A new poll reveals that businesses are undervaluing the entrepreneurial instincts of their employees and could be losing valuable talent as a result.

Research involving 1,000 professionals by accountancy group EY shows that just 48% think they can achieve career goals with their current employer.

Less than three in 10 respondents from large organisations thought their employer had an entrepreneurial and innovative culture.

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, just under 70% of 25-to-34 year old executives said they aspired to set up their own business.

Steve Wilkinson, UK & Ireland managing partner, markets at EY, said: “An entrepreneurial mind-set is often associated with small start-up businesses.

“Whereas in reality, all organisations, regardless of size and scale, need people who can innovate, create and challenge the status quo.

“That’s why the best businesses focus on building diverse teams to ensure they are drawing on widest spectrum to views,” he added.

In other findings from the research, just 52% of millennials (younger employees) said their skills were being fully utilised by their boss.

Meanwhile, 82% of the respondents said they had ideas that could create new revenue opportunities for their employer, with just 54% being able to implement these ideas.