Companies should support business education programmes, such as Young Enterprise, because they can help more young people develop important business skills from an early age, an expert has advised.

According to Penny Perry, a spokesperson for Young Enterprise, each year British firms spend an average of between £600 and £700 per employee on providing such training to employees.

She stated that a recent survey conducted by Young Enterprise suggested that many companies believed that many young workers enter the world of employment with few business skills, too much "text book theory" and too high an estimation of their own abilities.

Ms Perry added: "By supporting business education programmes … businesses can help more young people develop key business skills … and have them better equipped to contribute on appointment."

Established over 40 years ago, Young Enterprise is a UK-based business and enterprise education charity.