A survey from ComRes Global and the British Library’s Business and IP Centre (BIPC) has revealed that 70% of Londoners have a dream to create their own start up.
Londoners from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are 20% more likely to dream of starting their own business, according to the survey, which interviewed of 1,024 British 
adults living in London.
The main reason people don’t pursue their business dreams is because of a lack of knowledge or confidence, with 57% of those surveyed quoting this as the reason they had not formed their own business, held even above financial constraints and commitments.
The BIPC, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this week, has helped over 500,000 entrepreneurs and start-ups grow their business.
Rajesh Agrawal, Deputy Mayor for Business, said: “Entrepreneurs and founders are and always have been central to London’s thriving economy and future success, creating and supporting thousands of jobs and creating innovative new businesses that benefit the economy and consumers.
Over the past decade, the British Library’s Business and IP Centre has helped to nurture a vast array of entrepreneurs, helping them to turn their incredible business ideas into reality.”
The project, which has received £1.33 million in funding, also stated that 60% of the centre’s aspiring entrepreneurs are women. Agrawal commented, “I am particularly pleased that the centre has been able to assist so many female entrepreneurs, who often face unnecessary barriers when it comes to launching their own business.”
He added, “London is always open to talent and innovation and I would like to wish the centre the very best as it supports the next generation of great business minds.”
Isabel Oswell, Head of Business Audiences at the British Library said, “It is clear from this survey that many people are sitting at home or in an office dreaming of being their own boss and wondering where to start.
“As we celebrate our tenth anniversary, we’re encouraging every person nurturing a start-up idea to come and see us here in St Pancras so that we can help them turn their idea into a viable business.”
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