Training the entrepreneurs of the future

By Euronews with Produced by Serge Rombi

Published on 19/02/2016 - 18:00

Business Planet producer Serge Rombi explores how young people are learning to become the entrepreneurs of the future. Inspiring and teaching young

Business Planet producer Serge Rombi explores how young people are learning to become the entrepreneurs of the future.

Inspiring and teaching young people the basics of entrepreneurship is the business of Junior Achievement. We met Blanca Narváez, director of the organisation in Spain.

Blanca explains the importance of targeted training: “Studies show that young people who receive entrepreneurship education are five times more likely to create their own business. And are more likely to be employed and earn higher wages.”

Excited about #STEM? Learn more about #jaSciTech16! https://t.co/UtQgGKDmLV ExxonMobil_EU</a> <a href="https://t.co/QDVMVn9LJZ">pic.twitter.com/QDVMVn9LJZ</a></p>— JA Europe (JA_Europe) February 10, 2016

The training provides opportunities to introduce market innovations, we saw an example at the Madrid headquarters of one of the largest Korean car manufacturers.

David Mata is a young entrepreneur. He has designed and markets a little jewel of technology, the Ergon Desk, it is an ergonomic and intelligent office.

Showroom of the #ErgonDesk at disergo108</a> great time at Valencia furniture Fair!! <a href="https://twitter.com/JA_Europe">JA_Europe AguirreNewman</a> <a href="https://t.co/6xF7ioHkiP">pic.twitter.com/6xF7ioHkiP</a></p>— ERGON DESK (pynksystems) February 4, 2016

David Mata, the founder and CEO of Pynk Systems, explains: “This desk promotes teamwork. This is very important. It also ensures a healthy working position as it is recommended to stand up for part of the day, it saves up to 30% of space compared to traditional office “.

A few months after the completion of the latest prototype, success is just around the corner. David and his partner, based in the US, have validated the concept in several companies in Silicon Valley and already have potential customers.

David continues: “We have already sold our product to the dealer Hyundai Canary Islands. And we also have contacts with technology companies around the world, especially the United States, Australia and South Africa.”

If the product is a success it is due in part to David’s participation in a six-month entrepreneurship training programme at JA Europe.

During the course he had regular contact with business leaders. Thanks to the programme, David also had access to premises and staff of the Korean manufacturer, which partly funds the project.

David explains how the course helped: “For me, the important point of the programme is that I built my first business plan, they gave me all the tools to start a good business. They also taught me how to pitch a project to investors, which allowed me to raise money. “

We have seen the success of David’s project in Madrid, but he is not alone. Since 2002 JA Europe has trained 44 million young people with help of 165,000 volunteers from the world of business, in 39 different countries.

The organisation trains young people from primary school to university. JA Europe is also officially recognised as “good practice“at European level.

JA Europe’s advice to students wanting to get involved is this: “If you have a good idea and the passion to achieve it, free access to the programme is available.” To find out more check out their website

Entrepreneurship education

Entrepreneurship education helps people develop the skills and knowledge necessary to set up and run their own business.
Young people with entrepreneurship education are at least three times more likely to set up their own companies than general population.
JA Europe is the Europe’s biggest provider of education programmes for entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy, reaching 3.5 million students in 39 countries in 2015.