University boosts entrepreneurial confidence, says expert

Spending several years at university can give graduates the confidence to set up their own businesses, according to one expert.

Graham Nicholson, President of the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services, said that developing the confidence to establish a business is a 'stage of life issue.'

'For the majority of people, having three or four years of maturing time at a university does help with that confidence process,' he remarked.

Although the number of graduates setting up businesses after they leave university remains small, the amount of people who go on to set up their own companies within five years is much greater, Mr Nicholson suggested.

Recent research conducted by Barclays found that over 100,000 new businesses are created every quarter.

However, the firm noted that currently fewer than half of small business owners are educated to degree level.

According to Mr Nicholson, there is a now higher level of support available to students thinking about setting up their own business.