Public policy and public policy reform

Irwin Grayson Associates provides policy advice and support (a) to organisations who are interested in improving the enabling environment and, in particular, who wish to promote private sector advocacy, increase levels of private public dialogue and look for ways to engage in regulatory reform and (b) to governments, agencies and others who wish to do more to support enterprise and economic development. Most of my work on public policy reform is supporting business and trade associations to identify constraints that make it hard(er) to do business and then providing mentoring support as they develop a policy position. You will find some examples at my business advocacy network page on good practice.

Five decades of small business policy in England: policy as a value proposition or window dressing?

Irwin, D. & Scott, J.M (2021), Five decades of small business policy in England: policy as a value proposition or window dressing? British Politics, 18, pp. 300-319

Governments formulate public policy to address perceived problems. Sometimes governments need to respond quickly, say, to a health crisis. One policy domain, however, rarely sees a crisis and that is small business. Governments might, therefore, be expected to take a long-term, evidence informed and rational approach, learning from the success of practitioners and policies implemented by other governments and seen to be successful. However, our review of 50 years of small firms policy in England suggests that it has been poorly conceived, short term and without strategic coherence. Part of the reason may be that small firms ministers spend an average of just 19 months in post and are driven by a desire to do something to make their mark. We conclude that this somewhat irrational approach to policy making is driven by a self-imposed “pressure to act swiftly”.

Entrepreneurial ecosystem in Nepal (2019)

In 2019, working with IMC Worldwide and two consultancies in Nepal, David was team leader for a project intended to assist the World Bank to understand the small business ecosystem and the availability of support for small and growing businesses, as they aimed to put together a programme with the Government of Nepal intended to help firms to grow and, in particular, to create new jobs. The report is available on the World Bank website.

Many thanks to you all for a tremendous effort that has yielded very interesting and well-documented findings [...] I am confident that at a minimum it will inform better project design and more effective engagement with Government.

Elizabeth Ruppert Bulmer, Lead Economist, Jobs Group, Social Protection & Jobs, World Bank Group

Improving the environment for SMEs in Rwanda (2019)

David Irwin was commissioned, with Associate, Eric Ndahayo, by Ikiraro, a programme managed by Palladium and funded by DFID (now FCDO) to undertake an assessment of Rwanda's entrepreneurial ecosystem for the Ministry of Commerce. The objective of the assignment was to review the policy environment as it related to SME formation and growth and then to make suggestions to reform public policies in order to stimulate further entrepreneurship and industrial development. The approach included an extensive literature review together with a large number of stakeholder interviews. We offered a number of suggestions for action – covering government policy, consultation and dialogue, and business support – which were well received by the Ministry for Industry. One of the recommendations was for the launch of a web-based information system to support new and growing businesses. Ikiraro was able to find a small budget to commission IGIHE, a local web service, to establish Kura Business Advisory. This was launched at kura.rw though has metamorphosed into a more general platform to support young people.

Investing in enterprise, UK (2005)

IGA, with support from three associates (Luke Taylor, ALan Bretherton and Erik Pages) was commissioned by the British Venture Capital Association to prepare a report entitled "Investing in enterprise: promoting a better understanding of business & entrepreneurship in education". The report was prepared to assist the BVCA Education Commission determine how best the BVCA, member companies, and the staff and clients of member companies could support education for entrepreneurship amongst young people in secondary and tertiary education. It made recommendations both for reforms to public policy and for BVCA projects.

World Development Report 2005: background paper (2004)

A number of background papers were commissioned for the World Bank's World Development Report 2005: A Better Investment Climate for Everyone. I was commissioned by DFID (now FCDO) to write one of those background papers - Creating FDI Friendly Environments in South Asia - reviewing and synthesising papers presented at a couple of round tables looking at how to create a better investment climate in order to attract more foreign direct investment.

SME policy, China (2003)

I was invited by DFID (now FCDO) to be a speaker at conference organised by the Chinese Government’s State Economic & Trade Commissionfocusing with a focus on government policy formulation for small business promotion and support. This was followed by a commission to write a paper identifying lessons from the development of the enterprise agency movement in the UK as part of a multi-country report to help the SETC develop their own approaches to business support.

Drivers of change, Nigeria (2003)

I was commissioned by DFID (now FCDO) to prepare a paper as a contribution to a major initiative to analyse and reflect on possible drivers for change in Nigeria and specifically to consider the positive impact that could be achieved through the private sector taking a lead on integrity and transparency.

Small Business Service (2000-2002)

Founder Chief Executive of the UK Government’s Small Business Service – with ultimate responsibility for advising the Secretary of State for Trade & Industry on all aspects of small firms’ policy. This included, inter alia, writing “Think Small First” setting out a framework of principles intended to encourage government to think about the implications for small businesses of their policy and actions, (with the title subsequently taken by the EU to headline their SME Act as well) and referenced in Hansard, contributing to the Competitiveness White Paper and creating a directorate to mitigate the effects of regulation and red tape. I sat on the Ministerial Panel for Regulatory Accountability (estbalished as a cabinet sub-committee). I represented the Government on the EU Commission’s Enterprise Policy Group. I created Small Business|Europe to act on behalf of the small business representative groups in Brussels influencing the Commission and ensuring that they understood the small business view. Inter alia, I influenced a considerable number of government regulations and legislation - including taking a business friendly approach to flexible working and introducing Business Improvement Districts rather than levying supplementary rates on business. I persuaded the government to adopt a policy of always seeking to consult with business and allowing a minimum period of 12 weeks.

Quick links

Dialogue and advocacy for public policy reform
Training and mentoring for dialogue and advocacy
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