HE FAILED his 11-Plus and left school at 15 but is now one of Britain’s best-known brains.

Sir Trevor Baylis, who invented the wind-up radio, was at an Oxford conference this week to talk about how young people can be taught entrepreneurial spirit.

Speaking during Oxonia at the Said Business School, the former professional swimmer, stunt man and circus performer said: “Anyone can become an inventor.

“I believe achievement is more important than qualifications but we have to do something to make invention part of the National Curriculum.”

The wind-up radio, which runs without batteries, has transformed the lives of those in parts of the world with no electricity supply.

Thanks to this and his other inventions, including the wind-up torch and electric shoes which power a mobile phone, 78-year-old Sir Trevor was awarded an OBE in 1997 and a CBE in January this year.

Dr Heirani Moghaddam, secretary general of Oxonia University Network, which organised the conference, said that many universities want to teach their students how to become entrepreneurs because breakthroughs and inventions can generate millions of pounds for increasingly hard-pressed colleges.

He said: “Finance and resources are becoming scarce, so most have to rely on other sources of income such as spin-outs and incubation centres which support entre- preneurs and innovators.

“This culture has to be promoted everywhere but will not happen overnight. The mindset has to be promoted among the students and has to start at a young age.”

More evidence that Oxfordshire is a hotspot for business start-ups came this week after national organisation Enterprise Nation, which represents 70,000 fledgling firms, chose Oxford as one of 12 cities to host a regional representative.

Justin Jackson, managing director of Oxford-based advice venture Digital Remit, will be the city’s first Enterprise Nation ‘champion’.

He said: “We already hold a few events here in Oxfordshire under our own banner but will now be able to take things to the next level.”

Although there are many events and organisations already helping small businesses in Oxfordshire, Enterprise Nation will target a different group, Mr Jackson said.

He added: “We are open to people who want to make the leap to setting up their own business but are not sure whether they can, or even if it’s the right thing for them.

“They might have an idea, or just the germ of an idea, so need a chat.”

Mr Jackson plans a launch event before the end of September and is looking for business people and entrepreneurs who could be potential speakers.

* For more information about the new Enterprise Nation champion, see digitalremit.com