This is an open letter that has been written to mark the launch of our report Entrepreneurship Education.
FinnCap, The Entrepreneurs Network and the APPG for Entrepreneurship have organised a letter signed by 250 leading entrepreneurs and academics who believe that entrepreneurship can play a leading role in the national curriculum to help young people develop the skills they need for the future.
Young people are entering a world of work that is changing at breakneck speed. Many of the jobs that school leavers expect to do today didn’t exist 15 years ago and the same is likely to be true in the next 15 years. It’s not just job titles that are changing. Young people increasingly expect and, most importantly, want to start businesses and work for themselves. This change represents a massive opportunity to lift Britain’s sluggish rates of economic growth, but it is not being seized.
Despite the valiant efforts of teachers, charities, and social enterprises, too many young people are leaving school without the entrepreneurial skills necessary to succeed in the 2020s. We, as entrepreneurs, educators, and organisations working with young people believe this must change.
A new report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Entrepreneurship calls for a radical shift in policy. The Government should publish a Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy, building on existing work from organisations and experience from across the world. Entrepreneurship needs to be a part of every student’s education and integrated into existing subjects such as Maths, English, and Design. This would bring subjects to life and make each subject’s relevance clear to less engaged students.
Funding should be provided to recruit a network of representative entrepreneurs to act as role models and mentors to young people. Exposing more students to entrepreneurs within their communities from similar backgrounds would help us fix entrepreneurship’s diversity problem.
At the moment, responsibility for entrepreneurship education isn’t clearly assigned to a specific Secretary of State. This must change – to drive lasting change, we need accountability and ownership. The buck must stop with the Education Secretary.
By making entrepreneurship education a priority we can develop a workforce that is more productive, innovative, and adaptable to whatever the future economy might hold.
Sam Smith - Group CEO, FinnCap Group
Philip Salter - Founder, The Entrepreneurs Network
Sherry Coutu CBE - Trustee, Founders4Schools
Emma Jones CBE - Founder, Enterprise Nation
Shalini Khemka CBE - Founder & CEO, E2E
Caroline Theobald CBE - Managing Director, Bridge Club
Simon Woodroffe OBE - Founder, YO! Company
Dr Sarah Wood OBE - Senior Independent Director, Tech Nation
Giles Andrews OBE - Founder, Zopa
Rishi Khosla OBE - CEO and Co-founder, OakNorth Bank
Maxine Benson MBE - Co-Founder, everywoman
Brad Aspess MBE - Founder, Rarewaves
Sean Ramsden MBE - Founder & CEO, Ramsden International
Rajeeb Dey MBE - Founder & CEO, Learnerbly
Alison Cork - Founder, Make It Your Business
Lord Howard Flight - Peer, House of Lords
Anita Tiessen - CEO, Youth Business International
Eddy Ankrett - Serial Entrepreneur
Erika Brodnock - Founder, Optimum Health
Dixoni Emmanuel - Founder & CEO, Advancing Youth Opportunities Initiative (AYOI)
Giles Palmer - Founder, Brandwatch
Georgina Cotton - Managing Director, The Accounts Shop
Debasis Mishra - Managing Director, Sysora Technology Pvt Ltd
Chris Kurt-Gabel - Executive Chairman, A to E Training & Solutions Ltd
