Yes! for Keen2LearnThe Young Entrepreneurs Scheme (YES) provides sixth form schoolchildren the opportunity to participate in a business project and potentially spark the ability to develop as entrepreneurs in their own right. (more…)

WINNER REVEALED IN FIRST EVER ‘DRAGON’S DEN’-STYLE COMPETITION FOR OVER 50′S Keen2Learn.co.uk a shining example to other 50+ start-ups Alistair Owens, from Doncaster, has won a nationwide search for the most promising over 50s entrepreneur, launched by world-leader in silicon innovation, Intel®.The profIT@50 judges were extremely impressed with Mr. Owens’ online business, selling educational products. keen2learn www.keen2learn.co.uk is a family firm, founded by Mr Owens and his son in 2005. The website aims to empower parents to help their children achieve greater success by giving them access to the same educational teaching resources, games, software and activities used in schools to support the National Curriculum. With this venture, Mr. Owens is putting his 20 years of experience in marketing – latterly in the distribution of educational products – and a career’s-worth of contacts, to excellent use.”Mr Owens is a shining example to other potential over 50s entrepreneurs that setting up your own business can be a very viable option,” says Intel’s Director for Public Sector, Tristan Wilkinson. “We’ve been delighted with both the quality and quantity of entries received, showing just how many people in the 50+ age group there are out there with excellent business ideas,” he added.An excited Mr Owens explained “Winning this competition will really help us move keen2learn to the next stage, widening our portfolio and increasing awareness amongst parents that they all have the ability to complement their child’s progress at school. In fact, we’ve seen that supporting their children at home rekindles parents’ interest in learning, so we are considering expanding into adult education too,”he adds.

The Intel profIT@50 competition was designed to reward the cream of British business talent in the 50+ age group, and encourage others to consider making the dreams they have harboured all their lives a reality. The panel – made up of Yo! Sushi founder and one of the original BBC Dragon’s Den judges, Simon Woodroffe,experts from Intel, and a representative of PRIME, a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping over 50s set up in business – were looking for ideas that were innovative, made good business sense, and had potential for profit and growth.

“Alistair Owens is a fantastic example to other potential 50+ entrepreneurs out there” said Simon Woodroffe. “He’s had a great idea, has the experience to get it going and the inspiration to take it further. People like him should be encouraged to achieve all they can, particularly given that when over 50s take the plunge with a start-up they tend to be three times as successful as younger people!” he added.

October 2006

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Figures show fall in school standards. The Scottish education system is continuing to fail thousands of young pupils, according to a league table that charts declining standards in primary schools.Data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reveals that standards of literacy and numeracy have slipped in two-thirds of local authority areas in the past year.

A new website launched today will give parents direct internet access to the same teaching notes and learning support products that are used in schools.Called keen2learn, the new site will offer a vast range of products, support materials and guidance to enable parents to supplement their children’s teaching across all major subjects and through all the key stages covered by the national curriculum.Alistair Owens, keen2learn managing director, says that despite increasing government expenditure, surveys show parental anxiety about their children’s progress continues to rise. In particular, parents worry that large class sizes severely restrict the time available for essential one-on-one tuition tailored to individual needs.

“Parent power is a vast untapped teaching resource,” Owens said. “But parents worry about causing confusion with their ad hoc teaching – and need practical help so they can work squarely within the school process and supplement it in a safe, structured and positive way. My idea is to provide the products and know-how needed so children can be taught at home in the same subjects and using the same methods and resources that they will recognise from school.”

The new website offers over 650 products ranged in the four key stage age groups from pre school foundation to Key Stage 4 – GCSE. level it covers subjects including; numeracy, geography, literacy, science, ICT, history and maths. Teaching notes and usage guidance is provided where necessary. The site also contains links to government support agencies providing additional teaching advice.

Products vary from instructive board games and practical educational aids – through to an extensive range of interactive software. Although the products are not toys, an element of fun and enjoyment has been built in to stimulate the child’s wish to learn.

In particular, keen2learn seeks to help parents anxious to use one-on-one home tuition to overcome problems where gaps in understanding have occurred at school.

“Many children are reluctant to ask questions in open class at school and this can lead to gaps in understanding.” Owens explains. “Our products are designed to help parents identify and overcome these problems in a way which will complement the school process and not conflict with it.”

Many months of professional design resource have been employed to ensure the site is fast, secure and easy to use.