Determinants of graduate entrepreneurship in the UK

This paper examines the career progression of graduate entrepreneurs immediately following graduation and four years subsequently. Using career socialization theory (Dyer, 1994), it traces the influence of human capital antecedents, career orientations and the role of higher education and educational skills in developing and enhancing graduate entrepreneurship. Empirically, we show that there are persistent human capital differences amongst graduate entrepreneurs in the UK. We also find that higher education makes is important for initially in supporting graduate entrepreneurship but this support decays in value. The paper also points to early graduate entrepreneurs having non-pecuniary orientations.