Inaugurated this morning at Westminster Palace, the initiative was termed “an extremely important venture” by Conservative Party shadow minister for business and enterprise Mark Prisk MP, who hosted the event. “The artificial divide between education and business is now gone,” he says.
Enterprise Alliance is being founded by three organisations: Enterprise Educators UK; the Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE); and the National Consortium of University Entrepreneurs (NACUE).
The idea is that by working together, the organisations’ voices will be stronger and more effective.
“Students must develop enterprising skills and learn how to put them into practice,” says David Rae, vice president of ISBE. “Young people are vital for the future economic regeneration of this country. Through the alliance, we aim to gain recognition of the importance of enterprise in education.”
Matt Smith, the co-founder of NACUE – a body which represents over 35,000 students – says that "education must be reformed".
“We see this alliance as a great step forward for enterprising students and graduate entrepreneurs, ensuring that enterprise education and research is aligned with – and responsive to – the needs of entrepreneurial students," he says.
Enterprise Alliance aims to raise the profile of Britain’s budding entrepreneurs through a series of events, initiatives and lobbying.
The latest figures show that unemployment amongst graduates is increasing, with worklessness in the 18-25 age group at a record level, close to one million.
It is hoped that the new organisation will encourage the government to offer better support, as well as grants, for graduate entrepreneurs, who often find themselves struggling with funding.
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