Entrepreneurial Skills Training for Youth

About

Entrepreneurial skills training is one of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth 14 program elements.

This brief includes information in the Act, regulations, and guidance for this program element, additional resources can be found below.

Entrepreneurial Skills Training seeks to help youth develop the skills associated with entrepreneurship and the gig economy including:

Basics of starting and operating a small business
Ability to take initiative
Creatively seek out and identify business opportunities
Develop budgets and forecast resource needs
Understand various options for acquiring capital and the trade-offs associated with each option
Communicate effectively and market oneself and one’s ideas.

Examples of approaches to teaching youth entrepreneurial skills include:

Entrepreneurship education that provides an introduction to the values and basics of starting and running a business, such as developing a business plan and simulations of business start-up and operation.
Enterprise development which provides supports and services that incubate and help youth develop their own businesses, such as helping youth access small loans or grants and providing more individualized attention to the development of viable business ideas.
Experiential programs that provide youth with experience in the day-to-day operation of a business.

Check out the resources below for information and ideas on providing entrepreneurial skills training to youth.

Webcasts and Webinars

Guides for Program Development

Additional Resources & Curriculum

Looking for more resources on the WIOA Youth program? Visit the WIOA Youth Program Resources page.

Youth - All

National Scope

Cross-Industry