Where founders are forged: the universities that produce the most business leaders

While some of the top ranked universities may lead in volume, the true entrepreneurial powerhouses emerge when you look at the proportion of alumni who go on to start their own ventures. By this measure, London Business School (LBS) takes the crown. A remarkable 12.1% of its alumni have become founders, which is a significantly higher proportion than the 7.7% recorded at both Oxford and Cambridge and 9% for The London School of Economics and Political Science.

So, this suggests that while these prestigious universities produce the most founders overall, institutions like LBS and University of the Arts London (11%) have a higher proportion of founder alumni. Whether that's through curriculum design or an innovative culture, these universities should also be considered as breeding grounds for business talent.

* Only universities with over 5000 founders on LinkedIn were included on this table.

Universities with the highest number of student startups

Some eager entrepreneurs don't even wait to finish university before setting up a business, whilst others start shortly after completing their degree. Looking at Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) data, covering all new businesses started by students currently registered at the reporting higher education provider (or who have exited the reporting HE provider with an award within the last year), we can see which universities are inspiring the most student start-ups.

In the year 2023/2024 there were a total of 4738 newly registered student start-ups from higher education institutions in the UK, but not all providers are producing them in equal numbers.

In 2023/24, the University of the Arts London topped the list for the most student-founded businesses, with 493 startups, followed the University of East London (215) and Royal College of Art (175).

Universities of the future: where business students are founded

The entrepreneurial spirit doesn't just begin after graduation. For many, it starts in the classroom itself. So much so, students choose to dedicate at least three years studying business and management in higher education. While traditional powerhouses like Oxford, Cambridge, and LSE continue to produce high numbers of founders, our data suggests that business education is booming at other institutions.

Between 2022 and 2024, several UK universities and colleges saw a dramatic increase in students enrolling in business and management courses. Leading this charge is Birmingham Newman University, which saw a staggering 573% increase in business students year-on-year, jumping from just 150 students in 20/23 to over 1,000 students in 23/24. This establishment isn't alone. Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln saw a 266% rise, Ravensbourne University London had 155% and Bath Spa University had an 80% surge in business enrolments.

So, it's clear that while these universities aren't typically associated with entrepreneurship, their extreme growth highlights a shift in the education landscape. Students are increasingly seeking practical, career-focused degrees. It seems that business degrees can open doors across industries, from finance and marketing to logistics. As these courses offer a practical toolkit, they provide students with the options to navigate their future the way they want. So, whether students want to climb the corporate ladder, or launch a business for themselves, they're well equipped to face whatever comes their way after they graduate.