ENTREPRENEURIAL staff at a leading professional services firm are being encouraged to launch their own businesses — and the company has set aside £25 million to back them.

In a first for the firm, Deloitte is helping staff looking to develop business ideas and run their own standalone start-up businesses. Employees will be given funding and allowed to work full time on developing their business idea, while drawing on legal, risk, technology, brand, marketing and other support from within the firm.

Deloitte said the initiative recognised the demands of a new generation of young professionals seeking a diverse and agile career. Most of the businesses will be held in a newly formed business unit, Innovation Investments Ltd.

Martin Jenkins, Deloitte’s regional practice senior partner, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity. Innovation Investments gives every Deloitte employee the chance to become CEO of their own company.

“Our aim is to develop new, standalone businesses that create future solutions for our clients in a world of rapidly changing technologies and shifting consumer demands. We have some of the most entrepreneurial minds in the country right here in our organisation and we want to give them the opportunity to develop in unique ways.Combining Innovation Investments with our existing external investment programmes should create something really powerful for our people, our clients and the wider market.”