Celebrity entrepreneurs

Celebrities including Victoria Beckham and Katie Price, along with supermodel Elle Macpherson, have featured on a new list of the most inspiring celebrity entrepreneurs.

The late Anita Roddick and JK Rowling topped the recent poll, closely followed by Margaret Thatcher, Jacqueline Gold and Martha Lane Fox.

The research, published by everywoman, a website for female entrepreneurs, and NatWest, quizzed successful female entrepreneurs about role models and influences for women who want to run their own business.

It explores the motivating factors for female entrepreneurs, and while flexibility, work-life balance and being one’s own boss were all cited, 86 per cent of those surveyed agreed that celebrity entrepreneurs play a positive role in encouraging women to set up in business.

According to the survey, under 25s were three times more likely to be influenced by celebrity entrepreneurs over traditional role models, demonstrating that their influence is shaping the next generation of business owners.

But while 76 per cent of women agreed that celebrity entrepreneurs make the idea of starting out in business more accessible, 70 per cent still believe that there remains a lack of inspiring role models for women in business.

Says Karen Gill, co-founder of everywoman: “Small businesses have been boosted by programmes such as The Apprentice and Dragons’ Den, alongside household names such as Anita Roddick and Martha Lane Fox bringing entrepreneurs to the attention of the broader public.

“At another level, the likes of Victoria Beckham and Katie Price are also inspiring younger generations of would-be entrepreneurs. Their glamour and pin-up status belie a savvy business sense that has seen both of them achieve phenomenal success thanks to hard graft and their sheer determination to succeed.”

Says Steve Pateman, chief executive of NatWest Business Banking: “If the UK produced the same percentage of female entrepreneurs as the US, for example, Britain would gain three-quarters of a million more businesses, which would boost the UK economy.

“In light of this, anything or anyone that provides women with the inspiration to set up their own business, whether they be traditional female role models such as Nicola Horlick or more unconventional ones such as Katie Price, should be welcomed.

“As the profile of celebrity businesswomen becomes higher and their businesses more successful in the public eye, it is likely that an increasing number of female entrepreneurs will be inspired to follow their lead.”