The Virgin boss is Britain’s preferred business mentor, according to a new survey of small businesses by finance company Everline.
The survey of 500 small business owners saw 40 per cent of respondents pick Branson as their preferred business mentor.
MARK ZUCKERBERG
Digital entrepreneur and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg came in second with 13 per cent of the votes, rising to 25 per cent among 18-34 year olds.
Despite his global success, Simon Cowell struggled to show he has the X-Factor for businesses, with just six per cent selecting him as their preferred business mentor.
Politicians also failed to resonate.
Prime Minister David Cameron was selected by just five per cent of small business owners, with Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg trailing him on two per cent and one per cent respectively.
“When it comes to aspirational business leaders, it’s hard to see anyone knocking Richard Branson off the top spot anytime soon,” Russell Gould, managing director of Everline, says.
“It’s worrying though that there is a lack of people in the pipeline small business owners can aspire to or would want as their mentor.”
FEMALE ROLE MODELS
Everline’s survey also suggests there is a lack of female business role models.
Author JK Rowling was the preferred business mentor for just six per cent of small business owners and was the highest ranking female business person in the survey.