Carl Hopkins appointed by Vince Cable to Entrepreneurs' Forum
Business secretary Vince Cable has appointed The Drum's agony uncle Carl Hopkins to a new Entrepreneurs' Forum that will advise on new business and enterprise policies.
Carl Hopkins
Hopkins, a former owner of marketing business JDA, joins a panel of 16 appointed so far that will provide "informal and personal advice" on policy.
The Government said the forum would help it hear the views of business people and encourage entrepreneurship as an alternative career.
Cable said: "People with the courage to start up a business will be crucial to driving the growth of the economy. Start-ups create jobs, stimulate innovation and provide a competitive spur to existing businesses to encourage them to increase their productivity.
"I am delighted with the quality of the membership of my new forum and look forward to bouncing ideas off them and hearing their views."
The forum will eventually have up to 26 members but only 16 have been appointed so far. Joining Hopkins are:
Dawn Gibbins, founder, Barefoot Living
Sarah Tremellen, founder, Bravissimo
Christiane Wuillamie, founder, Elgius
Jan Fletcher, chair, Montpellier Estates
Julie Meyer, founder, Ariadne Capital
Polly Gowers, founder, Everyclick
Anne Malkin, CEO, Access Risk Management Group
Kresse Wessling, founder, Elvis & Kresse
Shaf Rasul, founder, E-Net Computers
Tim Campbell, founder, Bright Ideas Trust
Bruce Savage, director, Cherwell Capital
James Caan, investor, Dragons’ Den
Sahar Hashemi, founder, Skinny Candy
Sara Murray, managing director, Buddi
Baroness Margaret Ford, chair, Olympic Park Legacy Company