Britons discovering entrepreneurial streak, claims businessman

BRITONS have experienced a major cultural change in their outlook towards working for themselves, according to a Sheffield-born businessman honoured for his work in promoting enterprise.

Michael Hayman, awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours, told the Yorkshire Post that half a million new start-ups were registered in 2013, with people seeing setting up their own businesses “as something that’s achievable and realistic”.

He said: “I think there’s a major push to really deliver a can-do attitude within Britain at the moment.”

Mr Hayman, the founder of Sheffield’s Made festival, said enterprise promotion has created a path for people to find a way of becoming entrepreneurs.

He added that events like Made have made a major mark in promoting an optimistic outlook for people in business.

The 43-year-old businessman was honoured for services to enterprise promotion, entrepreneurship and education.

Mr Hayman, who runs a campaigning PR agency in London called Seven Hills, said Britain is well positioned to benefit from a revival of small businesses, but warned that the country has a long way to go before it can lay claim to its own version of the American Dream.

He added: “Britain ends the year with the fastest-growing economy in the G7, largely driven by entrepreneurial growth and small business growth.

“If we want a US-style economy we have a major journey ahead in terms of more people taking a punt to work for themselves. Having said that, the UK now is a small business-led economy.”

Twitter: @bernardginns