Dragon backing academy (From The Northern Echo)

Dragon backing academy

4:52pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in Redcar News

YOUNG entrepreneurs will be able to hone their skills when an enterprise academy opens to students.

Freebrough Academy will become the location of a Peter Jones Enterprise Academy project, set up by the Dragons' Den star to develop entrepreneurs.

It will specialise in teaching business and enterprise, creative and digital media and engineering courses alongside traditional options.

The building, separate from the main academy block, will open in Brotton in December.

Kelly Rich, from the academy, said: "We feel these entrepreneurial qualifications are essential in ensuring our students have the skills to be able to deal with the ever-changing world of work, whether their career choice be employment or self-employment.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for the communities in east Cleveland, as well as the borough-wide opportunities it presents.

"In the current economic climate, entrepreneurs are the people who will support the improvements in the economy needed to bring us out of recession."

The academy building will also have a business incubation unit, where students can run fledgling firms with access to mentoring and support.