Introduction

School teaches kids many life skills. It teaches them how to count, read and write.

But school doesn’t teach them how to run a business.  It is assumed that they will somehow just “know” those skills.

Many kids dream of starting their own business during their teens and in the digital age this is easier to achieve than ever before. According to the influential GEM (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor) and the Harvard Business Review people are starting businesses at younger and younger ages.

Enterprise should be encouraged as much as possible. Enterprise is, after all, the lifeblood of our countries’ economies. Yet as a society we still rely on young people learning businesses stewardship through trial and error.

It is hardly surprising that so many promising new businesses fail.

Story behind the KidsMBA Programme

Starting out as an insolvency barrister Professor Mark Watson-Gandy was horrified to discover that many of the business he saw failing did so not because they were based on a bad idea but because of basic mistakes.

Indeed, for instance in the UK 50% of new businesses don’t survive the first five years.

Inspired by this, he took time away from his practice to write the first Masters Programme in Corporate Finance Law and taught on one of the world’s leading MBA programmes at Cass Business School.

Eventually he concluded that business skills were so fundamental to succeeding in life, they needed to be taught before children left school.

The KidsMBA Programme took 3 years to write with the input of a panel from a range of disciplines, from entrepreneurs to experts in law, education, banking, and accountancy.

 

The ABE Endorsed KidsMBA Programme has been identified as one of the world’s leading children’s entrepreneurship programmes in Forbes magazine, read the story here

 

Endorsed by ABE  

KidsMBA has teamed up with ABE, an internationally recognised awarding organisation and business education sector specialist. The ABE Endorsed KidsMBA Programme opens up the concept of self-employment and business leadership to young people of all walks of life. It also introduces the concept of sustainability and corporate responsibility for future business models. Read the news story from Gresham’s School Shark Tank event here

What are the characteristics of the ABE Endorsed KidsMBA Programme

  • It is an intensive programme aimed at children aged 11-15.
  • It is designed to provide a “taster” of the mind-set, skills and know-how that young people will need
    for their own enterprise.
  • The programme is taught through pre-scripted lecturing packs, role play, games and discussion.
    It is designed to be flexible so schools and other organisations can choose to deliver the programme as part of their curriculum or as an after-school or holiday camp activity.
  • Each student will receive a certificate.
  • Students are invited to pitch their business in a ‘Shark Tank’ type event at the end of the programme
    and win the Star Performer Trophy.
  • ‘Shark Tank’ Star Performers can enter ‘the Future Entrepreneur of the Year’ competition and win
    seed money for their business. are the characteristics of the ABE Endorsed KidsMBA Programme

”The impact of KidsMBA is clear to see with graduates of the programme demonstrating increased self-confidence, critical thinking, teamworking skills and creativity. The quality and variety of ideas produced by students have been incredibly impressive, considering that they are as young as 12 years old and learning about business and economics for the first time. It is worth noting that participants of the KidsMBA programme are also making significant improvements in other subjects areas.”

KHULA Education, South Africa