Nigel Botterill unveils national drive to spark entrepreneurship in young people
Serial entrepreneur and founder of Entrepreneurs Circle, Nigel Botterill, has launched a major new initiative designed to help young people think differently about their future.
The Young Entrepreneurs Programme is open to 14–23-year-olds across the UK and is built to give the next generation the mindset, skills, and confidence to take control of their own future – regardless of whether they or their family have ever had a business idea before.
“The world has changed, but the education system hasn’t,” explains Botterill, who has created 15 seperate £1m businesses to date and employs 70 staff at EC’s new £5m Solihull HQ.
“For years, I’ve seen how many young people leave school or university completely unprepared for the realities of life, work, and opportunity. This programme is designed to fill that gap — to give the next generation the mindset, the skills, and the confidence to take control of their own future.”
The programme begins with a live Kick-Off Day in November led by Botterill and his expert team, followed by 12 months of online learning that covers creativity, problem-solving, marketing, sales, communication, and resilience – all delivered in a practical, engaging way. Participants learn directly from successful business owners who’ve built companies from scratch and know what it really takes to make things happen.
To date, Entrepreneurs Circle has helped almost 100,000 UK business owners to grow and Nigel has built 15 separate million-pound companies of his own, all from scratch. Nigel and his team have worked with legends of entrepreneurship like Steven Bartlett and Richard Branson and have sold out massive events for more than a decade – September’s annual convention saw 1,500 business owners attend.
They’ve also helped hundreds of ordinary entrepreneurs to become millionaires.
“This programme is 100% real, P-R-A-C-T-I-C-A-L, and current,” added Botterill.
“There’s no fluff, or theory, or motivational speeches. It’s NOT out-of-date academia – like so much ‘business studies’ content that’s taught in schools or at uni – and that doesn’t teach you how to set up and grow your own business anyway!
“We’re on a mission to help the next generation of entrepreneurs. And that’s why I’d love to help your children get that spark, open their eyes to the world of entrepreneurship, and set them off on the best possible path.”
Each Kick-Off Day happens at a weekend, (on either a Saturday or Sunday) and runs from 10am to around 4:45pm and is capped at just 70 young people.
The Young Entrepreneurs Programme also provides guidance for parents and guardians, helping them support their child’s journey and to understand how entrepreneurial thinking can transform confidence, independence, and future prospects.
Entrepreneurs Circle, founded by Botterill in 2010, has become the UK’s leading private community for ambitious business owners. The launch of the Young Entrepreneurs Programme marks the next evolution of that mission – to build a more entrepreneurial Britain from the ground up.