Gordon Brown has announced the founding of a new academy that will allow British teenagers to develop their entrepreneurial skills.
The National Enterprise Academy will open next year and is a joint initiative between the Labour Government and businessman Peter Jones - star of the BBC’s Dragons’ Den.
It will offer a new qualification in enterprise to students over the age of 16 and aims to give them the skills they need to start their own business or perform well in the workplace.
In addition to the new academy, the Labour Government announced an extra £30 million in funding to extend enterprise education to primary schools and further education colleges.
Gordon Brown said: "This is going to transform Britain over the next few years. We'll offer 16 to 19-year-olds the chance to get better qualifications and we'll lead the way in broadcasting the message that young people can start businesses for the future."
The first centre will open in the south-east of England in September 2009 as part of the National Skills Academies programme.
Gordon Brown’s announcement today comes ahead of the Government’s new Enterprise Strategy which will be unveiled by the Chancellor as part of the Budget.