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Today, there are more career options than ever before. With multiple higher education options, apprenticeship schemes and more support available to those looking to start their own business, there is a world of opportunity out there. As building a business seems increasingly popular and accessible, should...

30 March, 2016

Until Key Stage 4, enterprise forms no part of the compulsory curriculum, here in the UK. Whether or not you believe it should, many teachers are looking for ways to integrate elements of enterprise education into other areas of core learning. Enterprise education holds the key...

16 February, 2016

John Moore is an entrepreneurial accountant who has been an associate of Clever Tykes since its inception. John has four children and answered our Clever Tykes ambassador questions.   Tell us about you: I am an entrepreneurial accountant, working with an exciting accountancy practice who are looking to...

11 January, 2016

This month, Clever Tykes founders Ben and Jodie Cook were featured in Style Birmingham magazine discussing their journey with the project. Style Birmingham is one of the city's most prominent magazines keeping locals up to speed with news, reviews and comment on all things trending...

03 November, 2015

We all want the best for our children and the next generation. As parents and educators, the education and upbringing we provide children aims to make them well-rounded young people with a broad skill set. But what does this really mean and why do we...

20 October, 2015
Parents are on the hunt for great ways of teaching children valuable life lessons. We made sure the Clever Tykes books were brimming with some of the most important life lessons a child can learn. We've put together a definitive list of the life lessons taught in the Clever Tykes books.  
17 September, 2015
We're all well aware of the celebrity culture we've developed in the UK; 'culture' regularly being poetically chosen over 'obsession'. Our obsession with these individuals creates demand for TV, magazine and website coverage of related stories with varying combinations of truth and fabrication. Whilst there's nothing inherently wrong with this coverage (although much of it is negative and elicits negative comments and responses by viewers/readers) the impact of belittling people in the public eye in front of our children may have prolonged negative implications.
28 April, 2015
I am incredibly passionate about enterprise education in schools but how we educators go about inspiring and empowering enterprise in children is subject to debate. Should enterprise education be a statutory element of the curriculum? If so, at what age should it become statutory? Primary school? Secondary school? Should enterprise be lumped in with financial education or does it have a broader role to play? There are campaigners who want enterprise to be part of the curriculum but every sector has its champions and the curriculum is already jam-packed with topics teachers have to teach - just ask one! I for one, therefore, do not actually believe enterprise education should be a statutory part of the curriculum. What I do believe is that schools should produce a culture of enterprise amongst pupils. Enterprise and being enterprising is incredibly important in cultivating creativity, resourcefulness, resilience and a positive mindset.  

7 ways to create an enterprising culture in schools

19 March, 2015
Monday 9th of March 2015 will go down in enterprise education history as the day CBBC were forced to take down a children's quiz portraying entrepreneurs as cheating, sneaky and, above all, immoral people. Entitled "Are you an Entrepreneur?" the quiz naturally attracted the attention of Clever Tykes co-founder Ben Cook during his weekly quiz revision (searching for the Newsround 'quiz of the week!'). Clever Tykes posted the quiz to Facebook on Friday 6th of March and you can see our original post here. After the post was seen by a number of enterprise educators, it wasn't long before a Twitter storm ensued with a number of prominent business figures wading into the bog of war on Monday 9th. Within 24 hours, the CBBC entrepreneur quiz had been taken down and a statement was issued by the BBC. But why such the backlash and what did the BBC have to say for themselves? Co-founder Ben Cook explains...
10 March, 2015
As educators we're passionate about inspiring and empowering our students. In fact, helping children understand more about our world is an incredibly rewarding career. But often, the most rewarding elements are not around the transfer of facts and methods of how things are done; they are in bringing the best out of students; in helping them overcome challenges and have a positive outlook on life. There is an array of people skills, characteristics and traits that will help children develop into happy, successful adults. These traits not only aid academic achievement but are, arguably, even more important.
23 February, 2015
Proactive teachers are always on the hunt of the best resources to share with their pupils. With a lot of hype surround enterprise education, particularly at a primary level, and with few tried and tested resources available, it can be a difficult task to find the best. Naturally, we think Clever Tykes produces the best enterprise resources for primary schools! But what is it that makes them good? If you already have the Clever Tykes books and resources or if you're looking for more ways of inspiring and empowering students, what should you be looking out for in other enterprise resources?
17 February, 2015
There are mixed opinions about the impact of Dragons' Den and The Apprentice on business and the kind of role models the Dragons and Lord Sugar provide impressionable children and young adults. For the purpose of this blog we will refer to Dragons' Den as DD and The Apprentice as TA and the comments explain how they portray the unhelpful lesson outlined.
01 February, 2015
Opening a bank account for a child is an important milestone in growing up and is a great step in learning more about how the world works. Understanding exactly why you want you child to have a bank account is very important as to make sure you're not simply opening one because little Jimmy across the road now has one! Choosing to open an account for your child, whether it's mainly for saving money, earning and spending or so they can have their own debit card, should be just that - a conscious choice because it is a significant step.
17 January, 2015

