Policy into practice - Young entrepreneurs
Anne Longfield
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
THE ISSUE: One reported consequence of the gloomy economic climate has been a rise in young entrepreneurs who are taking an increasingly creative approach to earning money.
Many young people choose to take on jobs in their teenage years where they pick up practical business skills, such as communicating with clients and managing budgets.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families has set out to harness the enterprising talents of young people with a £9m campaign to encourage them to demonstrate these skills in their local communities.
With the recession taking its toll, young entrepreneurs can play an important role in helping the local economy prosper. It's important that we celebrate the contribution they can make and get behind those initiatives that support their needs.
CASE STUDY 1
The Intellectual Property Office, Aardman Animations and the Science Museum have joined forces to produce a family-friendly Wallace and Gromit-themed exhibition entitled A World of Cracking Ideas.
Held at the Science Museum in London, the exhibition features real and quirky inventions along with an interactive show that teaches young people about intellectual property rights. Running until November, it hopes to inspire young people to develop their ideas and understand how to protect them.
A free pack of educational activities for children aged four to 16 is available via the website, which covers patent laws, promoting innovation, and has entry forms for an invention contest.
CASE STUDY 2
Youth Enterprise in Hull is working to ensure that all local young people are given the opportunities to pursue entrepreneurship regardless of their background. It will offer a range of programmes and services in its Global Entrepreneurship Week (16-22 November) for primary and secondary schools as well as over-16s to encourage enterprise. These include big-name entrepreneur speakers as well as competitions with prizes.
Hull favours this programme in the hope that many of the young people will be motivated to begin their own businesses in Hull and enrich the local economy. Many young entrepreneurs have received funding through the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank and created businesses that are thriving today.
Anne Longfield is chief executive of 4Children
