The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) is a cutting edge, world recognised, youth entrepreneurship education and development programme. It is managed and provided by Foróige in Ireland and is affiliated to NFTE International. The NFTE programme originated in the USA and was brought to Ireland in 2004.
Involvement in the NFTE programme has been shown to improve the business, academic and life skills of young people. Foróige NFTE is committed to changing the lives of young people in disadvantaged communities by enabling them to develop core skills in business and enterprise, and in doing so help them to unlock their individual talents and potential. Foróige NFTE operates in-school and out-of-school programmes, both of which have been shown to be successful in increasing school completion and college attendance rates.
During the Foróige NFTE programme students:
- Study all aspects of starting and successfully running a business
- Receive a seed grant to start their business
- Visit wholesalers to buy their business supplies
- Engage with entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs, business executives, community leaders
- Visit local & national companies
- Work with business corporate mentors
- Sell their products at the NFTE Class Trade Fair
- Prepare and present their business plan to a panel of judges
- Winners are recognized at the All Island Youth Entrepreneurship Awards
What do NFTE Students study?
- What is an Entrepreneur
- Social Enterprise
- Exploring Business Opportunities
- Developing My Business
- Market Research
- Product & Business Development
- Getting the Basics Right
- Running a Business
- The Dragon’s Den
- Working out the Costs
- Selling to Customers
- Marketing
- Customers Relations & Ethics
- Record Keeping & Basic Accounting
- Will the Business Make Money
- Communications
- Presenting Your Business
- The Story of Money
- Money Wise
- Saving and Budgeting
- Your Business Your Future
The programme is delivered to young people from 12 to 18 years of age through schools and youth centres throughout Ireland. The programme runs from September to May. In order to equip new teachers/youth workers with the necessary skills and resources to successfully deliver the programme directly to young people, they must attend a two day training.
Background
The Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) is an international non profit organisation which teaches entrepreneurship skills to young people. Foróige NFTE Ireland was founded by Liavan Mallin in 2004 and was established as an all island initiative following a successful pilot scheme in Coláiste Dhulaigh and Bonnybrook Youthreach. The pilot was co-ordinated by Northside Partnership and funded by the Irish Youth Foundation.
NFTE International
Founded in New York City in 1987 by Steve Mariotti, a former entrepreneur turned high school maths teacher in the South Bronx, NFTE began as a programme to prevent young people dropping out of the system and improve academic performance among students who were at risk of failing or quitting school. Since its establishment, over 300,000 young people have been empowered through NFTE’s entrepreneurship education across the globe. NFTE is active in 10 countries throughout the world and in 21 states in the USA.
Foróige NFTE gratefully acknowledges the support it has received from the Ireland Funds 'Promising Ireland Campaign'. This funding allows us to operate our in-school and out-of-school NFTE programmes allowing more and more young people to gain skills in entrepreneurialism.
See what the Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Awards looks like!
