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New academy to encourage UK enterprise 

11 March 2008

Gordon Brown has announced the founding of a new academy that will open its doors next year to British teenagers looking to develop their entrepreneurial skills.

The National Enterprise Academy is a joint initiative by the Government and businessman Peter Jones and will offer a new qualification in enterprise to students over the age of 16. The aim is to give them the skills they need for the workplace or for starting their own business.

Today the Government announced extra funding of £30 million to extend enterprise education to primary schools and further education colleges.

During a visit to Swanlea Business and Enterprise College in East London today, Gordon Brown told pupils:

"This is going to transform Britain over the next few years. We'll offer 16-19 year olds the chance to get better qualifications and we'll lead the way in broadcasting the message that young people can start businesses for the future."

The academy is a long-held dream of Peter Jones, known by many for his appearances in the BBC's Dragons' Den programme, who has been developing the concept for more than a year.

He 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.

"The National Enterprise Academy will be run by entrepreneurs and taught by entrepreneurs to hopefully create entrepreneurs. I think that's very exciting."

The first centre will open in the South East of England in September 2009 as part of the National Skills Academies programme, with a national roll-out of satellite academies also planned.

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