Dragons' Den star celebrates opening of 'entrepreneur school'

Date: 22nd September 2009

The National Enterprise Academy (NEA), which aims to give qualifications to future owners of business start-ups, officially opened yesterday (September 21st).

Around 18,000 people of all ages are forecast to join the institution, which was originally devised by businessman and Dragons' Den star Peter Jones, over the next five years.

Trainees will be able to get "real life" experience about various aspects of entrepreneurship over the process of gaining their qualifications.

The NEA offers a level 2 BTEC Diploma in Understanding Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, and the second, a level 3 BTEC Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship.

Mr Jones commented: "In the UK, we need to foster amongst our young people an 'I can' rather than a 'Can I?' attitude. That is not to say we do not already possess a great deal of young talent in Britain - far from it. But up until now, we have simply not done enough to unlock the entrepreneurial talents of our young people."

He added: "The UK needs entrepreneurs to stimulate the economy and businesses need inspired employees to help their companies recover quickly."

NEA is backed by a variety of UK employers, with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills also contributing £9 million in funding.