Graduate entrepreneurs: intentions, barriers and solutions

Kelly Smith

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Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences Higher Education and Employability Migration, Ethnicity, and Economy

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the factors that influenced seven graduates in the creative and digital industries to start their own businesses in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK – an area with lack of employing establishments and locally registered businesses. Design/methodology/approach Questionnaires and semi‐structured interviews identified the constraining and enabling factors graduates may encounter when attempting to start a business, and explored the impact of support provided. Findings Perceived constraining factors were: lack of general business knowledge, contradictory advisory support from external agencies, lack of sector‐specific mentors, lack of finance, and experience of familial entrepreneurship. Perceived enabling factors were: co‐mentoring from business partners, course content, financial gain, creativity and innovative ideas, control and risk taking, and the overarching package of support. Linkages between internal and external support could be improved. Research limitations/implications The study provided insights into constraints and enablers to self‐employment for a small cohort of recent graduates looking to start‐up in the creative and digital industries. Further studies are required to explore the suggested effect of the “creative identity”, and of sector‐specific family entrepreneurial background. Practical implications The support provided by universities can facilitate the transition from early stage ideas to actual graduate business start‐up. Issues such as provision of specialist advice and links with external parallel and follow‐on support need to be considered. Originality/value University start‐up units provide an important contribution to the development of graduate entrepreneurs and their role in the growth of national and global economy. Suggestions for improvements in performance, such as closer links with external business development agencies and support providers, are discussed.

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References

2002Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2005The Emergence of Entrepreneurship Education: Development, Trends, and Challenges 2006Assessing the impact of entrepreneurship education programmes: a new methodology 2008An Overview of the Methodological Approach of Action Research 2008Creativity in entrepreneurship education 2008Graduate entrepreneurship: intentions, education and training 1996Entrepreneurship Education and Training 2003Barriers to start‐up and their effect on aspirant entrepreneurs

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2017Student associations and entrepreneurial intentions 2015The When and Why: Student Entrepreneurial Aspirations 2018Entrepreneurial intention and obstacles of undergraduate students: the case of the universities of Andalusia 2020The Impact of Access to Finance and Environmental Factors on Entrepreneurial Intention: The Mediator Role of Entrepreneurial Behavioural Control 2014Entrepreneurial Intentions and Entrepreneurial Motivation of South African Rural University Students

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