How do the personal backgrounds, experiences, attributes and entrepreneurial motivations of students and graduates from Falmouth University influence their decision to engage in entrepreneurial activity?

Abstract

This case study considers the extent to which creative graduates wanting to start a business upon graduation share common personal backgrounds, experiences, attributes and motivations. Considering identifiable tendencies and exploring how factors or traits might influence decisions to engage in entrepreneurial activity. Gender, age, relative experience, family background, household income, family support; response to parental attitudes, formal education, experience in industry and risk aversion were explored. Measures of entrepreneurial motivation were; personal wealth creation, social goals, creative independence, desire to do well, market need, perceived difficulty in obtaining a full time job, not working for someone else, and perceptions about entrepreneurship. Data was gathered from 71 applicants to the Graduate Pre-Incubation Programme (‘GPIP’), a four year programme of business support for Falmouth graduates, using a two stage process of self-administered questionnaires and a follow up ‘e-interview’. Findings include; women are less likely to start businesses; mature graduates are more likely to start-up; over 50% of respondents came from low income groups; graduates who receive parental encouragement may be more likely to succeed in their business; and creative independence was an important influencing factor