The Scout Association

Home : News : Enterprise and adventure with the Entrepreneur Challenge

Enterprise and adventure with the Entrepreneur Challenge

22/07/2010

On Thursday, BBC Radio 2 Breakfast presenter, Chris Evans, was presented with the inaugural Scouting Entrepreneur Challenge. This celebrates the skills on show when Scouts demonstrate a mind for business.

The new scheme has been delivered in partnership with Homeserve. The tasks stipulated will help Scouts become more self-confident and also help build team working skills. To complete the challenge, Scouts may present a business pitch to a panel of local business people, just like real entrepreneurs in the BBC programme, Dragons' Den.

Leadership, creativity, effort

This is the first time The Scout Association has actively promoted business skills. However, values such as persistence, innovation and hard work are intrinsic to both enterprise and Scouting, as Programme and Development Adviser, Steve Moysey explains: ‘Scouting has always existed to promote leadership, creativity and effort and we want to apply these values to today.

‘There has never been a more important time to encourage entrepreneurship in this country. We hope this will foster the business leaders of tomorrow that our country needs.’

Richard Harpin, Homeserve Chief Executive, believes the new activity material will drive future industry: ‘Homeserve is delighted to support the new Scouting Entrepreneur Challenge. I look forward to helping Scouts across the UK develop the skills that they will need to drive the businesses of tomorrow.’

‘Well worth it’

The scheme has already been trialled in various districts across London. Emily from North London, one of the five Scouts who presented Chris Evans with an award, is enthusiastic about the scheme: ‘I am really enjoying working towards this new Challenge. Although it is hard work, it is well worth it. It’s given me great experience for the future. Richard Branson had better watch out!’

A number of activities have been developed in conjunction with the Entrepreneur Challenge which leaders can access online. A special young person’s resource will be available within the next few weeks.

Chris Evans was recently named as an Ambassador for Scouting. The popular DJ will promote the benefits of the Movement to a wide audience and his expertise will be a valuable resource.

Competition

The National Enterprise Academy is also running a special competition which will give Explorer Scouts the chance to turn their passions into business ideas.

 

 

Comments

By Greg Harewood on 23/07/2010 23:17 Sounds good. - Which section(s)? - What kind of badge is it...Activity? Challenge? - Where is it worn on the uniform?

By Bob Dove on 24/07/2010 09:42 Chris Evans...why, why, why. Not the sort of person I'd have chosen as ambassador. Do we really need the cult of celebrity in Scouting???

By Graham Dean on 26/07/2010 09:33 I think Chris Evans will be a great ambassador for Scouting, Scouting needs to be in the news every week.

By Steve Moysey - Programme and Development Adviser, The Scout Association on 28/07/2010 10:28 At present this Challenge is for the Scout section. It is not a traditional Challenge or Activity Badge, as it recognises existing skills. Therefore, the badge follows to mould of several camps and the ShelterBox Challenge, in that it is an occasional badge, to be worn above the left breast pocket.

By Beth Gooch - Leader of Ambassador Relationships on 28/07/2010 11:38 As a very vocal supporter of Scouting and someone who is always up for adventure, Chris is a very worthy ambassador. We need our ambassadors to continue to give a high profile to the great work we do, and also generate press for us, so that more people can learn about us and hopefully get involved.

By Wilf McLellan on 28/07/2010 14:19 Another challenge, another initiative! I sometimes wonder if Scouting is being over-driven by business needs -i.e. an opportunity to gain sponsorship of an existing badge including sponsor advertising, which is just about understandable. However, it does seem that a new badge has been "invented" here perhaps to make some money in the process. It distracts from real Scouting which (in this case)already includes many elements of business and entrepeneurship. Thank goodness at least it isn't another real Challenge Badge! Please keep it simple, don't clutter Scouting. I'll be interested to hear how genuinely Chris Evans promotes Scouting - he can be very flippant, I really hope we'll be pleasantly surprised.

By Wilf McLellan on 28/07/2010 14:29 In addition to my previous comment; might it have been better to call it something other than a 'challenge'? Perhaps 'award' or 'Order of the Dragon's Den'! Certainly gives me an idea for DD game this winter if nothing else.

By JP Yates on 31/07/2010 17:11 Chris Evans is an inspired choice. Gone are the days of his bad image, and now is an excellent addition to our Ambassadors.