A whole new wave of education is sweeping through schools at the moment, and more and more students are becoming involved in the world of entrepreneurship.  Finally, students are discovering the weird and wonderful world of business, and the opportunities and skills it has to offer.  But this is only the beginning.

 Thanks to projects such as Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) and competitions such as ‘Make Your Mark with a Tenner’, students are beginning to learn the skills which will take them far in life.

Creating a business not only gives us young people a chance to make money, it also shows that teenagers are responsible.  It gives us a chance to make an impact on the community, whether the business is washing cars or making organic smoothies!

 Last year, myself and three other friends grouped together to enter the annual business plan competition organised by NFTE and, if getting through to the final wasn’t enough, we came second out of the whole country!  So many positive things have come from this: we are now on the NFTE youth board; have our own business—’Bits and Bows’; have

featured on ‘Newsnight’ and have met many famous entrepreneurs.  The confidence and satisfaction that comes from all these achievements is all thanks to taking the opportunities and gaining the skills offered by school and the NFTE.

The message of this story is that business is the way forward.  Teenagers are discovering a new and powerful ability to show the world what we are made of.  We aren’t focussed on making money, but making money whilst having a strong desire and passion to make a positive impact on the community we live in.  We are, after all, the next generation