RBS Enterprise Tracker, in association with UnLtd

Transcription

1 RBS Enterprise Tracker, in association with UnLtd 4th Quarter 2013 Populus interviewed 3,789 UK adults, online, between 1 st and 3 rd November 2013 in the latest wave of the RBS Enterprise Tracker, in association with UnLtd. This research is published quarterly and tracks people s attitudes to starting up in business. Results have been weighted to be representative of the UK adult population. Populus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. For more information see Throughout this summary young people are defined as being between years of age. Research conducted by Populus on behalf of RBS Group 1

2 The Economic Context Confidence that the UK economy will get better over the next 12 months has improved in all groups except women, for whom net confidence has dropped by 8%. However, women s confidence in their regional economy and personal circumstances has increased. Young people and men remain more economically confident than the general population. However, young people also remain more likely to perceive barriers to starting a new business than the population as a whole. Their biggest concerns are accessing start-up money (49%), the current economic environment (42%) and the riskiness of start-ups (4). Fear of failure is more likely to prevent young people (6) than the general population (55%) from starting their own business or enterprise. Women are also more wary than men about starting their own businesses: Three-fifths of women (59%) agree that fear of failure would stop them trying to start their own business, only half (52%) of men agree. Men are also more likely to think that they have the ability and skills to set up their own business: 55% agree, compared to 4 of women. To what extent do you think the economic climate will get better or worse over the next 12 months in the UK / in your region / for you personally? (NET: Better worse) in the UK in your region for you personally 27% 16% 18% 15% 15% 16% 8% 2% -7% - -12% All adults All adults who would like to start a business All 18-30s Women Men Base: All respondents (3789); All who would like to start a business (1636); All 18-30s (2008); All men (1674); All women (2115) 2

3 Hidden Entrepreneurs More than two fifths of UK adults have a hobby that could or does provide them with a second income source. Of these, 48% either hope to turn their hobby into a full-time business or see it as a way of earning extra income. We call this category Hidden Entrepreneurs : they make up a fifth of our respondents. These Hidden Entrepreneurs are slightly more likely than the general population to be male and in the A, B or C1 social groups and slightly better educated. They are spread across all regions and ages though there are fewer of them in the 65+ age category. Other than your primary source of income (employment, pension, benefit, partner's salary etc), do you have any hobbies, pastimes or ventures that COULD or DO earn you ANY further income? How would you describe that secondary hobby or venture? All Adults Hobby status 69% 48% Hidden Entrepreneurs 42% 38% 58% Yes No Hobby Just something I do in my spare time for fun A way of earning extra income 15% Something that I hope to develop into a fulltime business A way to gain experience prior to a career change Other Base: All respondents (3789) Base: All respondents who have a hobby, pastime or venture that could or does earn further income (1731) 3

4 The Prince's Trust Enterprise Program Big Lottery Fund - Awards for all Young Enterprise StartUp Britain StartUp Loans (BIS) Barclays Get Ready for Business Natwest Ahead for Business O2 - Think Big Funding for Lending scheme RBS Inspiring Enterprise Social Enterprise UK's Support Services Virgin Media Pioneers Global Entrepreneurship Week Shell LiveWIRE Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Business in You (BIS) School for Social Entrepreneurs UnLtd awards NACUE None 2% 2% 7% 9% 6% 7% 5% 6% 5% 7% 6% 9% 1 12% % 2 28% 32% 36% 4 46% Appetite for business and social enterprise Three-quarters (76%) of UK adults who would like to start their own business would choose to start a for profit company. A fifth (20%) would choose to set up a social enterprise. Compared to the general population, those who want to set up a social enterprise are: less likely to have started business planning more likely to percieve barriers in setting up their own business when it comes to getting enough money to start up, accessing loan finance and needing more skills but less likely to think it is too risky to set up a business more likely to be prevented from setting up a new business by fear of failure less likely to look for support to set up their business from banks or their families more likely to look for financial support from investors interested in social benefits as well as financial returns more likely to look for practical support from investors and friends and less likely to look to family Those who would choose to set up a social enterprise are more likely to think business training would be most helpful in setting up their own business than the population generally (27% compared to 20%). Those who would like to set up a social enterpise are slightly more likely than the general population to be aware of support schemes, though nearly a third () have not heard of any of the schemes measured. Which, if any, of the following business and enterprise start-up support schemes are you aware of? All All those who would like to start up a social enterprise Base: All respondents (3789) Base: All those who would like to start a social enterprise (882) 4

5 Support from Banks Face to face specialist advice for entrepreneurs was the most popular service idea among both all respondents (5) and among young people (49%). Advice for those applying for finance was also welcomed: 42% think loan application support would demonstrate a local commitment and 38% think online advice for entrepreneurs applying for finance would support local businesses. Respondents thought that online mentoring of various kinds didn t demonstrate the same level of local support. Thinking about services that your local bank might offer to entrepreneurs, which of these do you think would demonstrate that the bank supports local business and the local community? Face to face specialist advice for entrepreneurs wanting to apply for any kind of finance Supporting entrepreneurs whose loan application is rejected by talking them through their application Work with local entrepreneurs and secondary schools to teach young people how new businesses develop and flourish Online specialist advice for entrepreneurs wanting to apply for any kind of finance Access to online material covering a range of topics relevant to the new entrepreneur, for example, a library of videos Access to online mentoring via an function Access to online mentoring via an 'instant chat' function Access to online mentoring via an online video conference Making meeting rooms available for use/hire by local entrepreneurs for business meetings All adults All 18-30s None of these 42% 38% 39% 37% 38% 3 37% 3 32% 32% 28% 26% 25% 22% 22% 20% 22% 49% 5 Base: All respondents (3789) Base: All 18-30s (2008) 5

6 When thinking about applying for finance from a bank, face to face specialist advice remained the most popular option, 59% of respondents thought this would make applying for a loan easier, and 6 of men. Young people were more likely to think that some form of online support would make applying for finance easier for them: 35% agreed that it would be helpful to be able to apply for a business loan entirely online (compared to 30% of the general public) and liked the idea of online support while they filled in the application (vs 27% of the whole population). Thinking about your current understanding or experience of applying for finance through a bank, which of these would make applying for a business loan easier for you? 6 59% 57% 5 35% 30% 30% 29% 27% 28% 27% 25% 25% 2 25% % 18% 16% 16% Meeting with a specialist staff member to talk me through the process Being able to apply for a business loan entirely online Virtual support, available on the website, while I fill in an application Online tutorial for filling out an application Access to other businesses in my area for support All adults Men Women All 18-30s None of these Base: All respondents (3789); All 18-30s (2008); All men (1674); All women (2115) Sarah Wright RBS Group Sustainability T. +44 (0) E. inspiring.enterprise@rbs.co.uk David Racadio Populus T. +44 (0) E. dracadio@populus.co.uk Stephen Miller UnLtd T. +44 (0) E. Stephen.Miller@unltd.org.uk Research conducted by Populus on behalf of RBS Group 6