Peter Jones Academy open for business

GRAND OPENING: Robert Braithwaite CBE Founder and President of Sunseeker International opens the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy GRAND OPENING: Robert Braithwaite CBE Founder and President of Sunseeker International opens the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy

BUDDING entrepreneurs are getting the chance to hone their skills at a new business school.

The Peter Jones Enterprise Academy opened its doors at Bournemouth and Poole College with future business stars already enrolled to learn how to turn their ideas into reality.

The concept was created by Mr Jones, a star of BBC2s Dragons’ Den television show, to arm new generations of entrepreneurs with the knowledge of how to set up their own businesses.

The new academy at the Lansdowne in Bournemouth was opened by Robert Braithwaite, CBE, founder of Sunseeker International in Poole. He praised the “confidence and ambition” of the college opening the south coast’s first Peter Jones Enterprise Academy.

He said: “It reminds me of the way I embarked on a journey of my own with the creation of Sunseeker International as a small boat building operation with only seven people 52 years ago.

“With the help of the talented academy staff the new students, with their natural confidence and ambition, will learn the skills to express the same entrepreneurial spirit.

“If they do then they, the college and the country will reap the rewards.”

The new students’ first task was to help plan and organise the opening event and the ribbon cutting ceremony at the academy’s “boardroom”, designed to replice the television show The Apprentice.

Jenifer Salahuddin, the college’s head of business and professional studies, said she is expecting to encourage young people like those seen in shows like The Apprentice, Young Apprentice and Dragons’ Den.

The students will pursue a Level 3 BTEC Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. New candidates for the course are likely to have an idea for a business venture when they are interviewed and once enrolled will work on projects which could become their own business enterprise.

The course, which has space for more students, will be set up to create the feeling that students are working in a real business environment, wearing business suits and learning to think as if they were operating with the boardroom of a company.

Peter Jones said: “My academy with the help of Bournemouth and Poole College and the qualification to BTEC Level 2 and level 3 will lead the way in creating the entrepreneurs in the central southern region.

“The qualification recognises the talent in young innovators and gives them opportunity to develop their skills within the framework of a nationally recognised qualification.”

Hi-tech audio visual equipment and teaching aids for the college have been supplied for the academy by Poole based company Hugh Symons AV.

For more information regarding the project visit pjea.org.uk

Comments(6)

Boscomite says...
6:33pm Sat 15 Sep 12

Just what we need, an entire generation of Mr Wells's.

robsmith123 says...
7:20pm Sat 15 Sep 12

£175 just for a registration fee if you are over 19 ??? this entrepreneur is cashing in all the way....
ching
ching
ching

rotcoddam says...
9:34pm Sat 15 Sep 12

this is the whole probelm with this country and the reason why business is in decline and going bust left right and centre. FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE WITH IMPRESSIVE SOUNDING JOB TITLES AND MEANINGLESS QUALIFICATIONS.

You cannot teach people to be entrepenuers anymore than you can teach a pig to fly.

We have the utter nonsense of btech and nvq's in pushing a broom or shelf filling (sorry I meant instore merchandising and replenishment executive managers). I encounter gormless kids describing themselves as account executives or managers. We used to call them office juniors or when they had learnt a bit filling clerks.

Its not learning that makes an entrepeneur its self motivation, determination and apptitude. None of this can be taught, sometimes it can be nurtured but generally if it needs that level of outside help it is not strong enough to go anywhere.

Yankee1 says...
10:25pm Sat 15 Sep 12

There is nothing wrong with this, but I would be happier if the major banks were there, ready to offer loans to budding entrepreneurs.

That is the reality.

CherrySi says...
12:34am Sun 16 Sep 12

rotcoddam wrote:
this is the whole probelm with this country and the reason why business is in decline and going bust left right and centre. FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE WITH IMPRESSIVE SOUNDING JOB TITLES AND MEANINGLESS QUALIFICATIONS.

You cannot teach people to be entrepenuers anymore than you can teach a pig to fly.

We have the utter nonsense of btech and nvq's in pushing a broom or shelf filling (sorry I meant instore merchandising and replenishment executive managers). I encounter gormless kids describing themselves as account executives or managers. We used to call them office juniors or when they had learnt a bit filling clerks.

Its not learning that makes an entrepeneur its self motivation, determination and apptitude. None of this can be taught, sometimes it can be nurtured but generally if it needs that level of outside help it is not strong enough to go anywhere.
Tend to agree on the whole, it's very tough to get any business of the ground these days....10% inspiration and 90% perspiration remains true, and I don't see many young people prepared to roll their sleeves up. I'd like to be proved wrong though.

BIGTONE says...
7:54am Sun 16 Sep 12

He did not even bother to turn up for the opening.Just shows you he is not interested.

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