Julian Hall - CEO, Ultra Education
Andrew Dixon - Founder, ARC InterCapital
Professor Joan Lockyer - Head of School of Strategy and Leadership, Coventry University
Dr Andrew Sharman - Managing Partner, RMS Switzerland
James Palmer - Co-Founder & CEO, Palm Renewables
Jaymish Patel - Co-Founder, Biofuel Evolution
David Murray-Hundley - Co-Founder & CEO Pario Ventures
Jessica Mendoza - Founder, Monadd
Claire Mason - Founder & CEO, Man Bites Dog
Henry Whorwood - Head of Research & Consultancy, Beauhurst
David Rae - Professor of Enterprise, De Montfort University
Matthew Rogers-Draycott - Lecturer in Entrepreneurship, Royal Agricultural University
Anne-Laure Le Cunff - Founder, Ness Labs
Amit Raja - Director, Teddo Play
Marcus Judd - Founder, Oswell Penda Pharma
Ayse Gul Aktas - Director, Ay-zey Consultancy Ltd
Jose Videira - Founder, Synbiosys
Breda Leyne - Director, ESquared (E2) Enterprise and Employability
Joe Seddon - CEO, Zero Gravity
Katharine Paterson - Founder, So To Company Ltd
Laura Kaye Tomlinson - Managing Director, Holos Group
Lauren Davies - Lecturer in Enterprise & Entrepreneurship, UWE Bristol
Diane Banks - CEO, Northbank Talent Management
Joshua Greenway - Founder, BIZL
Kate Grussing - Founder and Managing Director, Sapphire Partners
Jillian Kowalchuk - Founder, Safe & the City
Keisha Shah - Founder, Teddo Play Educational
Dr Inge Hill - Senior Lecturer in Business Strategy, Royal Agricultural University
Dr David Bozward - Head of Entrepreneurship, Royal Agricultural University
Ceri Nursaw - Chief Executive, National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education
Hilary Rowland - Co-Founder, Boom Cycle
Giselle Goodwin - Director, AGG Associates
Jerin Rajan - Founder, Oyah Fitness
Emmanuelle Spriet - CEO, E-voyages Group
Justina Mutale - Founder, Justina Mutale Foundation
Andrew Clayton - Founder, Scale
David Graham - Director, Attentional Ltd
Dan Bladen - Founder, Kadence
Charlie Stein-Cohen - Founder, Net2Work
Felicity Briggs - Director, Briggs Financial Services Ltd
Edward Bussey - Founder, Quill
Dinesh Dhamija - Founder, Ebookers
Jarmila Yu - Founder, YUnique Marketing Ltd
Irina Albita - Co-founder, FilmChain
Andy Penaluna - Professor Emeritus, University of Wales Trinity Saint David
Louise Hill - Co-Founder, GoHenry
Leah Hutcheon - Founder & CEO, Appointedd
Elspeth Humm - Founder, Elspeth's Kitchen
Valentina Kristensen - Director, OakNorth Bank
Justin James Smith - Founder & CEO, Moovable
Dr Lucy Hatt - Senior Lecturer in Leadership Development and Entrepreneurship, Newcastle University Business School
Andre Mostert - Founder, Cogito Development Projects
Diane Young - Co-Founder, The Drum
Andrew Mew - Head of Start-Up Support, University of Essex
William Jones - Chairman, Global Village Ltd
Andrew Tapson - Founder, Perle
Justin Fitzpatrick - Co-Founder, FullCircl
David Regler - Director, Maine Associates Ltd
Chris White - Co-Founder, Zing
Professor Lesley Fobree - Director, Dialogue for Success Ltd
James Routledge - Founder, Sanctus
Linda Mngwali - Co-Founder, AMARI
Mark Smith - CEO, Ada - National College for Digital Skills
Karina Robinson - CEO, Robinson Hambro Ltd
Christina Richardson - Founder, weare3sixty
Christopher Dalton - Founder - jobmate ltd
Margaret Casely-Hayford - Chancellor, Coventry University
Jerry Allen - Director for Entrepreneurship, UCL
Maggie O'Carroll - CEO & Founder, Social Enterprise The Womens Organisation
Elaine Gold - MD, The Global Entrepreneurship Network UK
Catherine Brentnall - MD, Ready Unlimited
Jessica Wilkinson - Founder, Petal & Co.
