58% Of Technology Professionals Want To Start Their Own Company

With the government proposing a start-up culture in the national curriculum[1], small companies are proving to be big business for the UK. Within the IT sector the term has dominated the news agenda and smaller businesses are blossoming, often coming head to head with the big players of the technology world.

In fact, according to the latest research from specialist IT job site CWJobs.co.uk, a (massive) 58% of technology professionals want to start their own company, hoping to become the next Spotify or SkyScanner. According to recent figures from Start-Up Britain, the number of UK residents starting their own businesses is growing rapidly, as more than 520,000 new businesses registered with Companies House during 2013, a record high, and a rise of of 8% on 2012.

Judging by the opinions of over 700 IT professionals surveyed by CWJobs, it’s clear that start-ups don’t only appeal to budding entrepreneurs. Those not ready to take the leap into business ownership can the appeal too, with four in five professionals considering working for a start-up(86%).

Professionals put the lure of the start-up down to having more control over the job (73%), whilst 53% like the idea of feeling more significant in a smaller firm, suggesting there is a perception that larger companies may be hindering the progression of professionals through processes and control.

However, whilst clearly there’s great appetite, just 15% of professionals think start-up companies are attracting the top talent in the industry, suggesting that smaller business may think size matters more than it actually does.

With professionals expressing such clear desire for a career within a smaller firm, technology start-ups should aim high and seek out top talent to help give their business a boost. With these businesses at the helm of economic recovery, and government grants in place to support their ongoing growth, there’s no reason why smaller firms should be selling themselves short to top IT talent.

Richard Nott | @CwJobsUk | CwJobs

Richard Nott is Website Director at CWJobs.co.uk and has worked with the company for 14 years.

CWJobs.co.uk is the leading specialist IT recruitment website serving contract and permanent IT jobseekers throughout the UK and Ireland. The site draws over 509,000 unique users each month, attracted by the opportunity to search an average of more than 10,000 IT job opportunities at any one time.