Young entrepreneurs joined Mrs Winterton and icons from the world of football and rugby on Friday at Hull's KC stadium to open the Academy.

With support from the Department for Business, the Premier League, Yorkshire Forward and Hull City Council, the Academy will take business out of the boardroom and into the class room - giving young football and rugby fans a chance to learn about enterprise using real examples from the football and rugby club that they can relate to and understand.

Launching the scheme at the Hull KC stadium, Mrs Winterton took part in a session with former England international Nick Barmby and Hull's new Enterprise Champions, ex-Hull City footballer Andy McMillan and ex-Hull FC and current Doncaster rugby league player Alex Benson.

The class will bring enterprise to life for Year 9 students from the Malet Lambert Language College, giving them a unique insight into the day-to-day running of an exciting multinational business.

Mrs Winterton said: "Enterprise has the power to inspire young people and create a 'can do' culture something which is key to the UK's future growth and success in the current economic climate.

"Using real football and rugby club examples, this Enterprise Academy will teach young people how to manage a budget, raise finance and look after customers - essential skills for any young entrepreneur."

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore said: "The scale of community activity and engagement that goes on at Premier League clubs was unimaginable even as little as 10 years ago. However, our clubs are now involved in an enormous range of different projects, helping to tackle an equally wide variety of issues.

"The interest that many young people have in football means that Premier League clubs have a unique opportunity to be able to influence and educate. The world of business and enterprise is an example of how a subject, when linked to how a football club operates, is suddenly made that bit more interesting."