Dr Emily Beaumont - Academic Subject Leader in Business, Enterprise and Financial Management, University of Gloucestershire
Josh Armstrong - Enterprise Officer, University of Winchester
Ruth Weir - Head of Entrepreneurship, UCL
Ab Banerjee - Founder, ViewsHub
Maggie Chen - Co-Founder, Girls in Charge Initiative
Matthew Hare - Founder & CEO, Zzoomm plc
Ian Merricks - Managing Partner, White Horse Capital
Dr Paul Reynolds - Founder & CEO, FSD Active Limited
Hannah Mursal - Founder, ME TRAVEL
Gemma Taylor - Director, Rocket Bridging Limited
Miranda Birch - Founder, Miranda Birch Media Ltd
Stuart Barr - Founder, Out To Perform
Phil Slorick - Founder, Airbase
Seb Krier - Founder, Dataphysix
Modwenna Rees-Mogg - CEO, AngelNews
Simon Reeves-Jackson - Founder, Unipowa
Sam Gordon - Co-Founder, Gordon & Eden
Nigel Adams - Director, Buckingham Enterprise and Innovation Unit
Weerada Sucharitkul - CEO & Founder, FilmDoo
Timothy Barnes - CEO, Centre for Entrepreneurs
Tim Vorley - Pro Vice-Chancellor & Dean, Oxford Brookes Business School
Will Moore - CEO, Navigator Games
Dr Robyn Owen - Associate Professor of Entrepreneurial Finace, Middlesex University London
Tim Badham - Founder, Innerplace Ltd
Zitah McMillan - CEO, Predictive Black
Dr Su Metcalfe - CEO & Founder, LIFNanoRx
Shelley Stuart - Director, Stuart Consulting
Yvette Reinfor - Co-Founder, More Curricular
Stephen Coulson - CSO, Founder at P2i Ltd
Dr Christopher Haley - Senior Fellow, Global Entrepreneurship Network
Jack Cuthbert - Managing Director, JAX Home Improvements Limited
Shivani Taware - COO, The essential greens
Xiaobin Zhao - Founder & CEO, Cambond
Tomasz Letniowski - Director, Traductio Limited
Sorcha Lorimer - Founder, Trace Data Ltd
Simon Thethi - Founder, Indicium Ventures
Ross Williams - Founder & CEO, Venntro Media Group
Dr Maria Aretoulaki - Founder & Director, DialogCONNECTION
Professor Rosemary Sage - Director, Learning for Life Educational Trust
Sarah Malter - Founder, Made.Simplr
Tamara Littleton - Founder, The Social Element
Joshua Rosario - Managing Director, MAES London
Stephenie Hodge Senior - Lecturer, University of Chester
Kate Jolly - Co-Founder & CEO, The Briars Group
Thomas Borwick - Director, College Green Group
Nick Roach - Founder & Director, Innovator International
Victoria Sukveu - CEO, Acacia Training Ltd
Melissa Snover Burton - Founder, REM3DY Health Limited
Tom Carrell - Founder Cydar Ltd
Colin Spiller - Founder, Zenis Ltd,
Raphael Chow - CEO & Co-Founder, Revat Tax Refund
Rose Tan - Founder, PlayThru Limited
Matteo Console Camprini - Founder, MCCGLC ltd
James Barnett - Apprenticeship Coordinator, UEW
Christine Cunniffe - School Principal, LVS Ascot
Toby Schulz - Managing Director, Innovation & Technology Strategies
Julia Elliott Brown - CEO, Enter The Arena
Michael Nabarro - CEO & Co-Founder, Spektrix
Lee David Evans - Founder, Edfolio
Dr Shailendra Vyakarnam - Co-Founder AcceleratorIndia
Mark Neild - Programme Director for Student Startups, University of Bristol
Raza S. Khan - CEO, illuminated solutions
Mats Stigzelius - Founder, Rainmaking
Andrew Bacon - CEO, Enactus UK
Sam Rogerson - Founder, Children's Business Fair UK
Marian Gazdik - Managing Director, G-Force (Powered by Founders Factory)
Joel Perlman - Co-Founder, OakNorth Bank
Julian Cork - Director, LANDBAY
Professor Eleanor Shaw - Pro Vice Chancellor & Professor of Entrepreneurship, Strathclyde University
Matt Smith - Senior Fellow, Centre for Entrepreneurs
Rob May - CEO, ABE Global
Arif Zaman - CEO, Riscaire
Holly Knower - Head of Ventures, King's College London
Alex Stephany - Founder & CEO, Beam
Richard Rigby - Head of Policy and Public Affairs, The Prince's Trust
Andre Rafael dos Santos - CEO, High Profile Magazine
Sarah Trouten - CEO, Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs
