BUSINESSES are being urged to give financial backing to a bid to turn Kendal into a powerhouse for budding entrepreneurs.

Kirkbie Kendal School wants to secure business and enterprise college status from the government, unlocking hundreds of thousands of pounds of funding to help nurture the area's tycoons of the future.

Officials say a successful bid will enable Kirkbie Kendal to play its part in efforts to develop a more highly-skilled, highly paid workforce, which will in turn help to attract new investment and businesses to the area.

But to show the secondary school means business, it must raise at least £50,000 in sponsorship from local businesses in order to clear the first hurdle of the bidding process set up by the Department for Education and Skills.

So far, Kirkbie Kendal has pledges worth around £35,000, but needs to find a further £15,000 before the end of the month.

Deputy head teacher Patrick Earnshaw said: "We are hoping a significant donation from one Kendal business will encourage others to help us to get to our target. If we can reach the target, we are very confident we will be successful with the bid."

There are currently 18 schools championing business and enterprise across the country, and a further half dozen or so secondaries are likely to be awarded the special status this year.

Cumbria Chamber of Commerce is behind Kirkbie Kendal's application and has called on the 300-plus members of the chamber's Kendal business affinity group to give cash support.

Group chairman George Readsaid his organisation welcomed the venture.

"The chamber is supportive of anything that will develop new business in the area at this time. Incubator units which the school is trying to develop on land adjacent to the school is one of the four key initiatives that the chamber is bringing forward in the area," said Mr Read.

Mr Earnshaw said the DES bid was timely for Kendal. "I think the town needs a business and enterprise college. There have been some significant economic setbacks in the last few years. We can become a focal point for entrepreneurship, business start-ups and high skill levels."

A successful bid would trigger a £150,000 capital grant from the DES which, together with a Cumbria LEA grant worth around £240,000, would pay for conversion of part of the school into a centre for teaching entrepreneurship.

It would be kitted out with the latest IT technology, including Internet broadband links and laptop computers, and offer a so-called hatchery with office space and resources for students and adults wanting to start a business.

Mr Earnshaw said college status would open the door to a wide range of benefits and represented a "fantastic opportunity" for both the school and local community.

Kirkbie Kendal would receive an extra £700,000 in government funding over a four year period, enabling the school to recruit extra staff, teach pupils business, human resources and entrepreneurial skills, and offer them national and international work experience placements.

Local businesses would also gain as the school could supply future employees with higher skill levels, while managers and staff could tap into additional training and support, he added.

February 14, 2003 10:00