Achievers International is a recognised Scottish Charity, which operates an entrepreneurial import/export programme called ‘Achievers International’. The programme links school and college students to similar foreign partner groups. Students then form companies and work with their partner group to trade locally sourced products. All the programme training materials are on-line. Achievers International has member schools and colleges in 21 countries, covering all five continents.

The Boston Private Industry Council is a non-profit intermediary that builds connections between employers, the work force, schools, training providers, and public agencies. It receives public funding and seeks additional funding and resources from private industry. The Mayor of Boston is active in encouraging business involvement in support of the belief that a well-trained workforce will encourage business to invest and locate in the Boston area.

• Developing pupils' skills in literacy and numeracy
• Helping young people prepare for employability
• Supporting headteachers and teachers in developing their management and leadership skills

A major provider of information about business to schools is Businessdynamics (formerly Understanding Industry). The aim is to "bring business to life for students ... to tell them how business is fascinating, creative and fulfilling". They organise events at which seminars are delivered by managers from companies and deal with topics such as marketing, design and development, production, management, finance, or what it is like to run a small business.

The central role of Careers Scotland is to provide all age career guidance and the development of positive relationships with employers across Scotland.

The CBI, founded in 1965, is a leading UK independent business organisation. Its objective is to help create and sustain the conditions in which business in the UK can compete and prosper. It exists to ensure that the government of the day, the European Commission and the wider community understand both the needs of British business and the contribution it makes to the well being of UK society. Within the UK there are 12 geographical regions and CBI Scotland represents Scottish business and Scottish issues.

The CITB delivers products and programmes through a national network of staff based in regional offices, working in partnership with local agencies, schools and colleges. It employs specialist staff to provide careers advice for all levels of employment within the construction industry including craft, technician and graduate roles. It runs events for schools, offering simulations and competitions, which develop skills and give insight into the industry, for example the ‘Bridge-building Challenge’.

A division of the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Culture with a broad mandate covering many areas of entrepreneurship. CEED’s mission is to nurture entrepreneurship in young people.  It offers a range of education and support programmes designed to suit all sectors of the community including school pupils and teachers, university students, ex-offenders, those in need of literacy support, anyone with a business idea, professionals in private and public sector organisations wanting to develop entrepreneurial approaches, and business owners.

An initiative which aims to raise the profile of enterprise is ‘Enterprise Insight’. It was launched UK wide by the Department of Trade and Industry in May 2000 and led by CBI, Institute of Directors and the Chambers of Commerce. The Scottish Campaign was launched in June 2001.  The campaign is focusing on targeting 5 to 30 year olds with the following aims:

• encouraging more positive attitudes towards enterprise

• developing more enterprising behaviours, skills and capabilities

• increasing awareness, knowledge and understanding of entrepreneurship

• promoting self-employment as a positive career option

The main focus of the campaign in 2001/02 was a series of Youth Enterprise Showcases held in every area of Scotland.  These events drew together schools, business representatives and business support communities.  Activities focused on personal awareness of talents, abilities and potential, and meeting business people.

The Entrepreneurial Exchange was formed in 1995 "for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs’’. It has over 400 members representing 55,000 employees. Its mission is to "lead the drive to make Scotland a more entrepreneurial and confident society for the benefit of all".  Its aim is to provide a network of support for entrepreneurs to help grow and strengthen their businesses.

An organisation promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms. It has over 170,000 members in the UK across 33 regions. It represents approximately 16,000 small businesses in Scotland. On the member benefits side, it offers assistance and support 24 hours a day, while its lobbying arm represents the interests of the small business sector at all levels of government and puts the FSB viewpoint over to the media.

A series of 12 modules designed to take people through the process of starting a business. It can be used flexibly, for example as stand alone, or integrated into other subjects. It is used in schools, colleges and with social inclusion partnership groups.

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) research program, directed by academics from Babson College and London Business School, is an annual assessment of the national level of entrepreneurial activity.

The IoD is a worldwide organisation with over 55,000 members in the UK, including members from large public companies to directors of small firms. It provides a wide range of business services including information, advice and training. The IoD also represents the interests of its members to government and key opinion formers.

LTS is a national public body sponsored by the Scottish Executive Education Department, with a key role in advising Scottish Ministers. It undertakes the role of curriculum review and development through a process of wide consultation; it provides extensive support on the curriculum and assessment through publications and support materials, for the different stages of the school curriculum (pre-school, 5-14, 14-18); it provides support for subject specific aspects of the curriculum and generic and cross-stage issues. It is responsible for developing Information and Communications Technology for enhancing learning and the National Grid for Learning, providing staff development in these areas.

The National Centre (Strathclyde University) aims to "raise awareness amongst educators of the vital role they play in providing young people with the skills and abilities they need and to encourage employers and entrepreneurs to involve themselves fully in education". It has provided in-service training for teachers in enterprise education, managed teacher placements in business and industry, facilitated discussion with business, managed the Motorola Award for Excellence in Education for Work and Enterprise, and undertaken evaluation and research.

