The spirit of entrepreneurship in the European Union (EU) is alive and well after a survey found that more than a third of workers want to go in to business as their own boss.
The figure of 37% is a big drop on the 45% who expressed the same sentiment in 2009.
The drop is explained by the global downturn and fears of an irregular income and potential bankruptcy should the business start-up fail.
The survey also revealed that 58% of Europeans prefer to work for someone else – up from 49% in the last survey.
Around two thirds (67%) of entrepreneurs started from scratch and men were more likely to go in to business.
Chance to make money
Half who started a business did so because they saw an opportunity to make money – but 29% started from necessity and 15% took over a family firm.
Self-employment is generally more popular outside the EU. In Turkey, 82% are entrepreneurs, while in Brazil the figure is 63%, China 56% and South Korea 53%.
In Norway, 73% of people prefer a salaried job, with just 23% opting to go self-employed.
In the US, a survey found the number of workers seeking salaried jobs has leapt from 37% to 46%.
Men and the young are more entrepreneurial, the survey showed – with a figure of 42% of men compared with 33% of women.
The peak for self-employment is 42% in the 15-24 age group, which falls steadily as workers age.
Another reason for not setting up in business, says the survey, is the lack of financial support, while 51% had difficulties finding information on how to start a business.
Help for entrepreneurs
An EU spokesman said: “The survey also shows a worrying attitude of ambivalence because 87% of people say entrepreneurs create jobs and 79% say they create products and services which benefit the whole of our society.”
The European Commission (EC) has also unveiled its plan to help entrepreneurs and foster an entrepreneurial culture across Europe.
The plan stresses the need for education and training to encourage more entrepreneurs to set up in business.
The EC has set out a series of key measures over the next six months, which include simplifying tax structures to enable new businesses to raise money more easily; greater support in the first five years of trading and more support for web start-ups and developing IT skills.
Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme
The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme, or SEIS for short, may be of interest to many readers, we have talked a great deal in the past of this new UK scheme, to find out more contact SEIS.co.uk directly.
