Could your next career opportunity come from you?

When you are looking for work, it is natural to spend your time searching job boards, completing applications and waiting for employers to respond.

But there is another question worth considering:

Could you create an opportunity for yourself?

Starting your own business does not necessarily mean building a large company, employing staff or making a huge financial investment. For some people, it can begin with something much smaller: a skill they already have and a customer who needs it.

The UK’s business population is substantial. ONS data recorded 2.79 million VAT and/or PAYE businesses in March 2026, showing the scale of the country’s business community.

For a jobseeker, this raises an interesting possibility: could your experience solve a problem for one of those businesses?

Start with the skills you already have

You may already possess the foundations of a business without realising it.

Think about your previous employment and ask yourself:

• What skills did employers pay me to use?
• What problems did colleagues regularly ask me to solve?
• What knowledge have I developed over the years?
• Could I teach or advise someone else?
• What services do small businesses need?
• Could I save a customer time, money or effort?

Your previous career is not simply a record of what you have done.

It can also provide ideas about what you could offer next.

For example, someone with experience in administration could potentially offer virtual administrative support. An experienced marketer could provide marketing services to smaller organisations. An IT professional might help small businesses improve their systems and digital processes.

The important starting point is not simply asking, “What business can I start?”

Ask instead:

“What problem can I solve, and who needs that problem solved?”

You do not need to start big

One of the biggest misconceptions about starting a business is that you need a large amount of money and a fully developed business plan before you begin.

Some businesses do require significant investment. Others can start as relatively simple service-based businesses.

Before spending substantial amounts of money, consider testing your idea.

Speak to potential customers. Research competitors. Find out what people currently use. Ask whether your proposed service would solve a genuine problem.

Your first objective does not have to be building a successful company.

It could simply be finding your first customer.

That first customer can provide useful evidence that there is demand for what you are offering.

Your experience can become your advantage

If you have been working for many years, you may have accumulated valuable knowledge that is difficult to learn from a textbook.

You may understand a particular industry, software system, process or type of customer.

You may know how to solve problems that a small business owner does not have the time or expertise to handle.

Think beyond your job title.

Instead of saying:

“I worked in finance for 15 years.”

Consider what that experience enables you to do.

Could you help a small business understand its finances? Could you provide bookkeeping support? Could you help with budgeting or financial administration?

Your experience becomes more commercially useful when you can connect it to a specific customer need.

Be realistic about self-employment

Starting a business can be rewarding, but it is not an easy alternative to finding employment.

You may have responsibility for finding customers, managing cash flow, keeping records, marketing your services and understanding your tax and legal obligations.

Government data also shows that self-employed earnings vary. In 2024–25, median net annual earnings for full-time self-employed people were £22,800, compared with £29,000 for full-time employees.

So becoming self-employed should be an informed decision rather than something you feel pressured to do because you cannot find a job.

Research your idea carefully and consider your financial circumstances before committing to it.

You can explore employment and business at the same time

You do not necessarily have to choose between:

Finding a job OR starting a business.

You can explore both.

You could continue applying for suitable positions while researching a business idea in your spare time.

You could speak to potential customers, build your professional network and test whether there is demand for your service.

If the idea develops, you can decide whether it should remain a side activity or become a larger part of your career.

Your first business does not have to be your final destination

Your first idea may change.

Your first customer may reveal a different opportunity. A small freelance service could develop into consultancy. A temporary source of income could eventually become a sustainable business.

And even if the business does not become your long-term career, you may gain valuable experience in:

• Customer service
• Sales and marketing
• Financial management
• Project management
• Problem-solving
• Communication
• Digital skills
• Business planning

These are all experiences that can strengthen your future career.

Take one practical step

If starting a business interests you, do not begin by trying to answer every question at once.

Start with three:

What am I good at?

Who could benefit from it?

What problem could I solve for them?

Then research.

Talk to potential customers. Look at competitors. Check the costs involved. Understand your responsibilities as a self-employed person or business owner. Use reputable government and business-support resources before making financial commitments.

Your next opportunity may still come from an employer.

But it is also worth considering whether you could create an opportunity of your own.

Useful resources

• GOV.UK – Set up as a sole trader: Information about registering and responsibilities when becoming self-employed.
• GOV.UK – Set up a business: Guidance covering different business structures and starting a business.
• Business.gov.uk: Practical guidance and support for starting and running a business.
• Careers Springboard: If you are unemployed and looking for your next career opportunity, Careers Springboard provides free employment support, resources, networking and guidance.

Your career does not always have to follow the path you originally planned. Sometimes the next step begins with an idea, a skill and the confidence to explore it.