Support for young people’s enterprise receives two boosts today when Ian Austin, Minister for the West Midlands, joins school pupils from the Birmingham area to kick start the West Midlands Young People’s Enterprise Centre of Expertise (YPCOE) and the Aston Villa Football Club Enterprise Academy (AVFCEA).
The new schemes are sponsored by regional development agency Advantage West Midlands and are being announced to coincide with the start of Global Entrepreneurship Week, which runs from 17-23 November and which is supported through Enterprise Insight’s Make Your Mark campaign – the national campaign to unlock the UK’s enterprise potential.
Ian Austin, Minister for the West Midlands, said: “I am delighted to be here today to help launch these two vital and pioneering business schemes for young people.
“The West Midlands, like the rest of the country, needs more young entrepreneurs and more young people to become interested in business, now more so than ever. Both projects will help to create a buzz about business.
“The region is proud of its young people and is working hard to provide them with the right support and opportunities, so they can engage with business, learn more about enterprise and develop that crucial entrepreneurial attitude which will ensure the West Midlands produce more businesses and business people – and more of the country’s top flight companies and leaders.
“As the first region to launch a young people’s enterprise centre of expertise and one of the first regions to launch a Premier League enterprise academy, the West Midlands is again leading the way.”
Peter Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business, said: “I want to see the UK at the top of the international league and become the most enterprising nation in the world. Using real football club examples, this scheme will teach young people how to manage a budget, raise finance and look after customers – essential skills for any entrepreneur.
"Aston Villa’s scheme will have a tremendous impact on the local community and will provide a range of exciting opportunities to help develop the next generation of top entrepreneurs.
“The initiative will help to give young people in Birmingham an understanding of Aston Villa FC as a business rather than just a football club and hopefully help them to enjoy learning about enterprise along the way."
“I want to thank the Premier League and particularly Aston Villa locally for their enthusiastic support in helping young people acquire the skills and confidence they need to turn their business dreams into reality.”
Debra Blisson, Director of Business Support and Enterprise at Advantage West Midlands, said: “These two new initiatives for young people form part of a larger piece of work to support enterprise among underrepresented groups – including women, ethnic minorities and social enterprises – and to develop a truly enterprising culture across the West Midlands.
“We have high hopes for great success with both projects, as well as for Global Entrepreneurship Week, which this year sees more than 440 planned events taking place across the West Midlands and more than 100 schools taking part.”
Louise Bennett, OBE and Chief Executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, which will manage the YPCOE (which itself will oversee the running of the AVFCEA), said: “The YPCOE and AVFCEA are fantastic opportunities to create in our young people a real enthusiasm for business at the same time as developing their skills and nurturing their spirit of enterprise.”
Duncan Riddle, Head of Community at Aston Villa Football Club, said: “Aston Villa Football Club is delighted to be involved in this important new enterprise. We are committed to our three key community projects of football development, education and social inclusion, which make the Premier League Enterprise Academy a perfect fit with our vision and mission, as well as our commitment to local young people and young fans. ”