Extra Funding To Take Enterprise From The Boardroom To The Classroom

A new National Enterprise Academy will open its doors early next year to unlock the entrepreneurial talents of Britains teenagers: part of a joint initiative announced today by the Government and entrepreneur Peter Jones.

A National Enterprise Academy is a long held dream of Peter Jones who has been developing the concept for over a year and will become part of the highly successful National Skills Academies programme.

The academy will offer a new qualification in enterprise to students over the age of 16 - giving them the right skills both for the workplace or to start their own businesses. It will also have a broader remit of raising enterprise awareness across the entire population and age range, including encouraging more women entrepreneurs. The first Academy will open in the South East of England, followed by another centre in the North West. A national roll out of satellite academies will then follow.

At the same time, extra funding of £30 million will boost enterprise education supporting its extension to primary schools and further education colleges.

The announcements come ahead of the Government's new Enterprise Strategy, which will be unveiled tomorrow by the Chancellor and the Business Secretary John Hutton as part of the Budget.

Business Secretary John Hutton said: "I want the UK to be the most enterprising economy in the world - and to achieve that we must unlock this country's talent. With Peter Jones' backing and experience, this National Enterprise Academy will bring the right qualifications and skills to the UK's next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs.

"Britain is already one of the best places in the world to start and grow a business. But we need to do more if we're catch up with the levels of entrepreneurship in the US.  And that's why tomorrow we will unveil our new Enterprise Strategy setting out what Government and business can do over the next 10 years to boost the culture of enterprise in the UK."

Entrepreneur Peter Jones said: "There is a stark difference in the entrepreneurial mindset between the UK and the US. Here, there tends to be a 'can I?' approach, whereas in the US the 'I can' belief is instilled from an early age. If the UK economy is to continue to grow, we need to create the right learning environment for all our children, where their talents can be developed so they can go out into the workplace or business and prosper.

"I am delighted to have achieved such strong support for my academy and I applaud and appreciate the Prime Minister Gordon Brown's personal interest and action in helping me get it off the ground."

Today's announcement of a further £30 million to support the expansion of enterprise education to primary schools and further education institutions is in addition to the £180 million already ear-marked for secondary schools and supporting networks for the next three years.

Some examples of activities include: setting up a business inside school; work-shadowing a local industry figure; solving a real business problem; or involving young entrepreneurs in social enterprise projects.

The plan is now to create an enterprise programme for children of all ages, with secondary school pupils leading younger children in enterprise projects and further education colleges linking with secondary schools and into higher education, building on existing best practice.

Schools Minister Jim Knight said: "Our strategy to get schools teaching the values of enterprise has been an unqualified success. Over 90 percent of secondary schools provide enterprise education for all pupils at Key Stage 4. Three years ago fewer than half did.

"This additional £30 million over three years will help us to extend the programme, getting primary schools and further education institutions on board. This will help young people to be creative and innovative, to take and manage risks, and to do so with determination and drive."

by: Editor
11th Mar 2008