Founded in New York in 1988, its main aim is to introduce teenagers in low income, disadvantaged communities to business and entrepreneurship by setting up and running their own business.   NFTE UK offers a range of programmes including their Core Programme which covers small business start-up issues, awareness raising sessions, entrepreneurship training courses where the focus is on lifeskills, and online learning.

NHO is the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry with between 16,000 and 18,000 members. It has been proactive in developing links between education and business and employs 20 teachers who manage and deliver partnership programmes across Norway. The main objective of this programme is to improve young people’s knowledge of local businesses and opportunities which exist in them.

The PSYBT aims to provide finance, help, advice and ongoing support to 18 to 25 year olds in Scotland so they can set up and run their own businesses. It also offers loans for business development from its Growth Fund.

The Scottish Chambers of Commerce is the umbrella organisation of all the local Chambers of Commerce in Scotland. The main function of the umbrella body is to promote and protect the interests of the local Chambers and their member companies to the UK Government, the Scottish Executive, opposition parties, senior civil servants, the Enterprise bodies, COSLA and other public bodies. Local Chambers of Commerce are located throughout the length and breadth of Scotland. The Chambers of Commerce in Scotland have around 10,000 members.  Members range from the country’s largest companies to the smallest retail and professional organisations.

The Scottish Centre for Financial Education aims to support developments in financial education in schools. Its role is to help teachers and education authorities to provide a high standard of financial education to meet the needs of all their learners. Over a period of three years it will plan teachers’ continuing professional development and accreditation, establish a network of contacts across financial and education sectors and provide advice on resources and other information.

The Scottish Council of National Training Organisations (SCONTO), soon to be renamed the Sector Skills Alliance, provides leadership, guidance and practical support to Sector Skills Councils and organisations formerly recognised by Government as National Training Organisations in Scotland. It  aims to assist in the development of a competitive Scotland through increasing the skills of the Scottish workforce by providing a focus for information exchange, development and promotional activities. The Sector Skills Councils are employer led, independent organisations which represent industry or business sectors which are economically or strategically significant. They are licensed by government to tackle skills and productivity needs in their sector.

Shell LiveWIRE is a UK wide initiative supported by Shell UK to help young people aged 16 to 30 to see starting a business as a viable and desirable career option. Those interested in starting a business are given information, and the ongoing advice and support of a local business adviser. Shell LiveWIRE runs an annual Business Start-up Awards competition with cash prizes and ‘help-in-kind’ support. Competitions are organised as local, regional and national events.

Skene Young Entrepreneur’s Award was introduced in 1986 by Aberdeen businessman, Charles Skene, to encourage enterprise in primary and secondary schools throughout Scotland and to introduce an element of competition and recognise success. Local judges select the most outstanding enterprise in both primary and secondary schools in each of five areas, the winners receive a cash prize and go forward to the National Awards. A separate panel of national judges selects from the area winners the most outstanding enterprise in primary and secondary schools in Scotland.  For information on the 2004 awards ceremony click here.

The Small Business Gateway is a service provided by the Scottish Enterprise Network and its local partners. It provides local single access points to a range of services for businesses including support for business start-up, high-growth business start-up, business growth and a wide-ranging information service for existing businesses.

The Women Into Science and Engineering (WISE) campaign was launched by the Engineering Council to change the attitudes of young people, parents, teachers and the general public to the value of science, engineering and technology (SET) and to demonstrate their suitability as career options for both men and women. It has been operating in Scotland since 1996. Its activities include events held at universities and colleges during which girls can get a taste of SET; events at which teachers can be appraised of the opportunities available in SET and events held in industry to allow girls to see SET in action

The Scottish Council for Development and Industry has developed over 140 Young Engineers Clubs throughout Scotland. The aim of the Clubs is to involve young people in the challenges and fun of science, engineering and technology by encouraging them to exercise their creative and innovative skills appropriately supported by professional engineers. In this way, young engineers also develop their skills in problem-solving through working in a team environment.  The Clubs stimulate an interest in science, engineering and technology and demonstrate the relevance of mathematics and physics in the formation of engineers.

Young Enterprise Scotland is the Scottish licensee of Junior Achievement International. JAI is a prominent provider in the field of business awareness, providing training and materials for all stages of the school system in economic and business literacy. JAI was founded in 1920 and now operates in 112 countries. Young Enterprise was established in Scotland in 1975 and works through a network of over 1200 volunteers. The programmes always involve someone from the business community who may be a trainer, adviser or mentor. In Scotland, the most well known of their activities is the company programme. YES has recently successfully piloted a number of other JAI programmes in West Lothian and is introducing a business start-up/self-employment model, called YES2ME.COM.