The world of work has changed.
In Britain in 2026, the traditional career ladder doesn’t provide the same security it once did. Restructures, redundancies, acquisitions and the eradication of entry-level jobs by AI are a regular part of modern working life.
In response, people are increasingly turning to entrepreneurship as a way of securing their financial future. They recognise that the opportunity to build something for themselves can be a lucrative one, while simultaneously allowing them to pursue something they’re passionate about.
For this article, we spoke to some entrepreneurs who’ve done exactly that, breaking away from corporate life to build something on their own terms. They told us why they lost faith in traditional employment, and about the challenges and opportunities they faced in choosing to follow a different path.
“I needed to be the master of my own destiny.”
Kevin Stokes is Managing Director of City Business Brokers, a business brokerage based in Birmingham. These days Kevin provides his knowledge and experience to facilitate acquisitions across the UK, but back in 2004 he was working as a national account manager for a large plastic injection moulding company.
When his company was taken over by a major competitor, he says he saw the writing on the wall: “Although my job was safe, everything changed, and the top-tier management left. I realised then I needed to be the master of my own destiny.”
Kevin saw an advert for a business broking franchise on the back of a magazine and immediately recognised how closely the opportunity matched his skills and experience. Franchising offered him a bridge between corporate employment and fully independent business ownership – allowing him to pursue a new career with an established structure and support network behind him.
“It was a chance for me to have my own business, but with the support of a large franchisor. If I hadn’t joined as a franchisee, I would not be doing what I’m doing now. It was a safer way for me to start working for myself,” says Kevin.
After a couple of years working as a franchisee, Kevin decided to set up his own brokerage, and launched City Business Brokers. But it was the stability and support provided by the franchise system which gave him the skills – and the confidence – to set up on his own. That’s something which is achievable for anyone, so let’s take a look at how you can reclaim control of your career, too.
Taking Back Control of Your Career
Kevin’s story began more than 20 years ago, but the desire to gain greater control over our working lives has only become more common since. For some, it follows a redundancy or company restructure. For others, the breaking point is more gradual: long commutes, limited progression, mounting pressure or the feeling that years of hard work are building value for somebody else.
Moving into entrepreneurship won’t eliminate uncertainty, and not every sector is thriving in 2026. But it does give you greater influence over the direction of your career, the work you pursue and the future you are trying to build.
Gary Salters, Managing Director of coaching franchise GoSucceed, believes this desire for greater control is encouraging more people to consider franchising: “We’re in a very different world at the minute, where lots of people are looking for other ways to earn a living,” he says. “The great thing about franchising is that it gives you the freedom to go and do that.
“If you do something you love, you’ll find the freedom to take control of your working life. Becoming a franchisee takes away some of the risk because other people have already started down that path for you.”
If you’re specifically considering going down the franchising path, a good place to start is with our guide How to Become a Franchise Owner: A Step-by-Step Guide. It breaks down each step of the journey, from initial research to opening day and beyond. You’ll learn about due diligence, the franchise agreement, how to choose the right franchise brand to suit the lifestyle you want – and much more.
Reclaiming Your Work-Life Balance
A more recent example of a mid-career shift into entrepreneurialism can be found with Richard Hand, who launched trampoline business Urban Jump in 2016. For Richard it was a lack of work-life balance, rather than job insecurity, which pushed him away from corporate life.
"I used to be an investment banking consultant for all the Big Four consultancy firms,” he says. “I'm a chartered accountant by profession and I'd spent 20-plus years up in the City. My work-life balance just went to pot. I was travelling all around the world, all around Europe, and I never saw my kids grow up. I was also coming up from Eastbourne to London probably four days a week, and I just couldn’t do it anymore.”
Richard spent much of 2016 essentially working two jobs – raising capital, writing and refining his business plan, finding a suitable premises, negotiating leases, creating a brand, and recruiting staff. That process was expensive, and Richard took out business loans secured against his own assets which he described as “humongously dangerous”.
If that sounds intimidating – it doesn’t have to be. Starting a business isn’t the only available path. Buying an existing business allows you to skip some of the costs and risk of the early start-up phase. You jump straight into buying a business with customers, a trading history, processes and staff.
Richard successfully navigated Urban Jump through some difficult years during the Covid pandemic, when hospitality businesses were impacted heavily. He then decided to sell his business through BusinessesForSale.com, giving himself the freedom to plan his next entrepreneurial venture.
Five Lessons for Making Your Own Career Shift
Kevin and Richard took different routes into entrepreneurship, but their experiences offer some practical lessons for anyone considering a similar move. Let’s explore the practical steps you can take to shake up your working life.
1. Identify what you want to change
Are you seeking greater security, more control over your time or the opportunity to build an asset of your own? Business ownership will not automatically improve your life, so be clear about what you want it to achieve.
2. Recognise your transferable skills
You may be new to ownership, but you are not starting from zero. Kevin used his experience in sales, marketing and account management to become a business broker, while Richard drew on more than 20 years in finance and consultancy.
3. Choose the right route
Starting from scratch offers considerable freedom, but also considerable uncertainty. Buying an existing business gives you an established operation, while franchising provides a proven model, training and continuing support. The right option depends on your finances, experience and appetite for risk.
4. Prepare before you leap
Richard developed Urban Jump while continuing his consultancy work. You may not want to run two careers at once, but you can research sectors, speak to franchisees or business owners, build savings and test your plans before leaving employment.
5. Define what freedom means to you
Freedom could mean avoiding a commute, setting your schedule or building something you can eventually sell. However, new owners often work longer hours and carry greater responsibility. Choose a business whose everyday demands suit the life you actually want.
Building a Career on Your Own Terms
Traditional employment remains the right option for millions of people, and business ownership should never be treated as an easy escape from a difficult job. But a salary is no longer a guarantee of long-term security. Companies are acquired, departments are restructured and careers can be altered by decisions employees have little power to influence.
Kevin changed direction when he realised that keeping his job did not necessarily mean retaining control over his future. Richard left when the personal cost of corporate success became too high. Both used the skills they had developed as employees to build something of their own.
The great career shift happening in 2026 is about more Britons recognising that they have other options – and deciding to build the next stage of their careers on their own terms.