Why More Young People Are Choosing Entrepreneurship?

Not so long ago, the idea of starting a business while you were still studying felt unusual.

 For many people, the expectation was simple. Finish your education, find a job, gain experience and perhaps, one day, think about working for yourself.

Today, that picture looks rather different.

More and more young people are exploring entrepreneurship before they've even graduated. Some are selling products online, some are offering freelance services, while others are using social media or AI tools to turn ideas into something tangible. Starting a business is no longer something that has to wait until later in life.

It's a shift that's reflected in national research. A recent study by AXA UK found that six in ten young people would like to be their own boss by the age of 30, with flexibility, independence and the opportunity to build something meaningful among the reasons behind that ambition. AXA UK's research on young entrepreneurs

Wanting to start a business, however, is very different from knowing how to start one.

Having an idea is often the easy part. Working out whether that idea has potential, understanding who your customers are, building confidence and taking those first few steps can feel much more daunting.

Research from NatWest found that many young people believe it's a good time to start a business, yet a significant number also say they don't know where to begin. The ambition is there. The confidence and support don't always come as easily. NatWest research on young entrepreneurs

It's a challenge we see regularly at Portobello Business Centre .

Every year we meet students who are full of ideas. Some arrive with a business concept they've been thinking about for months. Others simply know they want to do something different but aren't quite sure what that looks like yet. What they all have in common is a willingness to learn. That's why our Student Entrepreneurship Programme focuses on much more than writing business plans or developing a business idea.

It's about giving young people the space to ask questions, test their thinking, work alongside experienced business advisors and discover what entrepreneurship really involves. Along the way, they build practical skills in areas such as marketing, finance, customer research and pitching, while growing in confidence and learning from one another. Not everyone who joins the programme will leave ready to launch a business immediately and that's perfectly fine.

For some, the programme provides the confidence to take the next step with an idea they've been sitting on for years. For others, it introduces a different way of thinking that they'll carry into their studies or future career. Either way, they're developing skills that will continue to serve them long after the programme has finished.

Ready to explore entrepreneurship?

Whether you already have a business idea or you're simply curious about what it takes to start one, our Student Entrepreneurship Programme is designed to help you take that first step with confidence.

Over five practical, hands-on days, you'll work alongside experienced entrepreneurs and business advisers, develop new skills and discover what building a business really involves.

What you'll leave with

By the end of the programme, you'll have:

• A clearer understanding of how to turn an idea into a viable business.

• Greater confidence in presenting your ideas and making decisions.

• Practical skills in branding, marketing, finance, customer research and pitching.

• Feedback and guidance from experienced entrepreneurs and business advisers.

• Connections with other ambitious young people who share your entrepreneurial mindset.

• A completed business plan and a roadmap for your next steps.

• Twelve months of mentoring to help you continue developing your idea.

• The opportunity to pitch for a share of £5,000 to help bring your business to life.

  
  

Whether you go on to launch a business straight away or use these skills in your future career, you'll leave with knowledge, confidence and experience that will stay with you long after the programme has finished.

Your next step

We're excited to be welcoming our next cohorts and would love to hear from you.

Ready to get started? Applications are now open for our upcoming cohorts, and we can't wait to welcome the next generation of student entrepreneurs. Submit your application today.

If you're a teacher, lecturer, parent or know a young person who would benefit from the programme, we'd be grateful if you shared this opportunity with them. One conversation or one application could be the start of something remarkable.