Michelle Rodger: Workers can go it alone without quitting their job

Published on Saturday 14 February 2009 12:32

MUCH has been said recently about the role of the country's entrepreneurs in driving the economy onwards and upwards out of the recession.

But what if you feel you have many of the skills required to be an entrepreneur, only you're not in a position to take the personal financial risks associated with launching a new business? You could always hone those skills within your current employment, practise to be an entrepreneur by becoming an intrapreneur.

No, it's not a spelling mistake. Indeed, the word has even found its way into the dictionary, which defines intrapreneurship as: "An employee given the freedom to work independently within a company with the objective of introducing innovation to revitalise and diversify its business."

Promoting an enterprise culture at work has clear benefits. According to Make Your Mark, the UK's enterprise campaign, there has never been a better time to be enterprising. In fact, for those facing job uncertainties, they feel it is more important than ever for employees to be resourceful, innovative and help employers, faced with cutting costs, to improve the bottom line.

The Make Your Mark website highlights the results of a global survey of senior executives which revealed that 93% of leaders in the UK (compared with 65% in the US) agree that the country must become more entrepreneurial in the next five years.

The evidence they gathered also shows that "running my own business" is clearly the most popular career choice among young people, with 61% saying it was "appealing" or "very appealing".

But there is a distinct gap between those enthusiastic folk who have a desire to start their own business and those that ultimately take the plunge.

Hannah Bourne, director of communications at Make Your Mark, believes it's imperative that businesses harness that enthusiasm, encourage enterprise in the workplace and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. She suggests a number of initiatives, such as intrapreneurship lunchtime or breakfast clubs, mentoring or buddying schemes, ideas boxes, or space for ideas and discussions on the intranet.

And for small businesses, considering external partnerships and working with others facing the same challenges can be very productive.

Intrapreneurship clearly works. Chances are most of you will have a smattering of Post-it notes across your desk, perhaps stuck onto your computer monitor, maybe on your phone. But how many of you know that the Post-it, now as indispensable as an ergonomic office chair, was actually a mistake waiting for an opportunity to come along?

Back in 1968 a 3M scientist invented a very light adhesive, but couldn't convince his co-workers or bosses of its value, and it was left to languish on the back burner.

Five years later, however, a fellow worker noticed his bookmarks were constantly falling out of his hymnals during choir practice and he remembered the glue nobody wanted. Eureka. The Post-it was born.

Since then 3M has created its own 'project system', where an idea is brought forward by a team of three: one from marketing, one from research and one from manufacturing.

Closer to home, the HBOS Women in Business division is a perfect example of intrapreneurship. Director Claire Logie spotted a gap in the market to provide a tailored service to businesswomen, and her passion for that great idea resulted in the development of a team solely focused on the female role within banking.

Speaking at an Edinburgh Junior Chamber of Commerce event, she suggested that with a great idea and passion you can inspire those around you to develop it within the wider organisation. She did, however, also warn that there is a fine line between demonstrating initiative and being a maverick.

Dr Jonathon Levie, of the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, has analysed intrapreneurship in Scotland and compared it with that of other countries. According to the figures in his 2006 Global Entrepreneurial Monitor, Scotland sits disappointingly far behind Ireland and the US, alongside Turkey, Sweden and Finland.

Levie says: "Corporate entrepreneurship, or intrapreneurship, is a great idea. It allows people with business experience who maybe have issues such as a large mortgage or who for family reasons don't want to risk all their personal wealth or where perhaps considerable resources are required to develop the idea or business to start up under a corporate umbrella."

Not every small business needs an entrepreneur, but every business definitely needs an intrapreneur.

There's an old Chinese proverb that says: "Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it." So don't discourage your employees from experimenting and innovating within your business. Give them the time, the space and the encouragement, then sit back and reap the benefits.

Oh, and make sure you give them a leg up when they make the all-important decision to leave the comforts of your employment to be an entrepreneur themselves.