Peter Jones Enterprise Academy

Peter Jones Enterprise Academy
Location
England
Information
Type	Non-profit Organisation
Motto	'Bringing the boardroom to the classroom'
Founder	Peter Jones
Website	http://www.pjea.org.uk

The Peter Jones Enterprise Academy , formerly known as the National Enterprise Academy is an educational establishment, offers programs at a number of UK Colleges. The Academy was founded by Peter Jones in 2008; its 'Pathfinder' course began January 2009 in Buckinghamshire with 28 students. The academy has been set up with the goal of "bringing the boardroom into the class room," making learning about business a more practical experience.

Controversy

It was speculated in June 2011 that the academy had been mismanaging the £9 million of taxpayers money after the CEO Tom Bewick, whom had quit after only a week in the position, claimed the academy was missing fundamental targets and in serious financial difficulties. A report obtained by the Mail on Sunday, commissioned by Mr Bewick and sent to Mr Cable, claimed the academy was on the brink of running out of money as a result of financial mismanagement by Mr Jones and his fellow trustees.

The report, and Mr Bewick’s letter of resignation, claimed that the spending of millions of pounds of public funds on the project is ‘hard to justify’ as it has ‘seriously under-performed’ in comparison with the amount of money invested in it. The report also claimed the academy is in danger of running out of money as early as next month and that only 260 students have graduated from the academy so far, just under ten per cent of the predicted total.

He called for a full investigation by Parliament or the public spending watchdog, the National Audit Office. Mr Jones has denied the allegations

In 2011, it was reported that Manchester College has discontinued its connection with the Academy, because of low enrollment, and doubts about the overall financial stability of the Academy.