‘Greed isn't good' say UK entrepreneurs

As Michael Douglas brings the iconic 80’s businessman, Gordon Gekko, back to our cinema screens, it seems his mantra of ‘greed is good’ no longer rings true with the nation’s entrepreneurs.

A survey of 1,000 self-employed business people, conducted by Kleeneze to find their top cinematic role models, shows a swing towards more caring and ethical business practices.

Erin Brokovich (Julia Roberts) was named the number one screen icon for business people; the real-life story of a single mother and legal assistant who takes on a ruthless corporation and wins. Chris Gardner (Will Smith) in the Pursuit of Happyness and George Bailey (James Stewart) in It’s a Wonderful Life, both compassionate business people who overcome adversity, came second and third in the poll.

Jamie Stewart, managing director of Kleeneze, says that the results show the changing attitudes towards business after the recent economic troubles. “The poll suggests that people increasingly think business should play a positive role in society and that it’s important to maintain a healthy balance with family life.

“This is in stark contrast to the ‘greed is good’ ethos of the 1980’s typified by Gordon Gekko’s character in Wall Street.

“We know from our own recruitment that 46% of the people joining, do so to increase the quality of their family life by becoming their own boss and working from home.”

The characters coming bottom of the poll were Gordon Gekko and Ryan Bingham (Up in the Air), George Clooney’s portrayal of a work obsessed loner.

For more information about Kleeneze visit www.kleeneze.co.uk