Barclays Local Business report workplace ‘dreamers’ of today make tomorrow’s entrepreneurs

Barclays Local Business research reveals untapped potential of today’s workforce. Workers caught staring into space at their desk or ‘away with the fairies’ during business meetings are a mass of untapped, entrepreneurial talent, according to research from Barclays Local Business.

The latest survey by Barclays Local Business reveals how employees showing signs of distraction are likely to get out and start their own business, as nearly half of today’s UK business bosses (44 per cent) admit to having plotted their entrepreneurial future whilst daydreaming in the work place of a previous employer.

Although an increasing number of bosses are paranoid about employees wasting time at work on social networking sites like Facebook, it appears they cannot stop employees from dreaming of a more productive and satisfying future in their working life.

John Davis, marketing director for Barclays Local Business said: "This survey highlights what many bosses have probably suspected for a long time – that for some employees, their current job is the last thing on their mind when they are at work. However, whilst they may be wasting their employer’s time they are not necessarily being idle; as they are planning for their own future. For budding entrepreneurs, the routine of their day-job can spark dreams of going onto bigger and better things."

These dreamers turned entrepreneurs clearly know the value of downtime with only eight per cent interrupting their holidays to come up with a killer small business idea. Similarly, just six per cent were prepared to think about being their own boss in between pints down the pub. It’s also no surprise then that the survey also reveals that almost 40 per cent of UK business bosses view plain old common sense as the winning ingredient for ongoing success.

Davis added: "For employers there is nothing more frustrating than letting untapped talent slip through the net as staff showing entrepreneurial signs provide huge benefits and help small, medium or larger companies grow. Perhaps it will serve as a warning to any boss that they shouldn’t take their eye off the ball when it comes to keeping their staff interested and engaged and developing their people."

The survey also uncovers the concerns keeping aspiring entrepreneurs awake at night; just under 40 per cent admit to feeling nervous about giving up the financial stability of a full time job, while nearly one in five (19 per cent) worry about getting into debt. Added pressure on their home life was also a worry for six per cent.

About Barclays Local Business

Barclays Local Business provide services and a comprehensive range of tailored business banking products to more than 600,000 businesses typically with a turn over less than £1 million.

Barclays Local Business supports businesses with:
- Named business manager, locally based allocated to the clients business. 1,600 Local Business Managers in 600 locations
- Barclays Trading Places' Awards, recognising people who have overcome adversity to set up in business
- Give start-ups standard banking transactions free for up to 18 months. Wide range of free advice and information -Starting & Running Your Business CD-ROM; consultations with a panel of legal, accountancy & marketing experts; Business Opportunity Profiles & Business Information Factsheets; Legal & tax helpline
- Free 'Mindleaders' online business skills training worth £1,000 and award winning software packages that will help save businesses time and money
- Individual solutions that offer support outside of the usual banking services e.g. unique award winning software packages that will help save businesses time and money
- The ability to speak to a qualified business Manager - out of hours or when their local business manager is engaged with customers. Flexibility to bank when and how they want - online and telephone banking and a full counter service at 1600 branches nationwide.

Notes to editors:

Figures taken from research carried out by YouGov on behalf of Barclays Local Business Banking. Total sample size was 2427 SME owner-managers from across the UK. Fieldwork was undertaken between 11-17 May 2007. The survey was carried out online. The figures have not been weighted.

Barclays PR contact:
Andrew McDougall
Barclays PR contact
Barclays
Watling Street
Bexleyheath
Kent
DA6 7RR
UK
+44 (0)20 7116 6159


***********************************