ABE Endorsed KidsMBA is a groundbreaking programme that develops real-world business and entrepreneurial skills in children from the age of eleven. It is designed to be delivered by schools and it is based around the topics of an adult MBA. The programme is fun and engaging whilst introducing eleven-to-fifteen-year-olds to all the aspects involved in running a business
ABE Endorsed KidsMBA encourages children to use their natural creativity to think about opportunities and challenges and how they can apply ingenuity to build a viable business.
commenting that they had learned, ‘teamwork’, ‘the importance of customer service and people skills’, ‘key aspects of business’ and how to ‘use online as a workspace.”
Gresham’s School, UK
ABE Endorsed KidsMBA: programme outcomes
KidsMBA fosters skills well beyond learning about starting and growing a business, here are some of the benefits it has been shown to provide:
Creative thinking Teamwork
Problem-solving
Self-confidence
Persuasive speaking
Leadership
Critical assessment
Engagement with other subjects
Throughout the programme, pupils work together and gain confidence whilst developing a practical understanding of what running a business entails. This sparks a desire to build on their knowledge (typically we see a 30% increase in students wanting to continue on business courses after KidsMBA).
The programme's practical roleplay style of learning stimulates imagination and creativity whilst showing pupils how all the subjects are interlinked. For example, developing and marketing a new product requires skills drawn from a range of topics such as marketing (Literacy), branding (Design and Technology) and pricing (Maths and Economics).
KidsMBA encourages students to relate entrepreneurship to other activities they enjoy and care about. This entrepreneurial thinking can then be nurtured and developed throughout school life.
Outcomes and opportunities for your school
Choosing KidsMBA for your school will provide you with an immediately demonstrable commitment to future skills and leadership.
Your school will be part of a growing international network of interlinked educators. This provides the opportunity for cross-cultural exchange and the development of global citizenship programmes. By linking with other KidsMBA schools your pupils can find out about the aspirations and challenges faced by their contemporaries in different parts of the world.
The programme offers the opportunity for further enrichment and publicity for your school's enterprise education agenda, with an international Future Entrepreneur of the Year competition open to all KidsMBA schools (see page 8).
Our commitment to quality education
ABE is a UK-based Ofqual-regulated exam board. Since 1973 we have specialised in business education. The depth of business expertise that KidsMBA offers would be hard for an individual school to replicate and then demonstrate to parents.
With the ABE Endorsed KidsMBA brand the development work has been done and the quality and value of the programme is immediately apparent. Plus, students on the programme gain a certificate with the branding of a recognised exam board which gives it lasting value.
Teacher support
The programme comes with an overview for each session, slides, handouts and activities: everything needed to start teaching from day one.
ABE also provides onboarding, so teachers don't need to be business experts. ABE is always on hand to answer any questions teaching staff have and will provide all the support needed to ensure teachers are comfortable and happy delivering the programme. This minimises time needed outside of the actual lesson delivery.
Delivery options
The programme is designed to be highly flexible, so schools can make the programme work around other commitments. Here are some of the options that have been used:
Weekly in the curriculum
Weekly in an after-school enrichment programme
Daily in an entrepreneurship-themed fortnight
An intensive two-day weekend
Schools can choose to deliver over twelve or sixteen sessions. A session is typically 45 minutes and every session culminates in a practical activity or game.
If your school needs a different delivery plan let us know.
KidsMBA does not shy away from introducing children to the key concepts in business, providing a solid foundation for financial literacy.
Business Ideas and USP
Business plan and financials
Business name and logo (IP)
Copyright and patents (IP)
Pricing
Marketing and sales
Customer service
Communication and networking
Business Structures
Community Engagement
Business Finance
Budgeting
Bookkeeping and Tax
Leadership and operational plan
Corporate responsibility and sustainability
Pitching to Investors
Shark tank (also known as Dragon's Den)
The culmination of the programme is a shark tank or Dragons’ Den-style pitch. This is an opportunity to invite local businesses or parents with children in other year groups to provide impartial judging. Plus, all participants’ parents can be invited to make it a really exciting event that generates publicity and wider engagement with your enterprise education message.
An international entrepreneurship competition
All schools running the KidsMBA programme can put their best students or teams forward for the Future Entrepreneur of the Year competition, competing against the brightest budding entrepreneurs internationally. This further supports the global citizenship aspect of the KidsMBA programme.
