18°26′45″N77°55′21″W / 18.445965°N 77.922528°W /18.445965; -77.922528
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| Founded | 2006 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Richard Branson,Taddy Blecher |
| Type | Educational charity |
| Location | |
| Locations | |
Key people | Executive Director Judi Sandrock |
| Affiliations | CIDA City Campus,Virgin Unite, |
| Website | bransoncentre |
TheBranson School of Entrepreneurship (akaBranson Centre of Entrepreneurship) is a charitable organization that provides entrepreneurial training and financial support to international youth.[1][2]
The Branson School of Entrepreneurship (BSE) was founded in 2006 as partnership betweenTaddy Blecher andRichard Branson[2] inJohannesburg, South Africa[3] as part of thenon-profit foundation,Virgin Unite.[4] By 2009 the school had given financial mentoring and training to 4,100 students.[4] The school's managing director was James Wanjohi[5] andVirgin Unite was considering additional schools in the United States, Britain andKenya at that time.[4] In January Branson visited the school to give awards and recognition to selected students.[6]
Beginning in 2011 the BSE became known as the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship with Judi Sandrock as its executive director.[7] In September, Branson opened a branch inMontego Bay, Jamaica.[8]
The school's goal is to stimulate local economies by training and mentoring disadvantaged youth.[8] As of 2006, BSE training was part of the curriculum atCIDA City Campus[2][9] serving 800 youths per year.[1] The BSE provides financial support, in the form of "seed money" loans, for the most well conceived business plans of each class.[4][10]
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