Written by Natalie Boxall.
After an awful day at work, most of us have thought about starting our own business. But the majority of us don’t act on our impulses and go back to the 9-5 grind again the next day. Leaving the security of a job and branching out on your own is a risky proposition. Choosing the self-employment option straight after university is probably even more daunting, which perhaps explains why only 2% of UK graduates decide to become their own boss, even though many more say they would like to do so. That’s a low figure and many people in higher education, government and industry are trying to do something about it. Self-employment isn’t for the faint-hearted as taking charge of all aspects of your working life is a big responsibility. Taking risks, which according to most entrepreneurs is the secret to self-employed success, can be scary. But being self-employed can offer greater personal and maybe financial rewards than the ‘conventional’ employment route. If you think you have what it takes to be the next Anita Roddick, you need to prepare properly and get plenty of advice. Produced in conjunction with the Shell LiveWIRE, the young business enterprise service, and including advice and guidance from the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS), the self-employment pages on prospects.ac.uk provide support and information to help graduate entrepreneurs follow their dream. Go to the self-employment pages for information on setting up a business, franchising, freelancing and self-employment in creative sectors. You can also read inspiring case studies from successful graduate entrepreneurs. If you have an idea but are not sure where to start, there is a wealth of support in the UK for budding entrepreneurs. You just need the courage to take a risk and set up on your own. Related topics
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