Partner Article

TV entrepreneurs ‘skew’ business perceptions

Television’s depiction of entrepreneurship bears no resemblance to reality, the majority of business owners believe.

Celebrity entrepreneurs such as Alan Sugar and the Dragons’ Den panellists distort the public’s perception of entrepreneurship, according to more than 75% respondents to a Nottingham University Business School report.

However, some respondents believe that although TV entrepreneurs do not necessarily paint a true picture of business life, they do a lot to encourage young people that entrepreneurship is viable career option.

Professor Martin Binks, director of the University of Nottingham Institute for Enterprise and Innovation, said: “If these views are representative of the general picture then they raise important questions as to where people can find accurate information on which to base decisions about being an entrepreneur.

“At a time when so much emphasis is placed on the crucial importance of entrepreneurship, this perception may have significant implications for informed decision making.”

Seven out of ten respondents also concluded that it would be useful for business advisors to work directly with the media to improve the quality of coverage of small businesses.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .