Entrepreneur or Social Entrepreneur
Builds something new that solves a problem people care about.
Why it may fit you
- Included to widen the options you have seen
Your evidence for this career
Based only on the experiences and strengths you have entered. Add more in My Evidence.
Strong evidence
Nothing here yet — two experiences showing the same skill will move it here.
Some evidence
Nothing here yet.
Evidence to build
- Communication
- Presenting
- Listening
- Leadership
- Creativity
- Digital skills
- Working with data
- Resilience
- Planning
- Commercial awareness
- Working independently
What you may need to develop
Communication
Why it matters: Named in almost every job advert, and usually tested at interview.
Your current evidence: Limited evidence identified so far.
Ways to build this
- • Ask for written feedback after a presentation or piece of writing
- • Write a short summary of something technical for a general reader
Presenting
Why it matters: Being able to explain your work clearly is often what gets it noticed.
Your current evidence: Limited evidence identified so far.
Ways to build this
- • Volunteer to present your group's work
- • Record yourself explaining your project in two minutes and keep the notes
- • Join a society that involves speaking to a group
Listening
Why it matters: Underrated, and central to advisory, care and client roles.
Your current evidence: Limited evidence identified so far.
Ways to build this
- • Volunteer in a support, buddy or peer-mentoring scheme
- • Interview someone about their career and write three notes from it
Leadership
Why it matters: Taking responsibility for others, even informally, is what employers look for here.
Your current evidence: Limited evidence identified so far.
Ways to build this
- • Take a committee role in a society, team or community group
- • Offer to mentor or induct someone newer than you
- • Lead one part of a group project and note what you decided
What they do
Entrepreneurs test ideas, find customers or beneficiaries, and build a product, service or organisation. Many start alongside study or a job.
What your day could involve
- Talking to potential customers about their problem
- Building or improving the product or service
- Selling and marketing
- Managing money carefully
- Learning from something that did not work
Skills employers often look for
People skills
- • Communication
- • Presenting
- • Listening
- • Leadership
Technical skills
- • Creativity
- • Digital skills
- • Working with data
Professional skills
- • Resilience
- • Planning
- • Commercial awareness
- • Working independently
Qualifications
There is usually more than one way in. A degree is one route — not the only one.
Typical degree routes
- • Not required — business or design degrees can help
Apprenticeships
- • Business administration or marketing apprenticeships build useful foundations
Other routes in
- • Enterprise programmes, incubators and youth enterprise competitions
Certifications worth exploring
Only worth doing if it helps you. Experience and evidence usually matter more than collecting certificates.
Useful now
- Free enterprise or business model course
Cheap way to structure your first idea.
Useful later
- Bookkeeping basics
Keeps a small venture out of trouble.
Optional specialist
- Sector-specific licences
Only if your idea legally requires one.
Organisations to Put on Your Radar
Examples to explore — illustrative, not job adverts or endorsements
Large employers
A corporate innovation or incubator programme
Various
Roles to look for: Intern, innovation assistant
Why explore it: Learn commercial skills with support.
Specialist organisations
A start-up accelerator
Enterprise support
Roles to look for: Programme participant
Why explore it: Mentoring and small grants.
Public sector
A local enterprise partnership
Public sector
Roles to look for: Enterprise support
Why explore it: Free advice for young founders.
Charities and NGOs
A youth enterprise charity
Third sector
Roles to look for: Programme participant, volunteer
Why explore it: Designed for young people starting out.
Start-ups and growing companies
Any small start-up
Various
Roles to look for: Generalist roles
Why explore it: The fastest way to see how a business runs.
Organisations in my region
A local market or community trading space
Varies by region
Roles to look for: Stall, pilot, pop-up
Why explore it: Test an idea cheaply near home.
What should I look for on an employer's website?
- Graduate programmes — Structured schemes with training, usually opening a year before they start.
- Apprenticeships — Earn while you learn. Look for the level — Level 2 or 3 up to degree level.
- Internships — Paid experience over summer or a placement year. Often the main route into graduate roles.
- Insight days — One-day or one-week introductions, often for Year 12, 13 or first-year students.
- Volunteering — Many employers run volunteering days or support local projects you could join.
- Work experience — Short placements or shadowing. Ask directly — many are never advertised.
- Entry-level roles — Assistant, coordinator or support job titles are real doors into a career.