Next week sees the start of Enterprise Week, which will aim to kick-start an enterprise culture among young people.
Running between November 15 to the 21st, events will be co-ordinated by the business coalition, Enterprise Insight, with added support from the government.
Over 1000 events will take place around the country including discussions and conferences, designed to highlight the importance of enterprise and entrepreneurship to the nations youth.
Small business minister, Nigel Griffiths, said: “Enterprise week will provide a unique focus through which we can encourage our young people to recognise and use their talent to become the next generation of entrepreneurs.
“Our economy and our society can be so much stronger if we realised all the dynamism and creativity of our young people.”
Organisers hope the campaign will help Enterprise Insight double the proportion of 14 to 25 year olds who aspire to start a business by 2008.
Present levels of start-ups within the age bracket are at 15 per cent, a figure that, with funding from the government’s Small Business Service, Enterprise Insight looks to build upon.
Events include a keynote speech by Secretary of State, Patricia Hewitt, at the Enterprising Britain Policy Summit in London on Monday, as well as a start-up event in the capital that will include a young people’s zone.
Footballer Alan Shearer will also run a “set your goals” session in a Young Enterprise Masterclass, putting 400 students through their entrepreneurial paces at Newcastle FC on November 15.
