The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has outlined a plan to help the Government foster a climate of entrepreneurship amid concerns the A-Level system is “overzealous” in its emphasis on grades.
This A-Level results day, the UK’s largest business group says entrepreneurship should not be overlooked, as many students do not want to follow traditional career paths.
Our blueprint for Youth Entrepreneurship suggests:
- Introducing a Minister of Enterprise Education to create a bridge between the Department for Education (DfE) and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
- The Government in England should launch a fully-funded nationwide Young Enterprise competition for both school leaves and university leavers – with the winners being granted start-up funding, a mentor and essential cost-of-living support for a year.
- Implementing the late Lord Young’s idea of an Enterprise Passport.
- The Careers and Enterprise Company needs a clear strategy to promote entrepreneurship among students and career guidance should include the option of self-employment.
- Every pupil should be required to have at least one direct encounter with an entrepreneur.
We are also calling for an overhaul of the skills system:
- Copying Estonia’s approach, which aligns its education strategy with its national economic plan.
- The DfE needs to ensure that by 2035, no young person leaves school without at least Level 2 qualifications – currently, 17 per cent do today, a rise from 12.5 per cent in 2014/15.
- Ensuring all schools offer GCSE and A-Level courses in computer science and ICT.
- Apprenticeships in the digital skills and AI space must be accessible by small businesses, and given strong financial and political support.
FSB Policy and Advocacy Chair Tina McKenzie said:
“Today is a watershed moment for many young people. But as we move towards a world geared to AI, digital skills, and entrepreneurship, we need to ask whether our education is overzealous on its emphasis on A-Level grades. While the legacies of Shakespeare and Pythagoras are undeniably important, shouldn’t we also prioritise the soft skills needed to launch your own business?
“Not everyone wants to follow traditional, academic career paths, so there needs to be policies in place that support those people, too. Our economy depends on it, because to catapult the UK into a realm of high growth, we need an education system that’s in sync with what businesses need. For that to be a reality, there’s an urgency to reconfigure our education system to truly align with business aspirations.
“As A-Level results come in, it’s important to remember that there’s more to success than grades. Congratulations to those who did well today. For those who didn’t get the results they were hoping for, remember there are numerous paths beyond this moment.
“For the UK to thrive, we need entrepreneurs – and for that, we need an education system that’s up to the challenge.”