By Daniel Hunter
Nearly a third of new British businesses will start life as a pop-up, according to research from EE as it launches a new competition.
EE research found that more than 11 million people want to start a business and become an entrepreneur in the next two years, and 29% of them plan to do it by first launching a pop-up.
A study [nurl=http://ee.co.uk/content/dam/everything-everywhere/Newsroom/PDFs%20for%20newsroom/EE%20Pop-Up_Retail_Economy_Report.pdfpublished last year[/nurl] found that pop-ups contribute £2.1 billion to the UK economy. Ahead of the next annual report, EE said that nearly six in 10 (57%) think pop-ups are a "great" way to start a business. And 39% said they had been inspired to start their own business as a result of a pop-up.
EE is supporting Appear Here, marketplace for short term retail space, and its ‘Space for Ideas’ competition to find and support the UK’s next top pop-up entrepreneurs. Winners will receive prime retail space in London for two weeks, an EE 4G Pop-Up Bundle including tablets, smartphones and mobile payments devices, £3,000 to build out their pop-up shop and advertising space within the London Evening Standard.
Mike Tomlinson, Director of Small Business at EE said: “This research shows that Britain is now a nation of aspiring business owners. Whether you’re starting your first business on your own or you’re an established company testing out a new location or product, pop-ups have become a tried and tested business strategy."
