Have you been inspired to become an entrepreneur because of TV? If so, you’re not alone, according to research from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Programmes such as Dragon’s Den, The Apprentice and the Secret Millionaire have tempted many people, including former umbrella company contractors, to start their own enterprise.
The government’s minister for business and enterprise, Mark Prisk, says the media plays a vital role in portraying entrepreneurship in a positive light. It’s encouraging to see there has been a dramatic shift towards self-employment recently and I hope the trend continues, he continued.
The coalition is focused on encouraging growth and helping new enterprises start up will create new jobs and transform the UK economy, he added.
90% of established freelancers and entrepreneurs also think that the increased media attention has a positive effect on people’s ambitions.
James Caan, the Dragon’s Den entrepreneur, has joined up with NatWest to offer free advice to people who want to become self-employed. The bank is to run a free live interactive webinar with Caan and is offering participants the chance of winning one-on-one mentoring.
Caan said there is no single guide that tells people how to create a profitable enterprise but seeking advice early on will increase the chance of success. He hopes that sharing his experiences through the webinar will encourage people to turn their dream into reality.
The small business chairman at NatWest, Peter Ibbetson, said the economic recovery depends on new enterprises entering the arena so he’s delighted that James Caan is going to encourage them. NatWest currently helps nearly 2,000 new enterprises every week, so there are definitely plenty of opportunities out there, he added.
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