William Oswald - Director, OSG Companies
Michael Goulden - Co-Founder, Kerbo Charge
Dr Richard Tunstall - Director, Enterprise Educators UK
Anna Tutova - CEO, Coinstelegram
Heena Carahaa - Lead Policy Advisor, Girls In Charge
Upasna Bhadhal - Founder - Career Collective
John Warburton - Co-Founder, Konsileo
James York - Co-Chair, Insurtech UK
Caroline Spencer - Strategic Projects, icanyoucantoo
Sarah Jayne Batt - Head of Trade Support & Settlements, Finncap
Isabel de Salis - Founder, St Brides Partners
Bruce Spence Hendon - Managing Director, Plater Group
James Constable - Founder & CEO, Albany Beck
Adrian Cormican - Director, Hallcroft Advisory Limited
Steve Bennett - Founder, Daemon
Peter Smith - CEO, Sureserve Group PLC
Mark Lauber Managing - Director, Irongate Capital Limited
Virraj Jatania - Founder, Pockit
Joanna Scott - Managing Director, BOOS & Co Ltd
David Spencer-Percival - Founder, Smith & Williamson
Mark McCormack - Director, Talking Tables ltd
Dominic Ponniah - Co-Founder & CEO, Cleanology
Gary Neild - CEO, Blue Sky Financial Planning
Tamzin Freeman - Co-Founder, PIWORLD
Mrs Jayne Ann Brewer - CEO, 2B Enterprising
Tanya Popeau - Director, Synthesis
Duncan Cheatle - Founder, Rise To Limited
Christine Jackson - Chair of Trustees, Rise Partnership Trust
Nicko Williamson - CEO and Co-Founder, WeFlex
Stuart Packham - CEO, Alchemist
Sam Whitehouse - CEO, High Force Research & LightOx Ltd
David Alexander - Partner, Ironbridge Capital Partners
Michael Guy Copestake - Former Chair, Enterprise 4 Education
John Paul Howells - Founder, Eteach.com
Samar Shaheryar - COO, Spring
Alan Furley - Co-Founder & CEO, ISL Talent
Oliver Woolley - CEO, Envestors
Richard C. M. Burrell - Founder and CEO, Aggregated Micro Power PLC
James Wong - Venture Partner, MedTech SuperConnector
Amanda Louise Jackson - Founder, WatchMyCompetitor.com
Kelvin Harrison - Chairman, Clixifix Ltd
Manish Vekaria - Founder - Arq Wealth
Bill Roden - Managing Partner, Albert E Sharp
Andrea Ward - Managing Director, Financial Edge
Megan Powell Vreeswijk - Vice President, Enterprise Educators UK
George Konstantinidis - CEO, EXUS SOFTWARE LTD
Anna Sofat - Founder, Addidi
Andrew Fennell - CEO, Tessier-Ashpool Ltd
Sean E H Nutley - Chairman, Hace Enabling Ltd
Sibusiso Tshabalala - Director, Cognitive Paths Team
Nigel Adams - Director, Buckingham Enterprise and Innovation Unit
Martin Preen - CEO, Buster and Punch
Peter Thirlby - Founder, ThirbyWalton LLP
Freya Hurcomb - Business Development Executive, Emperor
Tamsin Alsbury - Co-CEO & Co-Founder, Energise Ltd
James Antony Stenhouse - Founder, H2Oil Group
Vicki Belt - Deputy Director, Enterprise Research Centre
Marcus Watson - Director, Ground Control
Yuval Ben - Haim President, Goji Food Solutions
Karim Sekkat - Chairman, Oxford Engineering Ltd
Tim Savage - Founder & CEO, Armakuni
Sonya Bachra-Byrne - MD, AVIE
Chloe Abbott - Founder, Education Choices Magazine
Jonny Hudson - Founder, Hudsons Property
Dr Tim Pascoe - Founder, Griffin Research & Consultancy
Katrina Borissova - Founder, Little Danube Limited
Arif Zaman - Executive Director, Commonwealth Businesswomen's Network
Dr. Philip Dover - Professor Emeritus, Babson College
Bill Thomas - Founding Partner, Acresis LLC
Letitia Seglah - Director, Build Scale Grow CIC
Tom Baldock - Director, Lansons
Fabio Bianchi - Head of Entrepreneurship, Oxentia Ltd
Albert S Wright - Founder, Digital Youth Academy
Nicholas Hawker - CEO, First Light Fusion
Nicola Stopps - Founder & CEO, Simply Sustainable
Rifhat Qureshi - Founder, Modest Trends London
Claire Hedges - Partner, EY
Judy Hadden - Master, The Company of Entrepreneurs
Richard Osborne - Founder, UK Business Forums
David Brown - Founder, Better Social Media Ltd
Kay Chattun - Founder, Lacaze
Frankie Fox - Co-Founder & CEO, foodsquared.earth
Anuj Gupta - Founder, GreenVan