Intuit for Education is expanding internationally to the UK to help students build essential money management and entrepreneurship skills for the future. This marks a significant step in the free financial education programme’s commitment to help 50 million students become financially literate, capable and confident by 2030.
To kick off the expansion of the programme, Intuit for Education brought its Financial Literacy Forum event series to West Ham United’s home at the London Stadium. Hosting 180 students and teachers from east London schools in collaboration with the West Ham United Foundation, for a day of interactive learning, students participated in real-world financial and business simulations, designed to bring financial concepts to life.
The programme is designed to address one of society’s most pressing challenges, the financial literacy gap that limits opportunities and widens inequality. In the UK, there is a growing need for both personal and business financial education:
Only one in four (26%) young adults in the UK report having received any financial education in school.
Interest in business ownership is high, with 58% of UK young adults aged 18 to 34 saying they are either interested in starting a business or already own one. However, only about a third of young adults in England say their secondary school provided guidance or support on how to start a business.
“Financial literacy is a critical life skill and is the key to unlocking opportunities and making decisions that secure a better future,” said Dave Zasada, global vice president of education and corporate responsibility at Intuit. “We are helping students build real-world money skills early on and giving them the confidence to do everything from navigate daily financial decisions, to building a business of their own.”
Joseph Lyons, Chief Executive Officer at West Ham United Foundation, said: “At West Ham United Foundation, we are committed to creating opportunities for young people across our communities. Collaborating with Intuit for Education on this event helps us to give students a unique experience while offering access to practical financial skills that will support them both in school and beyond. Days like this help build confidence, broaden horizons and prepare young people with vital skills for the future.”
Financial Literacy Forum at London Stadium, Home of West Ham United
Intuit for Education’s Financial Literacy Forums transform traditional classroom learning into high-energy experiences, connecting students with tech-driven activities to understand financial and entrepreneurial concepts. On 21 April, the first UK Financial Literacy Forum took place at London Stadium.
Students participated in hands-on interactive breakout sessions such as the “The Building Blocks of Business” simulation where students navigated QuickBooks to run a business. Additionally, “The Marketing Campaign Showdown” gave students the opportunity to act as business marketers and design a winning social media campaign to understand what makes a successful post and how platforms like Mailchimp help businesses acquire customers.
The event was joined by renowned educator, author, media personality and West Ham United Foundation Education Ambassador, Bobby Seagull, and former West Ham United defender and Club Ambassador, Anton Ferdinand. They discussed the importance of financial education and their own entrepreneurial experiences.
Anton Ferdinand praised the programme and said: “I wish this was available when I was younger and when I signed my first professional football contract at 17 years old. I didn’t have that financial literacy growing up, I was left to my own devices and at times it was difficult manage at a young age.
“I felt privileged to be part of this forum, as it gave me an opportunity to share with young people what I now know about financial management and share any lessons I have gone through.”
Bobby Seagull shared how positive the day was for him: “Speaking to the young people today, I heard how much they were thinking about their future and building those skills to have that financial literacy mindset.
“When I was younger, we didn’t get these opportunities. But pupils today got the chance to speak to experts, to learn from a financial literacy programme and be enthused about personal finance, which is fantastic. I feel optimistic about what is available to young people through Intuit for Education’s brand-new programme.”
Leigh Thomas, Vice President, EMEA at Intuit, added: “Expanding Intuit for Education into the UK is an important milestone for us. With the support of West Ham United, we can reach students in a meaningful way, combining education with real world application to help them build skills that will be invaluable throughout their lives and help them thrive.”
