The UK public has a sky-high opinion of entrepreneurs, with one in four people either running their own business or considering it for the future, new research has revealed.
A report by the Small Business Service (SBS) found that 13 per cent of the population were involved in entrepreneurial activity, while a further 11 per cent were considering going it alone.
A massive 93 per cent of those polled admired entrepreneurs, with 64 per cent saying that they would encourage their friends or relatives to run their own business.
Almost nine in ten people felt that entrepreneurs who have failed in their first business should be given a second chance to start up.
Other findings in the wide-ranging survey include the revelation that men were still twice as likely as women to be an entrepreneur, despite various government initiatives to help women start up in business.
Ethnic minority groups were more likely to be considering starting a business, but entrepreneurial activity amongst black people was relatively low.
Regionally, a north-south divide exists, with those in London and the south more likely to take the plunge and start up a business.
The survey is further evidence that entrepreneurship in the UK is in rude health, with soaring numbers of people wanting to start up their own business.
The economic recovery and a widespread dissatisfaction with the nine to five life of an employee has prompted large numbers of new businesses to launch since the start of the year.
As reported earlier today, young people are especially keen to go it alone, with many citing deep-seated desires for freedom and interesting challenges.
However, some groups, such as women and ethnic minorities, are still under-represented in terms of new entrepreneurs.
