The issue was discussed on the BBC’s Politics North programme on Sunday.
Mr Hawken put his frustrations to Olivia Blake, Labour MP for Sheffield Hallam who said she had noted his concerns.
“We’re really keen to see growth happening right across the country,” she said.
“We’ve said that we want to have £22bn every single year for research and development by the end of this spending review.
“I’m hoping a fair whack of that will go to small and medium sized enterprises”, she added.
Wayne Dickson, Social Democratic Party group leader on Leeds City Council, also appeared on the programme. He said small businesses raised concerns with him about national insurance and business rates, but also a lack of finance from banks.
“I think until that changes, the pressures are still going to be on those small and medium businesses that, to be honest, are the lifeblood of our society, and we need to build them and grow them and nurture them really, and that’s what we’re lacking at the moment,” he said.