'Enterprise Insight' Takes Off

Young people from across the UK and some of this country's most respected entrepreneurs today (Thursday 11 May) joined Prime Minister Tony Blair at 10 Downing Street for the launch of "Enterprise Insight".

Enterprise Insight is aimed at young people aged from 5 to 30 and is designed to show that everyone is capable of having good ideas, business can be exciting and that enterprise can create opportunities for all of society.

Commenting on the Launch, Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "I warmly welcome the initiative business is launching today in partnership with the Government - working together for long-term improvement. Creating an enterprise culture is vital. It is business and entrepreneurs that create wealth - and the young people of today are the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. But enterprise must be for the many, as well as the few. Enterprise for all is vital for prosperity for all."

This new business-led, government backed initiative is a unique partnership between the UK's business representatives, the British Chambers of Commerce, the CBI and the Institute of Directors and a range of organisations who already do much to encourage enterprise among young people.

With a long term programme of activity over a number of years, Enterprise Insight will call on a network of hundreds of business "ambassadors" to take part in local events bringing together entrepreneurs, young people, their parents and teachers, to help create a better understanding of enterprise and its value, improved enterprise skills and abilities and a 'can-do' attitude to life

Following this discussion format, successfully piloted by the IoD's HUB Initiative, Chancellor Gordon Brown, Trade Secretary Stephen Byers and Education Secretary David Blunkett joined the Prime Minister, entrepreneurs, business leaders and young people to explore together the excitement and challenges to be found in developing enterprise skills.

Enterprise Insight will also promote and support the wide range of enterprise-focused programmes offered by partner organisations which include Young Enterprise, the Prince's Trust, Shell LiveWIRE, Understanding Industry, Business in the Community, the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies and the National Education Business Partnership Network.

Chris Humphries, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce and Chair of Enterprise Insight said: "Enterprise skills are life skills. Entrepreneurial capabilities and attitudes are of value in all walks of life, not just business. Creativity and innovation should be encouraged hand in hand with business skills, risk-taking and embracing change."

Digby Jones, Director General of the CBI said: "Enterprise is all about 'can-do' attitudes, good ideas and determination. People with good ideas - entrepreneurs in the business world - are among society's heroes. We want to encourage our young people (and those who teach them) to use their talent and become the next generation of entrepreneurs in all sectors of the business landscape."

George Cox, Director General of the Institute of Directors said: "Without the innovation entrepreneurs bring to business, nothing we value in society works. Business must constantly develop new ideas; new products; and new ways of working, to create the jobs and the wealth to pay for our education system; our health system; and our pensions."

Following the launch, Enterprise Insight also published the preliminary results of a MORI survey covering the views of adults (15+) and young people (11-15) on the issue of enterprise. The survey showed that only 29 per cent of adults and just 22 per cent of 11-15 year olds admired people who start their own business.

However, both groups agreed that business makes a valuable contribution to the country - 69 per cent of 15+ and 70 per cent of 11-15 year olds. Over 40 per cent of those aged 11-15 said they would definitely, or maybe like to, start their own business, but just one in 10 of those over 15 years old have done so.

When asked to identify a country where good business ideas become successful, the UK ranked third for those aged 15+ (40 per cent agreed), behind the US (70 per cent), Japan (50 per cent) but ahead of Germany (35 per cent), China (11 per cent), France (7 per cent) and others.

Key Findings - Adults

• One in ten (10%) British people (aged 15+) have already set-up a business and seven per cent intend to. The figure is higher among men who are twice as likely as women to have already set-up a business (14%, compared with 7%).
• While one in ten people across Great Britain have set up their own business, this figure varies by region. The figure is highest (but not significantly so) in the South West (15%). It is lowest, significantly so, in the North East (4%).
• London has the highest proportion of people who intend to start their own business (13%, compared with the national average of 7%).
• The North East (88%) and Scotland (85%) have the highest proportions of people who are not interested in starting a business. The average for GB is 77 per cent.
• Almost one in five (18%) aged 15 to 24 years express an interest in setting up a business in the future, whereas (understandably) only three per cent have actually done it. Among those aged 30 or under, 15 per cent intend to set up a business and five per cent already have .
• The main motivations for people starting businesses are: better financial returns, being their own boss, establishing a challenging career and freedom at work.
• Age is the main deterrent for people who do not intend setting up a business. Other contributing factors are a lack of interest and having to secure finance.
• Three in ten (29%) say they admire Entrepreneurs (people who start their own business). This is higher than the figure for Clergy/priests (11%), Civil Servants (4%), Trade union leaders (4%), Journalists (3%) and MPs (2%). The most admired occupations involve public service - Doctors and Nurses (85%), Teaches (50%) and Policemen / women (44%).
• Seven in ten (69%) agrees that "Business makes an important contribution to the country". Three-fifths (60%) agrees with the statement "If a friend or relation wanted to set up their own business I would encourage them to do so".
• Two-fifths (40%) consider the UK as "... a country where good business ideas become successful". This figure is less than that for the USA (70%) and Japan (50%), but higher than for Germany (35%), Australia (14%), Taiwan (13%), China (11%), France (7%), India (3%) and Russia (2%).

Key Findings - Children

• Over one in five (21%) children aged 11 to 15 would "definitely" like to run their own business after they have left school or college. A similar number (23%) say "maybe". None have already started a business.
• Interest in business start-ups is lower than average among 13 year olds, 36% say that they would "definitely" or "maybe" like to run their own business - compared with 44% overall. By way of contrast, 14 year olds appear to be keener on starting a business (52% saying "definitely" or "maybe").
• Over two-fifths (41%) of children say that they "probably" or "definitely" would not like to run their own business.
• About one in five children (22%) admire Entrepreneurs (people who start their own business). As with the survey of adults, the only occupations above Entrepreneurs are Doctors and nurses (61%), Policemen/women (47%) and Teachers (37%).
• The less admired groups of people are: Directors of large companies (14%), People who work for the Government (9%), Priests and vicars (6%), Journalists (6%), Politicians (2%) and Trade union leaders (0%). Only six per cent answered "Don't know".
• According to children, the "best things about running your own business" are, being your own boss and the challenge of managing a business.
• Spontaneous comments for the "worst thing about running your own business" focus on the pressure of managing a business and going bankrupt.
• The clear majority of children (70%) agree that "Business makes an important contribution to the country". A larger proportion of 14 year olds (75%) and 15 year olds (82%) agree with this statement, and slightly less 11 year olds (62%).
• Over two-fifths (44%) agree with the statements "I would rather set up my own business than work for someone else" and "I would rather work for a small or medium-sized business than a big business".
• A quarter of children agree that "I would rather work in the public sector than work for a business" (23%).

Technical details

The MORI survey consists of a nationally representative quota sample of 1,950 people aged 15 plus and 266 children (11-15 years). The interviews with adults were conducted between 13 and 17 April 2000 and children between 19 April and 2 May 2000. Interviews were carried out face-to-face in respondents' homes across Great Britain.