Supporting Businesses by Design: A review of national policy and university engagement towards entrepreneurial development

Since the turn of the century, a number of initiatives aiming to inspire and promote entrepreneurialism and business development were championed by the incumbent United Kingdom (UK) government, including Local Enterprise Partnerships (2010, coalition-led policy), the Northern Powerhouse (2014), Levelling Up agenda (2019), and the Innovation Strategy (2021). More recently, the Scottish Government’s National Innovation Strategy and Entrepreneurial Campus reports from 2023 outline bold plans which emphasise the need for a fair, green, and enterprising society, with tertiary education institutions working together as a core, contributing factor. Internationally, the intersection of enterprise, education, and industry is evidenced by a number of publications and policy-driven developments - including those from the European Commission, reported on by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, and the United Nations’ work in highlighting the efficiency of firms towards achieving sustainability - influencing universities to educate and promote their programmes and activities with enterprise in mind. This paper reviews UK business, enterprise and innovation policy over the last 25 years, across government and academia domains, acknowledging the role of universities and their engagement towards skills development and the promotion of business growth. Subsequently, it highlights the essential function of enduring universities as timely, regional hubs of knowledge, skill enhancement, and collaborative partners. However, necessary multistakeholder communication, apt collaboration, and evaluation is either fragmented or fantasy. As a result, an adaptive intervention framework is constructed to assist policymakers, educators, and business leaders in emboldening institutional initiatives in line with the unique needs of businesses. This is valuable in promoting sustainable collaborations, and innovation and business growth, contributing to the national economy through entrepreneurial ecosystems.