According to a recent study by City & Guilds, today’s young people are extremely ambitious and possess real entrepreneurial spirit. 

City & Guilds surveyed over 1,000 people aged 16-25 in March 2005.  

• Nearly half (49 per cent) wanted to go it alone
• One in ten (11 per cent) had already started planning to launch their own firm
• A further one in four (24 per cent) said they would be ready within five years
• Young men are more likely to take the plunge - nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) want to set up their own business compared to 44 per cent of young women.
• 70 per cent said they want to be in control of their lives while 24 per cent want to be millionaires
• Young entrepreneurs are most likely to set up a business in the area of retail (28 per cent), followed by IT and telecoms (12 per cent respectively) and professional services – law, accountancy, chartered surveyors (7 per cent respectively).

(Picture to the right: Wayne George set up his own business at 24 after completing his City & Guilds level 2 in Handcraft Cabinet Making)