What is Enterprise Education? The Complete UK Guide for Parents, Educators and Young People

Enterprise education is a way of teaching young people the skills they need to think creatively, solve real problems, manage money, and communicate with confidence – whether or not they ever start a business. In the UK, enterprise education sits within the national curriculum at Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3, yet most young people leave school without the practical skills to manage their finances or turn an idea into action. We Can Be is an enterprise education platform for ages 6–18, combining structured courses, AI tools that build real-world skills, 250+ real founder role models, published books, and an AI business coach – all free to start.

What is enterprise education?

Enterprise education is a broad approach to learning that equips young people with the mindset and practical skills to identify opportunities, take initiative, and solve problems. Unlike traditional academic subjects, it focuses on doing rather than just knowing – encouraging children and teens to test ideas, manage resources, work in teams, and learn from failure.

It is not just about starting businesses. Enterprise education develops transferable skills that employers, universities, and life demand: creativity, communication, critical thinking, financial literacy, resilience, and self-belief. These are the skills that help young people thrive no matter what career path they choose.

In the UK, enterprise education is recognised within the national curriculum and increasingly valued by schools, parents, and policymakers as a way to prepare young people for a rapidly changing world.

Why enterprise education matters

The statistics are stark. According to Skills Builder UK, three in four young people do not feel confident in essential life skills. Research from the Young Enterprise charity found that 74% of young people leave school without basic financial skills. Meanwhile, research by Inspiring the Future found that four in five young people cannot name a single female entrepreneur – a representation gap that limits aspiration.

The Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship (2019) found that closing the UK gender enterprise gap could unlock £250 billion for the economy. The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report (2023) projects that creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking will be among the most in-demand skills by 2027.

Enterprise education addresses all of these gaps. It builds the skills that schools often cannot prioritise within a packed academic curriculum, while giving young people the confidence and practical experience to navigate an uncertain future.

What skills does enterprise education build?

Enterprise education is not a single subject – it is a way of thinking that cuts across every part of life. The core skills it develops include:

Enterprise education by age

The most effective enterprise education is age-appropriate. What works for a six-year-old is very different from what engages a sixteen-year-old. We Can Be's courses are structured across four tiers to match developmental stages:

UK curriculum alignment

Enterprise education is embedded in the English national curriculum at Key Stage 2 (ages 7–11) and Key Stage 3 (ages 11–14). At KS2, enterprise sits within the PSHE and citizenship frameworks, covering financial capability, making choices, and understanding how money is earned and spent. At KS3, it extends into careers education and work-related learning.

In Scotland, enterprise education is part of Curriculum for Excellence under the 'Developing the Young Workforce' strategy. In Wales and Northern Ireland, similar frameworks exist within personal development and careers strands.

We Can Be's content is designed to support these frameworks. Every course module and interactive tool maps to real curriculum outcomes, making it easy for teachers to integrate enterprise learning into existing lesson plans without additional preparation. The Educators Hub provides ready-made lesson plans, Entrepreneur Day packs, facilitator guides, and printable resources.

Enterprise education at home

Enterprise education does not have to happen in a classroom. Some of the most powerful learning happens at home, when children turn a hobby into a small project or explore an idea with a parent or carer. Setting up a weekend stall, selling handmade crafts to neighbours, or budgeting pocket money are all forms of enterprise learning.

For homeschooling families, enterprise education offers a cross-curricular, project-based approach that naturally integrates maths, English, art, and PSHE. We Can Be's fun tools that build skills are designed for independent use, with age-appropriate language and step-by-step guidance that young people can follow on their own or with light supervision.

Parents looking for practical ways to support their children can explore our guides on talking about money, 101 business ideas for kids, and nurturing entrepreneurial thinking.

Enterprise education in schools

Teachers across the UK are increasingly looking for ways to bring enterprise education into the classroom. The challenge is often time and resources – not willingness. We Can Be solves this by providing everything a teacher needs in one platform: structured lesson plans, interactive tools that students can use independently, and assessment-ready activities that align with curriculum objectives.

Schools can use the platform for standalone enterprise days, Entrepreneurs Week programmes, or ongoing enrichment activities. The classroom entrepreneurship guide provides a step-by-step framework for teachers who want to integrate business thinking into their existing subjects without extra budget.

With 250+ real founder role models – the majority of whom are female – the platform also addresses the representation gap that limits aspiration. Young people can explore founders across tech, food, fashion, sustainability, sport, and more, seeing people who look like them building real businesses.

Getting started with We Can Be

We Can Be is a comprehensive enterprise education platform. It brings together everything young people, parents, and educators need in one place:

The platform is free to start, with a generous free plan that includes daily AI tool access, the full role models library, taster course modules, and Blaze AI coaching. Lifetime plans start from just £29 for unlimited access to everything.

Whether you are a parent looking to build your child's confidence, a teacher planning an enterprise day, or a young person with an idea – We Can Be gives you the tools, knowledge, and inspiration to get started today.