There has been intermittent coverage surrounding the lack of children with disabilities in fiction and media, generally. At Clever Tykes, we are passionate that every child, regardless of their background, grows up believing they are capable of anything and achieving their goals. For release Code-it Cody shows...

01 December, 2014

Tommie Rose became just about the UK's most (in)famous entrepreneur last week with the breaking news that he'd amassed some £14,000 by selling sweets at Buile Hill High School in Salford before being promptly suspended. Naturally, this caught the eye of the Clever Tykes teams...

28 November, 2014
Clever Tykes fought its way through a crowd of 1000 other entrants to make it to the Pitch final 2014 where only 20 fully trading companies remained. The Pitch 2014 involved a bootcamp phase for the first time and Ben had pitched against 49 other business in the London heat to make it to the grand final. The final posed a fresh challenge after only having to complete 90 second pitches at the bootcamps, contestants had 3 minutes to deliver their pitches along with the optional use of props and slides. The panel of four judges also had the opportunity to ask questions to each of them. The Pitch 2014 The final of the Pitch 2014 was held at the event's birthplace in Bristol where contestants had travelled the length and breadth of the UK including businesses from Edinburgh, Newquay, Manchester, Birmingham, London and Bristol itself.
24 October, 2014
Clever Tykes is incredibly passionate about enterprise education and has carried out extensive research to determine exactly what enterprise in primary schools looks like in today's society. Why is it that, even though enterprise is not statutory at the primary level, some schools regard it as an incredibly important part of their curriculum? Given that there is no requirement of primary school to adopt enterprise, it's understandable that the quality and quantity of primary enterprise education varies massively from school to school and between local education authorities. The common theme in schools with a good standard of enterprise education is a proactive and forward-thinking headteacher. Headteachers have the power to adopt and implement enterprise if they are passionate about developing certain skills and attitudes in their pupils - the old adage, where there' a will; there's a way rings true.
18 October, 2014

Social mobility or, rather, social immobility is a prevalent issue in many societies and the UK is no exception. There are many viewpoints on exactly what causes social immobility and even more on exactly how it should be tackled. The ability to be enterprising and...

17 October, 2014
We all love Christmas, there's no hiding it. The time of year when nothing else seems to matter and all is right with the world. Wouldn't it be great to have all the positives of Christmas without all the hassle that comes before it? We can only dream! But we're confident we've got something that will help you out just that little bit at Christmas time - the perfect gift for children ages 6-9. So, if you're looking for the perfect Christmas gift for your kids or some you know, consider the gift of success! (I know that's really cheesy, but that's what Christmas is all about, right?)
15 October, 2014

  • I am a huge advocate of the entrepreneurial messages and characteristics that you are driving. I think it is a fantastic idea to instil the idea of entrepreneurship into children from a young age. This is a great way to open children up to the idea of not always following conventional paths and giving them the belief and confidence to pursue their own creative business ideas.

    James Caan, CBE - entrepreneur and former Dragon

  • The Clever Tykes series are such a wonderful way to introduce ‘enterprise’ to children from a young age – I can’t recommend them highly enough, and strongly urge parents to read along with their child as there is no doubt the stories will stimulate lots of questions and interest!

    Lorraine Allman, Author and Founder of Enterprising Child

  • I found Walk-it Willow easy to read and full of lovely messages that children can take from it. It touched on taking responsibility, problem solving, admitting mistakes and also the work it takes to run a small business. Willow is entertaining but very human. A lovely story.

    Naomi Richards, The Kids Coach, parent and life coach for children