The government-backed Maple Review has been launched with a remit to remove the economic barriers to entrepreneurship that many young people face.
An independent review has been launched this week to identify and remove the barriers to entrepreneurship caused by economic deprivation. The Maple Review aims to make it easier for young people from all walks of life to have the opportunity to start a business.
Spearheaded by Small Business Britain, with backing from the UK government, The Maple Review has been established to make enterprise accessible to everyone, regardless of their starting point. Supported by small business platform Xero, The Maple Review is co-chaired by Gareth Thomas, minister for small business, WorkSpa founder Grace Graham and Michelle Ovens, founder of Small Business Britain.
Poor social mobility denies opportunities for young people
Nearly 40% of young people are living in poverty today; it means that many youngsters leaving school find themselves held back by barriers to entrepreneurship, such as lack of access to networks, financial resources, education and training.
A review by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) suggests that social mobility in the UK is at its worst level in more than 50 years, pointing to a real need for improving young people's prospects once out of mandatory education.
"Starting a small business shouldn't be a privilege; it should be a universal right. We want to tear down those barriers, making small business ownership an achievable dream for every single person. This country thrives on the spirit of entrepreneurship, and we're committed to empowering even more individuals to forge their own path to success. The Maple Review will be our compass, guiding us to identify and dismantle the obstacles holding people back." Kate Hayward, managing director, Xero UK.
The Maple Review will aim to tackle this inequality and open up more opportunities for younger people to benefit from the life-changing prospects of entrepreneurship, as well as boosting the wider UK economy.
More investment in skills
With chancellor Rachel Reeves announcing £1.2bn of additional investment per year for the skills sector by 2028/29 in the recent Spending Review, this is a crucial time to make sure all young people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds have access to the training and support they need for a pathway into entrepreneurship.
"Economic barriers to entrepreneurship are holding so many people back, often from the time they leave school … This review will be an important step forward in uncovering the barriers that prevent individuals from starting or scaling a business and test practical interventions that will drive real change." Michelle Ovens, founder of Small Business Britain.
Maple Review co- chair Grace Graham, founder of WorkSpa, said: "As someone who started a business with very little and faced significant barriers along the way, I know first-hand how crucial it is to have access to support, funding and belief. The Maple Review is a powerful opportunity to break down those barriers and make entrepreneurship truly inclusive. It is about more than business, it is about equity, wellbeing and creating real pathways for people from all backgrounds to thrive."
The Maple Review will begin a research phase to gather evidence and insights, consulting entrepreneurs and other stakeholders through surveys, focus groups and roundtable discussions. A report will be published in Spring 2026 which will include evidence-based recommendations for government, local government and the private sector.
Written by Rachel Miller.