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Scouts Play Their Part in Economic Recovery with New "Entrepreneur Badge"

  • The Scout Association is rolling out a new "Entrepreneur Badge" today - the first of its kind.
  • The Scheme is launched in partnership with Richard Harpin, HomeServe Chief Executive and founder of The Enterprise Trust, a registered Charity set up to support the next generation of entrepreneurs.
  • Chris Evans was presented with the first award by a group of Scouts who are starting on their own journey to become Scouting Entrepreneurs on 22 July.
  • To gain the entrepreneurs challenge, Scouts will have to demonstrate a mind for business (see www.scouts.org.uk/entrepreneur for details)
  • This scheme is part of Scouting's contribution to encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs across the country.

22 July 2010: The Scout Association (TSA) in partnership with Richard Harpin, Chief Executive, HomeServe, the leading home emergency and repairs group, today announced a new Entrepreneurial Badge for its Scout section youth members to work towards. To complete the Entrepreneur Challenge Scouts must:

- Create a successful Scouting Enterprise as part of a small group
Or:
- Create a business idea and present it to a small panel of relevant people (leaders, parents, or local business people)
Or:
- Present, as a case study, a successful business that they are part of running

Those Scouts who achieve this badge will typically use their entrepreneur skills to raise money to:

  • Help those from developing nations attend Jamborees,
  • Extend or redevelop their Scout Headquarters
  • Acquire a new minibus
  • Raise funds for other charities e.g. Comic relief
  • Help them attend international Scout events such as world Scout jamborees.

This is the first time that business skills have been actively promoted by TSA. However, values such as persistence, innovation and hard work are intrinsic to both enterprise and the Scouting Movement. As belts tighten everywhere in the next few years, TSA hopes to encourage innovation and entrepreneurial activity in communities across the country.

Richard Harpin, Chief Executive of HomeServe, said: 'I am delighted to have worked with The Scouts Association over the last nine months to develop the entrepreneur badge. This initiative aims to encourage teenagers in a non-school environment to get excited about setting up their own business in the future, making a real impact on the long-term prosperity of our country". He added "For The Scout Association, as well as driving more funds for the local group, this award will encourage further involvement from parents and business leaders, helping to generate more scout leaders, which in turn will reduce the scout's waiting list".

A lifelong entrepreneur, Richard Harpin is committed to driving and rewarding entrepreneurial talent in the younger generation. UK winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008, Richard has been recognised for building HomeServe into a £1.4 billion international business. As founder of The Enterprise Trust Charity, Richard is passionate encouraging the next generation of entrepreneurs and recognises the important role that the Scouts can play in shaping the business minds of the future.

Simon Carter Assistant Director, The Scout Association said: "Scouting has always existed to promote leadership, creativity and effort and we want to apply these values to 21st Century Britain. There has never been a more important time to encourage entrepreneurship in this country. We hope this scheme and awards will foster the business leaders of tomorrow that our country needs."

Richard Harpin and some of the successful scouts will be presenting Chris Evans, former Scout and renowned entrepreneur, with an honorary award on 22 July 2010.

For further information about the scheme visit- www.scouts.org.uk/entrepreneur

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Emma Harvey, HomeServe plc on 07976 635366
Simon Carter, TSA on 07889 130 812

Notes to editors

About Scouting:

  • The Scout Association was founded on 1st August 1907.
  • Notable former Scout who are entrepreneurs include Richard Branson, Steven Spielberg, Chris Evans, and Sir Paul McCartney
  • Adventure is at the core of Scouting, and the Association passionately believes in helping their members fulfil their full physical, intellectual social and spiritual potentials by working in teams, learning by doing and thinking for themselves.
  • Over 200 activities are offered by Scouting around the UK, made possible by the efforts of 90,000 voluntary adult leaders. This has helped make Scouting the largest co-educational youth Movement in the country.
  • One of the challenges that the Scout Movement faces is finding more volunteers to plug the current gap. At present there are more than 33,500 young people on waiting lists.
  • Worldwide Scouting has 28 million members both male and female and operates in nearly every country in the world.


For more information visit www.homeserve.com