Entrepreneurs have been asked by the government to help inspire young people to follow in their footsteps.
Education Secretary Damian Hinds held a summit today attended by Henry de Zoete, who co-founded Look After My Bills and secured funding from Dragon’s Den, Akshay Ruparelia, who started estate agency doorsteps.co.uk when aged 19, and Holly Tucker, co-founder of Notonthehighstreet.
Mr de Zoete used to work as a special adviser for Michael Gove when he was education secretary.
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The event was designed to determine how the education system might better support and inspire young entrepreneurs and help them develop the character traits needed to succeed.
Mr Hinds said: “We can all look back at our time in school and remember people that may have not done that well at exams but have gone on to do something amazing - such as start a business and create jobs for others.
“Those people have the confidence to take a chance on an idea, the drive to keep going and the resilience to bounce back if something goes wrong. I want young people to develop these character traits and leave formal education as happy, confident and well-rounded individuals.”
Mr Hinds reiterated there would be no further changes to the national curriculum during this Parliament, but said the summit would help shape future policy on careers and entrepreneurship.