Britain's markets are attracting a generation of highly educated entrepreneurs
Approximately one-quarter of the traders in the market have a master’s degree, a PhD, or a medical doctorate, which suggests that the UK market sector is being driven by a new generation of highly educated entrepreneurs, which is unexpected. According to other data, nearly three-quarters of the founders of one of the famous food markets in London have a university degree, and about 95% of them work in their business full-time.
Almost a quarter of market traders now hold a master’s degree, PhD or medical doctorate, research shows. One in five young market traders now holds a master’s degree, PhD or medical doctorate, according to exclusive figures shared with the Guardian, in a sign of how Britain’s markets are attracting an unexpected new generation of highly educated entrepreneurs. Separate data from Kerb, the street food collective behind some of London’s best-known food markets, points in the same direction. Almost three-quarters of its founders have university degrees, including one in four with postgraduate qualifications. About 95% work in their businesses full-time rather than treating them as weekend side hustles.
