experienced poverty. The work drew on a national survey of more than 600 entrepreneurs from backgrounds of poverty, focus groups across the UK, and a nationwide call for evidence.
The full Maple Review report argues that entrepreneurship can support social mobility for people facing economic hardship, but that the UK lacks a robust support system for founders without savings, assets, or a financial safety net.
Financial exclusion emerged as the most consistent barrier. The review found that 63% of founders lacked personal savings to invest, while 50% did not know how to access finance. Almost half, 47%, struggled to secure start-up loans or grants, and the same proportion lacked confidence in taking on debt.
Although the sums required by early-stage founders are often small, access remains limited for people without assets or financial resilience. Flexible capital of between £100 and £5,000 was repeatedly identified as transformative for helping founders start or stabilise a business, yet difficult to access through mainstream finance routes.
One of the review’s central recommendations is a national micro-capital system offering loans from £100 to £25,000, alongside budgeting, cash flow, and forecasting support. The review proposes treating micro-loans as economic infrastructure rather than charity, with support designed to help founders reduce risk and move towards mainstream lending over time.
Michelle Ovens CBE, CEO and founder of Small Business Britain, said: “Economic deprivation at any point in life is the biggest barrier to starting and growing a business, and that is exactly what The Maple Review is looking to address. At Small Business Britain, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to be an entrepreneur, no matter their background or experience, but it is clear from the Review’s data that is currently not the case.
“The eight recommendations of this Review get right to the heart of this challenge and will have a considerable impact on both addressing poverty and increasing entrepreneurial opportunities in the UK. Not only this, but they will improve outcomes and skills for the whole population, addressing skills, finance, and barriers to other marginalised communities too.”
Education is the second major pillar of the report. The review identifies early-life entrepreneurial skills as a barrier where a lack of role models or training leaves prospective founders without the confidence and practical knowledge needed to start and grow a business. It recommends a National Public-Private Partnership-backed Business Skills Guarantee for secondary schools, delivered through a national framework to reduce geographic and socio-economic differences in access.
The review’s eight recommendations are aimed at central and local government, financial institutions, and business support organisations. They include redesigning self-employment rules to reduce unsustainable risks, improving financial education, confidence, and mentoring, and ensuring founders have access to digital tools that support wider economic participation.
Kate Hayward, UK Managing Director at Xero, said: “Too many people with the drive to start a business are still being held back by barriers they should not have to face alone. The Maple Review has shown clearly what needs to change, but the priority now is action. My particular concern is for founders without a financial cushion, where confidence around cash flow is fundamental to survival. At Xero, we want to help open more doors to entrepreneurship and look forward to helping make these recommendations a reality.”
Blair McDougall, Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation, said: “Entrepreneurship is a powerful driver of growth and social mobility. This review shows that too many with the talent and ambition to succeed are being held back.
“We now have a shared responsibility to act on these recommendations – as we are doing through our Plan for Small Business – so that starting and growing a business is not a privilege for the few, but an opportunity for all.”
The Maple Review is backed by a steering board of industry and government leaders, including McDougall, Barclays, BT, Xero, Lloyds Banking Group, and The King’s Trust. Its recommendations put enterprise policy alongside financial inclusion, education, and digital access, with business ownership framed as an option that requires infrastructure before founders take on personal risk.
You must be logged in to post a comment.