Fuelling enterprise: savvy companies harness young talent.

How energising to see fresh-faced students gracing a box in the resplendent Royal Albert Hall at this year’s Institute of Directors annual convention where keynote speakers took centre stage to espouse the importance of innovating, communicating and adopting a flexible mindset to over 3,000 sober-suited bosses. The chancellor rolled up and play acted that everything was hunky dory (as though we’d all spent the last year in oblivion on a desert island or a tree house!). Stuart Rose whose mantra was ‘change is the new status quo’ gave a credible performance, reinforcing how teams everywhere should contribute good ideas to stay afloat  - as did Reid Hoffman founder of Linkedin who urged leaders to embrace Twitter. But the stars of the show were the students who thanks to the fire, passion and entrepreneurial drive of Dragon’s Den’s Peter Jones, were embracing the opportunity of a lifetime through his Enterprise Insight programme which encourages young people to become more enterprising. Gobsmacked that the UK was bereft of an Enterprise Academy to nurture and develop young talent, Jones is now rolling out a National Enterprise Academy to nine regions. His call to action was provocative and gutsy – seeking mentors, work placements and sponsorship. Donating just a small amount of your time and expertise to www.thenea-org can make a big difference to this raw talent who will be the face of tomorrow’s businesses.

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