Students turned off by speed-greed approach to enterprise

Celebrity icons are failing to inspire the next generation of business leaders who are far more likely to launch an enterprise with a group of friends than to adopt the speed-greed approach portrayed by reality TV entrepreneurs.

The report issued by The Co-operative shows more than six out of 10 young people have never been inspired by a business leader or celebrity chief executive.
 
It also highlighted that 63% of the 18-24 year-olds asked are more likely to launch a venture with others rather than go solo however, more than one in three (37 per cent) admitted to not understanding about business or, knowing how to go about it.
 
And, during an era when community-led regeneration is reaching record levels, more than three quarters (76%) said they had never been taught about co-operatives as a business model.
 
Sarah Klueter, Community Investment Manager at The Co-operative - the UK's largest member-owned organisation, said: "It is vital that more is done to ensure the next generation is better equipped for the challenges that lie ahead and have the skills and knowledge to create enterprises that are fit for a more sustainable future."
 
There has been a near ten per cent increase in the number of co-operatives over the last two years and, The Co-operative Enterprise Hub - which has helped over 1,000 community-owned enterprises to get off the ground or grow - has supported the creation of a new set of lesson plans to challenge students to think differently about the role and purpose of business.
 
The teaching aids - including activity plans and, supported visits to member-owned enterprises to encourage students to discover alternative approaches to enterprise and their contribution to community, environment, the economy and society - will be rolled out to more than 5,000 primary and secondary schools across the UK that have joined The Co-operative's free education programme - Green Schools Revolution.
 
For more information about the comprehensive new teaching resource visit greenschools.coop