It's just pure propaganda.
I went with a mate to some funding thing years ago as he's got his own business and they were talking about Britain's entrepreneurial mindset being different to America. They said yanks by and large wanted to start a business and build an empire, whereas the Brits just wanted to sell up as soon as possible and retire.
The whole culture is built on a quick buck and being a bum, it probably stems from the aristocracy. Form clubs to scratch each other's backs, get others to do your graft, be they peasants or slaves, then read the times and drink brandy while pretending you're erudite and sophisticated.