A survey from City Lit in London has revealed that Britain is a nation of wannabe Sir Alan Sugars and Jamal Edwards’, with a staggering 53% of Brits admitting that they wish they could start their own business. The research, however, went on to show how apprehension gets in the way of this entrepreneurialism with 36% saying starting a business is too much of a risk.

A quarter of Brits said they simply don’t know how to get started and 15% believe a lack of qualifications hold them back from potentially earning over £40k a year through starting their own business.

According the Office of National Statistics [ONS] in April 2018, median gross weekly earnings for full time employees were £569. According to Indeed the average entrepreneur in the UK earns £41,064 per year [£790 per week] and enjoy all the perks of running their own business, such as flexible working hours and being their own boss. Many Brits are also missing out on extra income by not pursuing a ‘side hustle’ alongside their 9-5 job.

The research showed that a whopping 79% of 25-34s would start their own business if they had the opportunity to do so, compared to 36% of those aged 65+ who would use their retirement to get business savvy.

Chris Jones, director of sales and marketing at City Lit, said: “You’re never too young, or too old to start your own business. In fact, retirement may give the older generation a head start due to having more time, experience and perhaps capital to get started.

“We conducted this research to find out what is holding people back from pursuing their dream of starting a business, as the benefits are vast,” he added. “The research has confirmed that over half of Brits would like to pursue it but clearly many people lack the confidence to take the plunge.  With many people citing lack of qualifications as a key reason holding them back it’s great to know that there are courses that can help people to plug their knowledge gaps. And with data showing just how lucrative starting your own business can be, spending time learning can be a great investment for the future.”

As a nation we are potentially missing out on thousands of businesses that could enrich the lives of many and improve wellbeing. More than one in 10 people said they would like to start a company in the travel industry, 8 per cent want to pursue a business in the arts and 9 per cent of wannabe entrepreneurs say tech and digital is their industry of choice.

Top tips to start your own business

1.     Plan, plan, plan

Successful planning is always important when starting your own business. Set up your goals and develop a successful business plan.

2.     Identify your brand

Get to know your brand, inside out. Then develop your brand.

3.     Develop a solid marketing strategy

The world needs to find out who YOU are

4.     Get online

Implement your marketing strategy further by increasing your online presence – create a website or blog and use social media and digital marketing techniques to boost your online presence

5.     Network

Become confident in network and develop a network of people who can support you. Explore all different channels of networking, relevant to your business. Attending events or participating in a course is a great starting point for networking.

If you're looking to widen your business knowledge, network or even find a mentor, becoming an IOEE Member could be for you. With ability to take e-Learning course for many aspects of business and organically search for a mentor. Sign up today: http://bit.ly/2H389Th