NEW research has found that the majority of people (57%) think that Scotland is an entrepreneurial nation, with 49% of adults having considered starting their own business.
The figures come from a survey commissioned by Unlocking Ambition to coincide with Global Entrepreneurship Week, which started yesterday.
When it comes to the biggest obstacles to doing it, a lack of funds tops the list (62%), followed by a risk to their finance/lifestyle (46%) and being unsure how to go about it (34%).
Commenting on the findings Alison Loveday, programme manager of Unlocking Ambition said: “Many of us have great business ideas or a desire to work for ourselves but putting it into action sometimes needs a catalyst. That push to actually make it
happen comes in various ways as we’ve seen through the different journeys of each entrepreneur we’re working with on Unlocking Ambition.
“Scott Weir of Pillow, based in Dundonald, Ayrshire, left the Royal Navy with no qualifications and found himself in poorly paid positions. Setting up his own business not only helped him self-fund his higher education but put him on a path towards achieving his life ambitions. For Jo Halliday of Talking Medicines, based in Glasgow, having her children and a taste of working in entrepreneurial businesses, made her want to be in charge of her own future.”
Jo Halliday of Talking Medicines, a data tech company which captures the digital voice of the patient, agrees with the survey findings that a lack of funds can be the biggest obstacle to setting up. As well as completing a year on the Unlocking Ambition programme and becoming an ambassador, the business recently won FutureX’s Startup Summit Competition and raised £622,000 earlier this year. Halliday commented: “Scotland’s eco-system for entrepreneurs is second to none and the envy of many other entrepreneurs I have come across in other countries. Starting your own business, though hugely rewarding, is scary. Raising finance has undoubtedly been the hardest part of the journey so far.
“Our latest funding is a real game changer for us.”
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