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Richard Browning, inventor of the jet suit and founder of Gravity Industries, calls for mandatory business and financial literacy in UK secondary schools to prepare the next generation for a rapidly changing economy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Richard Browning, the British entrepreneur famed for inventing the world\u2019s first jet suit, is advocating for a significant overhaul of the UK\u2019s national school curriculum to address what he sees as a critical failure in preparing young people for the future economy. Browning, whose company Gravity Industries is valued at approximately \u00a382 million and supplies jet suits to special forces, emergency responders, and rescue teams globally, stresses the necessity of embedding business, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy into compulsory education for all secondary school pupils by 2030.<\/p>\n
Browning, a former Royal Marines reservist and oil trader, argues that the current curriculum is outdated, having last been fully revised before the rapid advancement of technologies such as artificial intelligence and automation. Research indicates that a third of schools still do not offer GCSE Computer Science, and only one in four young adults report receiving any financial education during their schooling. Reflecting on his own experiences, Browning warns that the UK\u2019s risk-averse culture hampers innovation and economic growth. He stresses that innovation should be a fundamental part of education, not a concept reserved for business leaders, citing the stark difference he observes between the UK and more entrepreneurial environments like California, where new ideas are enthusiastically embraced.<\/p>\n
Browning\u2019s call to action is deeply personal. His father, an inventor of mountain bike suspension, tragically took his own life when Browning was 15, a loss he attributes partly to the unsupportive environment for entrepreneurs in the UK at the time. This tragedy fuels Browning\u2019s passion to foster a cultural shift that celebrates invention and entrepreneurship rather than viewing it with scepticism. He advocates for a more hands-on, experimental approach to learning, encouraging children to embrace failure as part of innovation\u2014\u201crip open a Lego box and build a crazy thing that falls apart and then learn and rebuild,\u201d he suggests. Through this, Browning hopes to revive the pride and self-confidence seen in Britain\u2019s historic “Brunel era,” when making and creating were sources of national pride.<\/p>\n
Gravity Industries itself represents the cutting edge of innovation, having gained international attention for its jet suit technology which enables human flight using micro gas turbines. Since founding the company in 2017, Browning has conducted over 100 flight demonstrations across 33 countries, with his suit reaching speeds over 85 mph and setting Guinness World Records. The technology, praised by figures such as Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, is already being used in practical applications such as emergency medical response and military operations. Gravity Industries is actively developing future iterations of the jet suit, including electric versions and exploring alternative fuels like bio-diesel.<\/p>\n
Browning\u2019s viewpoint aligns with broader concerns about the UK\u2019s ability to maintain economic competitiveness in a rapidly evolving global landscape. Industry data highlights a gap in skills related to technology and entrepreneurship that could hinder the country\u2019s ability to capitalise on emerging opportunities in AI and automation. By making business education mandatory, Browning believes the UK could nurture a new generation of innovators equipped to thrive in complex, fast-changing environments.<\/p>\n
His campaign is supported by a petition aimed at influencing the government\u2019s approach ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves\u2019 upcoming Budget. The petition urges policymakers to reconsider the national curriculum\u2019s focus, aiming to equip students with practical skills and entrepreneurial mindsets essential for future prosperity.<\/p>\n
In essence, Browning\u2019s call is both a reflection on personal tragedy and a visionary plea for education reform that embraces the spirit of innovation. By doing so, he hopes to ignite a \u201cBrunel era\u201d of creativity and pride in making things\u2014a transformation he sees as vital to restoring Britain\u2019s economic confidence and leadership in the global innovation landscape.<\/p>\n