New scheme to spark next generation of entrepreneurs

Young people in schools and colleges will learn more about how to start up and grow their own business due to a new initiative announced today.  

The Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) is teaming up with Enterprise Nation to bring more entrepreneurs and small business owners into schools and colleges as Enterprise Advisers – business professionals who work with the education sector to give young people insight into the world of work.  

The announcement comes as the latest research shows 94% of business professionals say closer relationships between business and education is a good way to improve UK economic growth. Studies show more than half of young people are keen to start their own business.

The new initiative aims to add more than 150 entrepreneurs by October this year to the CEC’s network of 4,000 Enterprise Advisers who work in schools and colleges across the country. The collaboration will help introduce more entrepreneurs into schools, embedding enterprise skills into the curriculum, while stimulating more opportunity for students to gain work experience with start-up and scale-up enterprises, to inspire a next generation of young entrepreneurs. 

Enterprise Advisers work closely with Careers Leaders and senior education staff, fostering new connections with employers to ensure greater understanding of the fast-changing labour market. Last year alone, Enterprise Advisers delivered an estimated £6.7 million of value to the education sector through the time they invest. 

Oli de Botton, CEO of the Careers & Enterprise Company said: 

"Many young people are keen to start up and grow their own business. It’s therefore important to encourage and nurture their entrepreneurial spirit. Their inventiveness and ideas offer a powerful engine for future economic growth. 

“Our partnership with Enterprise Nation will help connect the entrepreneurs of tomorrow with the innovators of today, both directly into the classroom and through work experience to enable young people to understand what it takes to start and grow a business.” 

Emma Jones, CBE, founder and CEO of Enterprise Nation, said:  

“The UK's future prosperity depends on fostering a culture of innovation and enterprise. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and their involvement in education will help shape the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. We are excited to work with CEC to empower young people from all backgrounds to see themselves as potential business owners and changemakers.  

“We know from our own research that more than half of young people now expect to start and run a business at some point in their career. By providing relatable role models and pointing them towards the right tools and support that they need to grow sustainably and resiliently, we can help them to bring their ideas alive.”  

Call to Action

Share your skills as an entrepreneur and help create opportunities for young people by signing up to become an Enterprise Adviser.