With momentum around startups and entrepreneurship gathering pace in countries all over the world, this year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is set to be one of the most successful ever.
GEW, which runs until from November 16 to 22, is an international celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit that drives people to use their creativity and innovative thinking to start their own business.
Amway, the leading global direct selling company that offers consumer products in health, beauty and wellness, provides people with the opportunity to run their own micro business and train aspiring entrepreneurs to grow their business.
With more than 40,000 distributors in the UK alone, Amway operates in over 100 markets worldwide and last year reported sales of $10.8 billion.
Each year Amway releases a survey to demonstrate the attitudes towards self-employment, and the Amway Global Entrepreneurship Report (AGER) 2015 reveals that British entrepreneurs in particular are ready to embrace change and strive for startup success.
According to the report, 84 per cent of British respondents have a positive attitude towards entrepreneurship, with those under the age of 50 more positive than those over 50.
Entrepreneurial potential in Britain has also increased in the last year, with 41 per cent of those surveyed saying they can imagine themselves starting a business, compared with 38 per cent in 2014.
There are lots of reasons why people choose to become self-employed, but one deciding factor resonates deeply; they want the freedom and flexibility of working for themselves.
Some choose entrepreneurship to escape the daily grind that comes with a career they no longer find rewarding. Starting and running their own business can bring the self-fulfilment they desire.
Time is one of our most valuable resources and for many becoming an entrepreneur gives them a better opportunity to balance their life. This is especially important for those with family or other responsibilities. Running a business takes drive and commitment, but when you are your own boss, you can decide to forgo any work for that day. That is a level of flexibility that doesn’t come with a job.
Starting your own business can also offer people the chance to earn a second income, or to resume a working life after having a family or being unemployed.
However, there are some key qualities that all successful entrepreneurs need to have, some of which have been identified by the Amway Entrepreneurial Spirit Index (AESI).
With more business opportunities than ever before, more training and support available, and a greater desire among individuals to become their own boss, there has never been a better time to start a business
A new addition to the annual AGER, the AESI is based on three dimensions: desirability of starting a business; feasibility, whether respondents feel prepared to set up on their own; and stability against social pressures that might dissuade someone from becoming an entrepreneur.
Britain’s AESI score is 48, which compares favourably with both the global score of 51 and the average European score of 45.
The research also revealed that 44 per cent of British people have the desire to become an entrepreneur, while 55 per cent are convinced they possess the capabilities to launch a business. Furthermore, 45 per cent are adamant that they would not be deterred from their aspiration of starting their own business if family or friends were to stand in their way.
Another positive finding was that Britain is an entrepreneurship-friendly nation. The survey revealed that three quarters of Britons consider their country to be entrepreneurship-friendly, up from 7 per cent last year.
The overriding message from the survey by Amway is that, with more business opportunities than ever before, more training and support available, and a greater desire among individuals to become their own boss, there has never been a better time to start a business.
Former Dragons’ Den entrepreneur and interior designer Kelly Hoppen, who worked with Amway on their annual enterprise initiative, Britain’s Top Real Role Model, knows what it takes to run a business.
She says: “I think you have to be incredibly honest, have great communication skills, listen, be totally authentic, passionate about what you do and work hard. If you can achieve all of those, you’re a good entrepreneur.”
If you are interested in hearing more about a business opportunity with Amway, telephone 01908 629400 or go online at www.amway.co.uk
