The study, which set out to ascertain the attitudes towards ambition in the UK compared to Spain, Italy, France and Germany, showed that 18 per cent of young people would most like to achieve success in sport

Arts was the most popular career path with 22 per cent of votes with science second on 19 per cent.

The study highlighted the fact British youngsters are less competitive than those in other major European countries

Now a new £200,000 ($322,000) awards scheme for 11-18 year olds, titled Ambition AXA Awards, has been launched to reward UK talent and achievement in enterprise, science, community, sport and the arts.

Karren Brady (pictured), the vice chair of West Ham United, is on the judging panel for the enterprise category, while the judging panel for the sport category features Winter Olympic gold medallist skeleton star Amy Williams as well as multiple Paralympic swimming champion and Youth Sport Trust Director Marc Woods.

Sir Alan Steer, chairman of the Ambition AXA Awards judging panel, said: "As a nation, we are the best in the world in many areas of the arts, science, enterprise and sport and we are more actively engaged in our communities.

"We need to boost our young people's self-belief and determination, encourage and reward their talent and potential.

"Young people in this country are brilliant and we need to fire them up to succeed.

"I'm thrilled AXA is launching these awards and I am proud to be chairman of a panel comprising some of Britain's highest achievers.

"I ask anyone who knows a young person with outstanding ability and ambition to encourage them to participate in these awards."

In Europe, sport is the most popular career choice for youngsters amongst the French, Germans and Italians at 23 per cent, 28 per cent and 32 per cent respectively.

The survey also showed that from a shortlist of six possibilities, Usain Bolt scored 14 per cent as the person young people in the UK admire the most, with Harry Potter author J.K Rowling being the most admired at 25 per cent.

However, when asked to choose from a long list of possible jobs, many people aspire to follow Bolt, as becoming world-class sportsperson was the joint top selection alongside starting a business or becoming a teacher.

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