Guest Profile
Bill Muirhead
Managing Director
About Bill Muirhead
Bill joined the Peter Jones Foundation in June 2017. With over 15 years’ experience in enterprise education and work- related learning, Bill came from Coca-Cola European Partners where he led their community education programme, winning a Business in the Community Award for Excellence in 2012.
Bill was part of the steering committee for Lord Young’s Enterprise Education Review and has also worked in the welfare to work sector, taught English and helped set up a bar in Chile.
Bill became Managing Director of the Foundation in January 2020. Outside work, he loves travel, song writing and relaxing with family and friends. He also makes a good playlist.
Episode Overview
Peter Jones Foundation's Managing Director, Bill Muirhead, joins Alberto Lidji to discuss instilling enterprise skills and a social entrepreneurial spirit in today's youth.
Peter Jones is one of the UK's best known entrepreneurs and in 2005 he founded the Peter Jones Foundation to improve the socio economic outcomes for young people by helping them develop enterprise skills. They aim to ensure at least 60% of the young people they work with come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
This wide-ranging conversation introduces listeners to the Foundation's various initiatives, including their Tycoon Programme, which aims to back children's and young people's business ideas by lending money to them that is risk free and encourages them to develop and execute innovative business plans.
The Foundation currently works with approximately 700 schools and has supported 12,000 young people to set up and run their businesses.
Bill Muirhead delves into the question of what, precisely, are enterprise skills and underscores the importance of learning through doing. There is room for the UK's school system to embrace enterprise skills more robustly and, indeed, Bill notes how these skills are vital to increasing self-esteem and confidence.
In addition to working with schools, the Foundation has also developed a strong alumni programme that supports those young people who have engaged in its programmes over the years.
Bill's key takeaway for listeners: He asks you to talk to the educators and young people in your lives; we all have the opportunity to ask the question: what did you do today that was enterprising? What's your school doing to encourage enterprise? If the answer is a blank stare, then look up the Peter Jones Foundation; explore its Tycoon Programme. Have enterprise education on your radar. You may not have thought of it before but it's really important in the world that we're facing up to.
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Additional Resources
The Peter Jones Foundation - Website
The Peter Jones Foundation - Twitter