Richard Branson Named The Uk's Most Inspirational Brit

30 March 2011

‘Girl Power’ Rules As Females Top Political And Celebrity Polls.

·Most inspirational men and women in the UK revealed

·Almost a third of Brits (32.2%) consider their mums to be more motivational than fathers

·TV talent shows are seen as uninspiring to most Brits

·Winston Churchill’s address to the House of Commons in 1940 announced as the most inspirational speech of all time

Richard Branson has topped the poll of the UK’s most inspiring Brits and Harry Potter author, JK Rowling and Britain’s first and only female Prime Minister to date, Margaret Thatcher have beaten celebrities such as Cheryl Cole and Gail Porter to the post, according to new research released today.

The study of 2,000 adults was commissioned by Get Motivated Great Britain 2011, a one day motivational speaker seminar which is taking place at the LG Arena, NEC, Birmingham on Saturday 2nd April, and asked respondents to name the most inspirational men and women in the UK, split by business leaders, politicians, sportsmen/women and male/female celebrities.

 

Top Ten Most Inspiring Brits:
1.Richard Branson - 29%
2.J K Rowling - 23.45%
3.David Beckham - 18.85%
4.Lord Alan Sugar - 17.75%
5.Margaret Thatcher - 15.6%
6.Joanna Lumley - 13.3%
7.Stephen Fry - 13.3%
8.Jamie Oliver - 12.65%
9.Steve Redgrave - 12.35%
10.Ellen MacArthur - 11.3%

 

Arguably the UK’s most successful entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson is still recognized as the UK’s most inspirational business leader and tops the overall top ten, with 29% of those polled stating that he was chosen because of his business success (36.47%) and for being a good role model (15%). He was closely followed by literary giant JK Rowling who stormed in at number two with almost a quarter of votes (23.45%) above footballer and World Cup ambassador David Beckham, who also unsurprisingly came top of the sporting poll, with almost two in ten people (19%). Rather than voting for him because of his financial success, he was mostly regarded as being outstanding within his profession (33%) and being a good role model in British society (20.27%).

Apprentice star and leading businessman Lord Alan Sugar came in at number four with 17.75% of the votes. Even though she retired as Prime Minister over 20 years ago, The Iron Lady’ Margaret Thatcher is still considered to be the most inspirational politician with 16% of those surveyed stating she was the top political figure in the UK today.  Baroness Thatcher was followed by political activist and actress, Joanna Lumley who came in at number six with 13.3%.

 
Stephen Fry proved that intellect over ‘celebrity’ was more motivational with 13.3% of votes, compared to TV celebrity Simon Cowell who only achieved 7.35% of votes. Jamie Oliver also made the top ten with 12.65% of the votes and followed by rowing legend Steve Redgrave with 12.35%. Interestingly, yachtswoman Dame Ellen Macarthur topped the poll for female sports persons with 11.3% of those polled believing she had achieved inspirational status above Dame Kelly Holmes with 6.05% of votes.

The nation’s sweetheart Cheryl Cole only managed 9.7% of the votes, proving that literature and politics come out tops in favour of media celebrities in today’s society and the majority of Brits (89.95%) don’t think that celebrities actually set a very good example to the nation.

TV talent shows are seen as increasingly un-inspiring to Brits as they received a mere 3.60% of the votes when respondents were asked what is their biggest source of inspiration, coming in behind books (15.45%) and films (13.85%). However the biggest source of inspiration today is the internet with 31.40%. The majority of Brits (66.25%) are more inspired by happiness than money (3375).

Over a third of Brits (37.65%) regard their families as being the most inspirational to them personally and 79.90% would be more inspired by a family member than someone famous / a celebrity. In fact, mums came out top with nearly a third (32.2%) of respondents above dads with 28.35%.

Nurses are regarded as the most inspiring unsung heroes with 55.90%, followed by doctors (52.70) and firemen (50.10%),

When asked about the most inspirational speech of all time, 31.03% of respondents voted for Winston Churchill’s address to the House of Commons in 1940 which is closely followed by Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a dream’ speech with 20.78%. After the popularity of The King’s Speech, King George VI’s radio address to the nation before the outbreak of war in 1939, comes in at number three with 12.43%.