JK Rowling
Instead, many young people in the UK are looking to entrepreneurs for inspiration.
J.K. Rowling, Richard Branson and Mark Zuckerberg top the list of role models young Brits aspire to, fuelling entrepreneurial ambitions, whereas, celebrities like Kate Moss, Kim Kardashian and Justin Bieber are dismissed as role models by teenagers.
‘Making Sure Tomorrow Works,’ a study of 1544 14 to 20 year olds by the City & Guilds Centre for Skills Development, found that teenagers in Britain today are most impressed by people who have built successful careers based on their talents and business acumen.
When asked who they admire for their achievements, J.K. Rowling came out on top with 53 per cent, closely followed by Richard Branson (50 per cent) and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg (37 per cent). The results come in advance of The Skills Show, the UK’s biggest skills and careers event, which showcases the skills young people need to achieve their ambitions.
The show provides the perfect forum for the talented young professionals of tomorrow to learn about and develop their own skills, as well as demonstrating their abilities to potential employers
By contrast, those best known for their celebrity status, including reality TV personalities, pop stars and models, failed to impress today’s youngsters. Just three per cent of those surveyed said they admired Kate Moss, followed by Kim Kardashian (four per cent), and Justin Beiber (eight per cent).
Russell Pocock, Head of Learner Engagement at City & Guilds, said: “The results of the study show a welcome departure from the common assumption that teenagers today only aspire to celebrity status and quick fame.
"Instead, what has been revealed here is a picture of a balanced and mature generation who understand the importance of talent, hard work and good values in achieving career success. That’s why City & Guilds is supporting The Skills Show - an annual event to showcase and celebrate skilled professions – so we can enable young people to recognise opportunities, inspire them to develop the skills they need to succeed, and help them shape their tomorrow,” he said.
The public figures identified as top role models by young people appear to be driving a trend when it comes to young people’s own career goals. A third of 18 to 20 year olds said they see themselves as self-employed or having started their own company ten years from now.
It is clear that even today’s challenging economic climate is not deterring the Richard Branson’s of the future from their entrepreneurial ambitions.
Ross Maloney, Chief Executive of The Skills Show, said: “With up to 100,000 young people expected to visit The Skills Show in November, it is clear that young Britons are keen to embrace all the learning and development opportunities open to them.
"The show provides the perfect forum for the talented young professionals of tomorrow to learn about and develop their own skills, as well as demonstrating their abilities to visitors and potential employers. We are looking forward to inspiring the next generation and setting them on a path to successful and rewarding careers,” he added.
The Skills Show is the UK’s biggest skills and careers event which is taking place at the Birmingham NEC from 15th – 17th November. City & Guilds is the premier sponsor.
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