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. Ex-dragon and founder and owner of restaurant chain Yo! Sushi, Simon Woodroffe even went so far to state that: “For the first time, entrepreneurship is sexy.”
Back in the real world, the culture of entrepreneurship is alive and kicking according to Business organisation the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Director-general Richard Lambert recently said that young people are now more adventurous than they were a generation ago and that entrepreneurial activity is currently "dynamic" as it has been at any time since the Second World War.
And the booming interest in becoming an entrepreneur was confirmed by a recent survey produced by London Business School. Its Global Entrepreneurship Monitor reported that the future looks bright for entrepreneurs across the country as the UK bucks the global trend for a decline in start-up businesses.
So it’s all good for enterprise and it’s never been easier to start thanks to the broad range of initiatives and funding available.
Would-be entrepreneurs can even go to university and study for a degree in starting their own business! The one-year Masters course in the 'Technical Ventures and Foundations of Entrepreneurship (TVFE)' aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge required to give them the edge in their chosen area of business.
Even legislation now backs the entrepreneur. During his leadership, Tony Blair repeatedly promised to make Britain the "best place in the world to start and grow a business" and introduced the 2002 Enterprise Act, which aims to reduce the stigma of bankruptcy and encourage the sort of serial entrepreneurship enjoyed by the US.
The North East of England has its own enterprise agenda driven by regional development agency One NorthEast. The Enterprise Programme aims to encourage entrepreneurs and support business creation through a range of activities to develop a more enterprising region and generate greater numbers of company start-ups.
Through the programme the agency aims to lead a change in attitudes towards entrepreneurial activity, raising the aspirations of the region's young people and encouraging a ‘can do’ mind-set.
According to Tim Pain, Head of Business Support and Enterprise at One NorthEast, doing this will unleash a whole new generation of entrepreneurial talent across the North East.
He explained: “Running your own business, particularly in the early stages, can seem a daunting and lonely position to be in. However, One NorthEast is taking steps to stimulate business creation and ensure support is accessible for start-up entrepreneurs, to help them develop their ideas and launch their businesses successfully.
“Attracting entrepreneurs to North East England is also a prime goal for us. By promoting the region through the Passionate people Passionate places Regional Image Campaign, and through our overseas offices and international partnerships, we are courting entrepreneurs and talented individuals from elsewhere in the UK and overseas.”
There has never been a better time to start up in business than 2007 – take a look at our run-down of organisations and initiatives available to help entrepreneurs; with a little help, a pinch of motivation and a lot of hard work one day soon you may well be in league with the likes of Richard Branson and Bill Gates.
Good luck!
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