First prize for the winner (or winning team) is $1,000 towards their future business and a fabulous cup.
It's also a prestigious title for the winning school (which also receives a cup). The Future Entrepreneur competition adds a fantastic element of excitement and fun to the pitching process.
The judging criteria
The competition is independently judged by a panel of international business experts.
The business name and idea needs to have been thought of by the entrant, and all aspects of the presentation should be their own work. Students should not copy existing organisations although they can come from everyday sectors.
Judges will be looking for:
A strong business idea
A good marketing plan and slogan
A realistic evaluation of costs, pricing, competition and the market opportunity
An overall demonstration of business understanding
The entrants must be under 16 - their age will be taken into account.
Asia Sylvester CTS School
Trinidad & Tobago
Asia's Dance Company (ADCo)
Concept: linking dance classes to government initiatives to support mental health and physical wellbeing in teens.
Previous Judges
Marc Ortmans Chair & Executive Director of the Global Entrepreneurs Network (GEN) UK Hub and brand strategist
Emrys Green Chair of the Institute of Leadership and Management (TILM)
"Winning is always a good feeling but being selected to represent CTS College, Trinidad and Tobago by extension was exhilarating. When ADCo was shortlisted amongst ABE’s Future Entrepreneur finalists on 6th July 2022 and published internationally I was mind-blown. Here it was, my business pitch was listed amongst proposals from countries around the world like Malawi, Myanmar, Nigeria and the UK It was a geographical awakening to some places I have never even thought about"
Lesley Li, Founder & CEO @u impact Germany
Philip Salter Founder & CEO
The Entrepreneurs Network
Conclusion
As many as 85% of the jobs that will be available in 2030 haven’t yet been invented.
Entrepreneurship will help the next generation seize the opportunities provided by both new technologies and globalisation. Providing access to the quality entrepreneurship education offered by KidsMBA will show how your school is doing everything necessary to produce young people who are productive, innovative, and adaptable to whatever the future economy might hold.
ABE Endorsed KidsMBA is available to schools for an annual licence fee based on student numbers. Contact us for a quote.
Flexible and future-facing ABE Level 3 qualifications
ABE's suite of Ofqual-regulated Level 3 qualifications are built around ABE's triad of business, leadership and entrepreneurialism. Our qualifications are developed with the aim of providing centres with opportunities to expand market reach and grow enrolments, and the aim of providing learners with opportunities to gain essential skills, future-proof their career and achieve their ambitions.
Why add ABE qualifications to your portfolio?
1.Future-facing programmes.
2.Flexibility to offer a choice of five programmes cost-effectively and target different markets.
3.Competitive pricing to ensure accessibility and excellent value.
4.Comprehensive learning resources and learner benefits including study guides, tutor guides, sample assessments and one year complimentary membership of The Institute of Leadership.
ABE qualifications are trusted worldwide for academic excellence, practical skill application and career relevance.
About the ABE Level 3 qualifications
Our Level 3 suite offers more choice and greater opportunity for centres and learners.
40-credit Foundation Diplomas in business, entrepreneurship and leadership. Consists of 4 units.
Can be completed in one semester.
Ideal for learners who want to focus in depth on one of the three core areas. They complement other areas of study, adding business-essential knowledge and soughtafter skills.
Business Management Diplomas
60-credit Foundation Diploma: consists of 6 units and can be completed over two assessment sessions.
120-credit Diploma: consists of 12 units and can be completed across three assessment sessions within 12 months.
They provide a solid foundation of essential knowledge for business career and academic progression.
The specifications are available our website: www.abeuk.com/courses-qualifications.
Contact us if you would like to deliver our Level 3 qualifications
About ABE
ABE is an award-winning international exam board which has been running professional business qualifications since 1973. We currently operate in more than 30 countries around the world. For five decades we have been at the forefront of developing business and entrepreneurship skills.
We are a not-for-profit organisation and, as well as providing qualifications and courses, we produce leading-edge research and policy recommendations which support the global education partners we serve by helping to shape and strengthen education systems.
ABE is regulated in the United Kingdom by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual). Our ABE for Schools Endorsed programmes have been developed with the same approach to quality and rigour that underpins our regulated provision.
In 2023 we became an independent subsidiary of The Institute of Leadership (IoL) a charity founded in 1947 dedicated to unlocking leadership potential.
