15% of students plan to start a business after graduating

15% of UK students plan to start their own business after graduating, research from Direct Line for Business has revealed this morning.

The study of over 1,000 students found that key motivations for starting a business after university was a desire to be their own boss (45% of respondents), to earn more money than working for a company (25%), and as an alternative to poor job prospects (19%).

The research highlighted a growing culture of entrepreneurialism with over 52,000 students in Britain currently running their own businesses while studying – popular undergraduate start-up industries range from clothing design and software development to events promotions.

While more students are taking an interest in business, the study claimed that male undergraduates have “greater entrepreneurial spirit” than their female counterparts with 20% of male students planning to start up post-university, compared to 11% of female students.

Undergraduates studying creative, arts and design courses are more likely than any other student to start their own business with those studying STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths) the least likely to branch out with a business venture.

Jane Guaschi, Direct Line for Business manager, commented:“This research goes to show that we are truly a nation of entrepreneurs.

“The latest generation of graduates is clearly fiercely independent and wanting to control the destiny of their own careers, rather than answering to anyone else.”