How a business degree supports entrepreneurship
A business degree provides a strong foundation across the core areas you need to understand when starting your own company:
Strategy & Planning: How to design a business model, identify opportunities and set long-term goals.
Marketing & Branding: Reaching customers, building an online presence, creating a brand and running campaigns.
Finance & Accounting: Managing cashflow, pricing products, budgeting and understanding financial statements.
Operations & Management: Organising resources, improving efficiency and leading people effectively.
This knowledge helps aspiring entrepreneurs make better decisions from day one.
Practical skills you’ll gain for starting a business
You’ll develop a wide range of transferable skills that directly support launching your own venture:
- Problem-solving and innovation
- Market research and customer insight
- Financial literacy and budgeting
- Digital marketing and communication
- Pitching and presenting business ideas
- Leadership and project management
- Negotiation and relationship building
These skills equip you not just to start a business, but to grow one sustainably.
Entrepreneurial opportunities during your degree at Hull
At Hull, the degree isn’t just about theory - there are real, built-in opportunities from the first year for students who want to start something of their own or work on live business challenges:
Dedicated Entrepreneurship Pathway:
The BA (Hons) Business Management with Entrepreneurship course lets you learn how businesses function across marketing, accounting, HR, supply chain and more - with a clear focus on entrepreneurship. As part of that, students get the chance to work with a local SME (subject matter expert) and even pitch real business ideas to potential investors.
Student Community & Networking:
You can join the Hull University Business School Society (HUBSS), where you meet like-minded peers, gain experience in student-run committees and build a network of contacts — useful for partnerships or future ventures.
Access to Local Business Ecosystem & Start-up Support:
With the city of Hull supporting young entrepreneurs via initiatives like the Hull Youth Enterprise Service and via local business support networks, there are extra-university opportunities to connect, get mentoring, or explore funding and startup support while studying.
Pathway to Industry Placements & Global Experience:
As part of some modules, students collaborate with big-name companies (locally or internationally) or spend a semester abroad - experiences that can help build contacts, understand markets and test out business ideas in real-world settings. These opportunities mean you don’t have to wait until after graduation - at Hull you can begin building entrepreneurial experience, making contacts, testing ideas and even working with real businesses while still studying.
What kinds of businesses can business graduates start?
Business graduates launch companies in a wide variety of industries. Popular routes include:
- E-commerce and online retail
- Digital marketing or creative agencies
- Consulting or freelance services
- Tech startups and digital products
- Social enterprises
- Events, hospitality or tourism ventures
- Fitness, wellbeing or lifestyle brands The degree’s flexibility means your career path can reflect your interests, strengths and long-term ambitions.
Do I need a business degree to start a company?
You don’t need a degree to become an entrepreneur, but many graduates find that the knowledge, skills and connections they gain make their journey easier. A business degree gives you a strong foundation, reduces avoidable risks and helps you build confidence in key areas like finance, marketing and strategy.
Why start a business with your business degree?
Starting a business with a business degree gives you a unique advantage. You’ve already built the skills to plan, manage and grow a venture, so you can hit the ground running. It also allows you to follow your passion, shape your career on your own terms, and enjoy the flexibility of being your own boss. With the foundation your degree provides, turning an idea into a thriving business becomes a more achievable and rewarding journey.
