You don’t need to be a Lord Sugar to succeed in business

Sarah Porretta at Young Enterprise redefines what it means to be an entrepreneur

 

Over the years, it feels like society has settled on a narrow definition of what an entrepreneur looks and sounds like.  A larger-than-life, power-dressing, loud, confident character, very salesy, and usually aiming for a high-profile, cut-throat business journey.

 

While that image can be aspirational for some, it doesn’t really reflect the full picture. It’s become a one-size-fits-all narrative that can feel alienating to many young people, and doesn’t reflect the reality of entrepreneurship for the very many busy owners and self-employed people in the UK.

 

To me, entrepreneurship isn’t just about becoming a billionaire or leading a high-growth tech startup. It’s about building something of your own – and that comes in many shapes and sizes.

 

A successful entrepreneur can just as easily be someone who completes a carpentry apprenticeship or sets up a one-person business, enabling them to support their family or sustain themselves in a rural community. That person has built something of their own. And their contributions are just as valid and valuable. In fact, we need this talent – from all walks of life – to contribute to innovation and entrepreneurship in this country. We believe enterprise is a key driver for social mobility.

 

If we want to cultivate a culture of enterprise that’s accessible and inclusive, we must expand the definition. From the self-made billionaires to the self-employed florist or barista operating out of their own van – each contributes to the economy and has their own version of success. As such, we need to make sure their stories are heard, and importantly, that we have a wider range of role models for young people.

 

 

The aspiration–opportunity gap

We often talk about needing more entrepreneurship to fuel the economy. But young people are already interested, so rather, we need to identify and address barriers to entry. For young people who have taken part in our flagship Company Programme, 67% of them had an interest in having their own business in future. But only half of these thought they often had opportunities to develop business skills.[1]

 

This gap between ambition and opportunity is stark, and business leaders have a key role to play here. I recently spoke to a young man fresh out of university who spoke openly about how difficult it was to launch a business without a support network or financial backing. For him, the hurdles were things like figuring out how to set up a business bank account, where to find premises, and how to do a tax return, without having the benefit of a family friend who was an accountant or lawyer and could mentor him.

 

He also discussed the ultimate barrier: if you do not secure enough funding to pay yourself enough to live on (and pay off any debts) while growing your business, then without financial backing from family, your opportunities narrow. These are very real and very practical barriers that young people (especially those from low-income backgrounds) face.

 

Inside schools, the challenge is even more complex. Many young people, particularly those who are neurodiverse or at risk of disengagement, find traditional classrooms unengaging. But when given the chance to explore enterprise in a hands-on way, their energy and confidence transform.

 

However, schools do not always recognise the value of this, and even when young people do engage with enterprise programmes, they do not always receive sufficient recognition for their efforts.

 

Denbigh High School in Luton is an example of a school that really did understand this point. Certain year 10 students were at risk of permanent exclusion. Yet, when they were offered a Young Enterprise programme in place of standard language classes, their attendance, motivation, and behaviour dramatically improved.

 

For students who don’t see themselves reflected in conventional success stories, enterprise education can offer a new and empowering path.

 

 

What’s missing: skills, mentors, and support

The support infrastructure simply isn’t there. Teachers are expected to prepare students for business success, but many have never run a business themselves. That’s a difficult ask. We need volunteers, real-world business owners, coming into schools to share not only their wins but their failures too, and to work in partnership with teachers. That’s where the most valuable learning lies.

 

Mentorship is equally essential, and it must go beyond advising tech founders at universities. A childminder mentoring someone just starting out, a self-employed plumber guiding an apprentice. This is what grassroots entrepreneurship looks like, and it matters.

 

From a policy perspective, inconsistencies are holding back young talent. Why is it that a 16-year-old can legally hold a part-time job but can’t set up a business bank account or open an online marketplace? These outdated barriers send a message: entrepreneurship is only for adults or the well-connected.

 

We’re already seeing some very encouraging results in terms of growth in confidence, communication skills and financial capability for young people who start real businesses in a safe and supported way on our programmes. But a key part of the experience is learning how to wind up the business. If we could give young people more support to not just create but also keep their businesses going, we’d be setting them up for long-term success.

 

 

What needs to change

If we want entrepreneurship to be a genuine driver of social mobility, we need a coordinated, multi-level response.

 

We need the Government to recognise the importance of enterprise education as a way to promote innovation, help young people learn vital skills and grow the economy and as an evidenced lever of social mobility. A key part of this would be policymakers reviewing and reforming the regulations that hold young people back. With the Government desperate for messages of hope for growth in the future, now is the time for a more coordinated push.

 

We need better collaboration across industry to help young people understand and access clear pathways to grow their businesses. Local industries are beginning to partner with schools to demonstrate real-world opportunities, from welders and coders to construction workers and climate tech innovators, connecting curriculum to community needs. But this can’t just be a box-ticking exercise.

 

Business leaders should be actively investing time and resources into schools and youth enterprise programmes, not just to fulfil CSR targets, but to build future-ready workforces. These young people aren’t waiting to be told what to do. They’re already showing initiative through enrichment programmes, developing apps, launching side hustles, and navigating digital tools with a fluency that outpaces many older employees. The pipeline is there. It just needs nurturing.

 

Crucially, we must start telling new stories. The reality of entrepreneurship is not always polished or loud. It’s often quiet, resourceful, and deeply local. And that’s something to celebrate.

 

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Sarah Porretta is CEO at Young Enterprise

 

Main image courtesy of iStockPhoto.com and skynesher