JK Rowling and Alan Sugar are the figures that most inspire freelancers to be their own boss, according to a recent poll.

Office Cavalry, a website that links freelancers to employers, found more than half of more than 2,000 respondents said celebrities had inspired them to work independently.

Nearly 20% of those surveyed voted the Harry Potter author as the most inspirational female celebrity, with over a quarter voting for the Hackney-born Apprentice star.

Kingston University has estimated that there are 1.4 million freelancers in the UK; 14% more than in 1998.

"Brits are a nation of entrepreneurs becoming freelancers at a young age," Office Cavalry’s co-founder Andy Turner said.

Top female celebrities

1. JK Rowling

2. Katie Price

3. Karren Brady

4. Cheryl Cole

5. Oprah Winfrey

6. Victoria Beckham

7. Michelle Obama

8. Denise van Outen

9. Dannii Minogue

10. Kylie Minogue

 

Top male celebrities

1. Alan Sugar

2. Simon Cowell

3. Richard Branson

4. Peter Jones

5. Jamie Oliver

6. Bill Gates

7. Gordon Ramsay

8. Theo Paphitis

9. Jonathan Ross

10. David Beckham