A CULTURAL shift is needed in education to raise aspirations and instill more confidence in young people to encourage them to be more entrepreneurial, guests at debate staged by the Eastern Enterprise Hub were told.

The Big Enterprise Education Debate, hosted by the hub on the Waterfront in Ipswich, saw broad agreement that the business community needs to work closely with education establishments.

Panellists included Ben Gummer, the MP for Ipswich, Alistair Lang, chief executive of regional law firm Birketts, and Alan Whitaker, principal of Suffolk One.

Also on the panel were Phil Pethybridge from the School for Social Entrepreneurs - East and James Race, a student at the Enterprise Academy – two of the organisations which form part of the hub – and the event was chaired by businessman Steve Flory, one of the hub’s “enterprise superstars” who have undertaken to promote entrepreneurship in the county.

Harry Berry, chairman of the Eastern Enterprise Hub, said: “It is really all about the business, enterprise and education communities working together to bring about a culture shift whereby our young people are encouraged to develop business knowledge and skills, have the confidence to articulate their ideas and take positive risks alongside studying for their academic qualifications.

“Business and education need to work together to enthuse young people about the prospect of developing and running businesses.”