Solihull College is delighted to announce it will be working with the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy to deliver a new enterprise qualification to budding entrepreneurs.

The Enterprise Academy is the brainchild of Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones, who had a vision to create a centre of excellence for developing enterprise skills. Peter’s vision was to shift the boardroom into the classroom, equipping the future generation of entrepreneurs with the skills and confidence to aim higher. 

Peter Jones CBE, founder of the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy, comments: “2011 marks a very important year for the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy and key to this is the exciting announcement about the opening of a new Peter Jones approved college in Solihull. I am delighted to welcome Solihull College on board and would like to thank them for their support. I believe that now is a critical time to engage and inspire our future entrepreneurs. To ensure this, we must nurture and support entrepreneurial talent in our young people and the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy and our approved colleges are at the heart of this endeavour.”

Solihull College is the only learning provider in the West Midlands to be working with the Enterprise Academy and is offering young people aged 16-18 years the opportunity to study the BTEC Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at two levels. 

The Level Two programme involves developing a viable business idea, creating a full business plan, and pitching to investors. The Level Three programme supports students in setting up and running a micro-business for a period of at least four months, during which time they will learn about business planning and finance, communicating with customers, and planning for future expansion, amongst other modules.

Solihull College Principal, Brenda Sheils, is thrilled to be offering such a unique programme to students and comments: “We are extremely pleased to have been given this fantastic opportunity to work with the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy and deliver this new and exciting course to students. The qualification will allow learners to work on real-life business challenges and interact with both national and local entrepreneurs to help prepare them for their future careers.”

The programmes will be delivered by Solihull College’s team of experienced business tutors, alongside coaching and mentoring from top companies. Students will have dedicated access to the College’s brand new Management Centre, which includes a range of modern and spacious teaching areas that are fully equipped with first-class resources.