For Charlotte Thomason, one of the most important policy questions facing the UK economy is also one of the most overlooked. “I worry that we’re not focussed enough on how entrepreneurship can unlock barriers for young people,” she says — particularly at a time when job instability is disproportionately affecting younger workers. At NatWest, that concern sits within a broader focus on growth, business support and economic participation. NatWest is one of the UK’s largest banking groups, working across retail, commercial and institutional banking. Its public affairs function engages on issues ranging from SME finance and entrepreneurship to regional growth and financial inclusion — areas where policy decisions have direct implications for businesses and individuals across the economy. For Thomason, the challenge is not just economic, but structural. Many young people are already experimenting with entrepreneurship — “selling on Vinted or TikTok businesses,” she notes — but the system is...