Key to success
The millennial generation, raised on business icons and famous university drop outs such Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, do not think that good academics are the route to entrepreneurial success.
Only 15 per cent of young people cite successful studies as the best way to get ahead as an entrepreneur in the business world, instead seeing connections, the ability to stand out as a ‘business leader’ and creativity as the real making of a potential mogul.
Gender gap
However, despite this generation being particularly forward-thinking, many of the potential industries that young people hope to move into still have a significant gender divide.
A fifth of men who want to work for themselves, hope to move into the burgeoning field of technology, whereas only 2 per cent of young women do. This reflects a recent report by the Government’s Department for Business Innovation & Skills which stated that ‘barriers exist especially for women who are under represented on higher education courses in computer related subjects’.
Instead, 15 per cent of women would like to start their own business in the creative industry being an artist, author, etc –while only 8 per cent of men show the same interest.
Rachael Camp, a researcher at Opinium Research, comments: “Our research highlights the influence that the modern business world has on the career hopes and expectations of millennials. The dominance of Silicon Valley ‘personalities’ in recent years has clearly influenced the current generation of young people – who feel that vision and entrepreneurial spirit are the best ways to get ahead in business, rather than the traditional academic routes.
“It’s important to recognise the gender barriers that still exist in certain industries. Although we’re not short of young entrepreneurial woman, their lack of presence in the booming tech industry should prompt the tech leaders to consider why and what can be done to change this.”
