Dragons' Den entrepreneur Peter Jones has won backing from prime minister Gordon Brown for his national academy for teenage entrepreneurs.

The first National Enterprise Academy will open in 2009, teaching 200 16-19-year-olds the basics of running a business. They will be taught by experienced entrepreneurs rather than teachers.

"One of my personal dreams has been to set up an enterprise academy which is looking at ways in which we can change the belief system that we have," said Jones. "I believe that you have to have an ‘I can' attitude, rather than a ‘can I?' approach."

The first academy will be based in the south-east of England, near Slough, but there are plans to open a second academy in the north-west.

The government is expected to provide up to £4m towards the £8m cost over the next three years, with Jones providing the remainder of the investment.