Clever Tykes setting a good example to kids

CHILDREN’S books written by a Birmingham husband and wife team which aim to provide positive business role models are to be delivered to primary schools across the UK.

More than 23,000 copies from the Clever Tykes series, aimed at six to nine-year-olds, will be given to every primary school in the country, reaching millions of children.

The stories were written by Ben and Jodie Cook after the pair discovered the evidence between role models and entrepreneurial intention but found too few positive business role models for children.

They created three stories which aim to inspire resourceful, innovative and enterprising behaviour among children and the books have generated interest from across the globe after they were included in a government report called ‘Enterprise for All’.

The pair came up with the idea in 2012 and the books have been stocked in Harrods and Selfridges in London, Waterstones online and with school supplier BookLife.

Mrs Cook, who runs her own marketing agency JC Social Media, was named Birmingham Young Professional of the Year in 2014.

She said: “It’s an incredibly exciting time for Clever Tykes and primary enterprise education.

“We’ve seen the positive changes in children’s behaviour having read our stories and we’re delighted that thousands more will benefit.”

The national rollout will see the books arrive in schools in January. The package includes a digital enterprise portal which will enable schools to download the books and access a raft of enterprise education resources which can be built into various areas of the curriculum.

Lloyds Banking Group has sponsored the distribution of the books as part of its Helping Britain Prosper Plan which aims to support education, skills and small enterprise.