Record Number of ‘Debut Directors’ in UK
he number of first-time business directors in the UK is at an all-time high, according to data compiled by Experian.
The information services company says that alongside a lower level of business experience, these ‘debut directors’ start-up with less investment than ever before and an increasing proportion come from backgrounds with lower than average levels of affluence.
A total of 515,000 businesses were created in the UK last year, up 8.9% from 473,000 in 2012, with the proportion of first-time directors rising by 12.6% to 304,000 from 270,000. A debut director is an individual listed as a company director for the first time.
First-time directors in 2013 have less start-up capital, adds Experian, and come from a lower affluence band when comparing these individuals’ incomes, property values and net worth to national averages.
Survival of the fittest
There is also good news for UK start-ups, with business survival rates up from 76% in 2009, to 87% in 2011. The survival rate measures businesses still trading two years after start-up, observing companies which have survived up to the end of 2013. Overall, those less affluent Debut Directors have a slightly lower chance of survival (84 per cent compared to 87 per cent survival rate in 2011), but a savvy approach to business and credit management can increase those chances significantly.
“These figures suggest a shift in how we should view the average UK entrepreneur,” said Max Firth, Managing Director for Experian Business Information Services, UK&I. “It’s not all high-tech start-ups and Dragons’ Den-style big ideas. An increasing proportion of new business directors are making the most of the lower start-up entry levels; grabbing a mobile phone, a laptop and a flexible workplace, and creating their own jobs and their own opportunities.
“While this increasing population of debut Directors should be celebrated, there’s much they can do to improve their chances of success. Some may still lack the experience, capital and contacts needed to survive those first few tricky years.
“So it’s crucial for young entrepreneurs to tap into business support networks for advice and they shouldn’t underestimate the value in partnering with a more experienced director if they can. Just as crucially, they need be aware of how others may see their business and the impact this could have on their access to essential services and potential funding opportunities.”
Advice for debut directors: