Newham College invited over 100 business people to an event urging the community to support their new enterprise academy on Thursday.
Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales also made a speech at the formal launch of the Plaistow college’s Peter Jones Enterprise Academy in which he said that a more business-minded approach to Council services would create jobs.
Sir Robin added: “We need to look at entrepreneurship and this is where our work, and the work done here, and at the University of East London can come together.
“We have decided to look at all our services to create small businesses. So pest control, for example, can be its own business that can compete in the market.
“That will help us learn how to back people with the drive and dynamism and, if we think that he or she is right, we’re prepared to back him with collateral.”
Dragon’s Den star Peter Jones picked Newham College as one of a group of further education-based academies to arm budding business people with analytical skills and hands-on experience.
Deputy principal Janak Patel called for support from assembled guests including representatives of Newham Chamber of Commerce, Westfield Stratford City, and other local businesses.
College managers also aim to recruit 100 teenagers to the Academy as well as older students.
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