FOURTEEN teachers became entrepreneurs for the day when they visited the Wenta Business Centre in Colne Way, Watford, on Wednesday to learn about commercial enterprise..

Organised by Hertfordshire Education Business Partnership (HEBP) and held in

conjunction with Watford Enterprise Agency (WENTA) and the Prince's Trust, the teachers heard presentations from Business Link, Watford Chamber of Commerce and HERS, a Hertfordshire based organisation for women entrepreneurs.

The day gave the teachers an insight into enterprising attitudes and the psychology of entrepreneurship, combined with information on the support available for anyone considering self-employment.

In the afternoon session, the teachers were invited to put the theories in to practice, participating in the YOYO (You're On Your Own) mini-enterprise programme.

Mr Michael Martin, who is himself consulting on a self-employed basis with the HEBP and as a business counsellor with WENTA, said: "With many more people working for themselves than perhaps at any other time in the past, the falling trend in traditional roles suggests that the likelihood is that young people in the future will need to be more flexible and entrepreneurial.

"The National Curriculum emphasises this need, and today was a wonderful

opportunity for teachers to find out more about how successful business people think and act and then to go back into the classroom and sow some more seeds in the minds and hearts of their pupils.

"One day, some of those students may go on to make their mark in the world, with inspiring leadership and entrepreneurial qualities and it's good to know that these local organisations can provide assistance to encourage the next Richard Branson or Anita Roddick".

July 8, 2002 16:30