Backing Norfolk’s young and veteran entrepreneurs is smart economics

A new programme in Norfolk, led by Norfolk County Council in partnership with BIPC Norfolk, MENTA and the New Anglia Growth Hub, deserves close attention well beyond the county boundary.

It is focused, practical and long overdue.

At its heart is a simple idea: if you want more businesses to succeed, you need to meet people where they are. In this case, that means supporting 18 to 30-year-olds and veterans to start or grow their own businesses, not with theory, but with structured, hands-on help.

For years, we have talked about entrepreneurship as if it were evenly accessible. It is not. Young people often lack networks, confidence and capital. Veterans bring discipline, resilience and leadership, but can struggle to translate those strengths into a commercial setting. Both groups have potential. Both face barriers that generic business support rarely addresses.

That is where this initiative stands out.

By combining one-to-one mentoring, accredited training and practical workshops, delivered both online and face-to-face, it recognises that starting a business is not a single decision but a process. People need guidance, reassurance and, crucially, continuity. Too many programmes offer inspiration without infrastructure. This one attempts to provide both.

The inclusion of the Business & IP Centre is particularly important. Understanding intellectual property, branding and the value of ideas is no longer optional, even for the smallest firms. Equally, the involvement of experienced enterprise agencies like MENTA ensures that advice is grounded in the realities of running a business, not just launching one.

From a small business perspective, this is exactly the kind of targeted intervention we need more of.

The UK does not have a shortage of start-ups. What we lack is survival and stability. Too many new businesses fail not because the idea is weak, but because the support falls away too quickly or never quite fits the individual. Tailored programmes like this begin to address that gap.

There is also a wider economic argument. Encouraging self-employment among younger people and veterans is not simply about job creation. It is about resilience. Local economies become stronger when more people have the skills and confidence to generate their own income, adapt to change and contribute in different ways.

For veterans in particular, there is an added dimension. Many leave service with exceptional capabilities but limited pathways into civilian careers that match their experience. Supporting them into entrepreneurship is not a fallback option. It is often a natural fit.

The challenge, as ever, will be scale and continuity.

One programme, however well designed, cannot solve the structural issues facing small businesses. Access to finance, regulatory complexity and ongoing economic pressures still loom large. But initiatives like this show what is possible when organisations collaborate and focus on real-world needs rather than abstract policy goals.

They also offer a model.

Partnerships between local authorities, enterprise agencies and growth hubs can create something more coherent than the fragmented landscape many business owners currently navigate. If replicated effectively, this approach could provide a blueprint for other regions looking to unlock untapped entrepreneurial talent.

For me, the message is straightforward.

If we are serious about supporting small businesses, we need to start earlier, tailor support more carefully and recognise that different groups require different pathways. A one-size-fits-all approach has never worked.

Norfolk’s initiative is a step in the right direction. It is grounded, collaborative and focused on outcomes that matter.

Now the task is to ensure it delivers, and that others are willing to learn from it.