UK Parliament Business and Trade Committee - Small Business Strategy Inquiry - Written evidence: Written submission from Dr Danny Buckley (SBS0047)

This submission argues that UK small business policy overlooks the structural drivers of informality. It shows how entrepreneurs adopt informal practices due to regulatory complexity, low institutional trust and limited access to support. It highlights that enforcement-led approaches miss the underlying constraints faced by marginalised and micro-enterprise owners. The evidence calls for simpler policy design, better local support systems and a shift toward addressing the root causes rather than the symptoms of informality.<p></p>