Quarter of UK adults want to start a business in 2016

A quarter of UK adults want to start their own business in 2016, according to a survey conducted by social enterprise Cause4.

The research of 1,500 people is said to indicate that the UK’s “taste for entrepreneurship is strong” with one in 10 looking to go it alone due to lack of motivation in their current employment, or becuase they “do not feel inspired at work”.

This is particularly true of young adults with two out of 10 people aged 25 to 34 years-old citing dissatisfaction with their jobs.

Londoners and Scots were found to be the most keen to start a business in the New Year with one in 10 planning to start up.

More women than men said they wished to start their own business in 2016 – signs that the traditional entrepreneur stereotype could be shifting.

Cause4 founder and CEO, Michelle Wright, said of the findings:

“The job for life is a distant memory. And the appeal of striving hard to benefit corporate goals, all focused around making money, has lost its appeal for many of us.

“Entrepreneurs are the new rock stars. For many people the challenge and rewards of starting up and running a business provide independence and fulfilment that you just can’t get in your day job. You can set the agenda of what is important to achieve against your own values – gold dust.”

On the challenge of starting a business, Wright continued:

“There is a risk when you start a business and many of those who want to try are fearful.  But the permanent job doesn’t offer the security it used to either. Your new business could fail but that doesn’t mean that you couldn’t try a different enterprise and succeed.”