Student perspectives on entrepreneurship: observations on their propensity for entrepreneurial behaviour

Abstract

Although small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are of growing importance to the UK economy, we argue that graduate entrepreneurship makes only a limited contribution to employment in the SME sector. In an attempt to inform this disappointing performance, we examine in the following passages the specific issue of student attitudes towards establishing their own businesses. The included data provides evidence on the attitudes of 247 student respondents towards the prospect of new business formation and factors that might enhance or inhibit such propensities, identified during a study of Manchester University-based science departments. The paper concludes with relevant policy recommendations.