The Milton Keynes-based Open University has launched a new financial literacy course designed to help strengthen future workforce skills and improve employability among young people. Developed in partnership with the Harrison Foundation, the free programme targets secondary school students aged 15 to 17 and is available nationwide through the university’s OpenLearn Create platform.
The initiative positions the Open University as a key regional education and skills asset, extending its impact beyond higher education and into schools. Moreover, it reflects growing concern among employers that young people are entering work without a clear understanding of personal finance.
The five-hour course, titled Managing My Money For Young Adults, is divided into nine short sessions. Teachers can deliver it in classrooms, set it for guided independent learning or use it as homework, making it flexible for existing PSHE provision.
Students explore practical topics including budgeting, bank accounts, savings products and inflation. In addition, the programme explains income tax, National Insurance and payslips, while introducing the basics of the stock market. A dedicated module addresses fraud and scams, helping young people navigate increasing financial risks online.
Sir David Harrison, founder of the Harrison Foundation and a financial services entrepreneur, said financial literacy is essential for long-term opportunity. He said too many young people leave education without understanding borrowing, budgeting or how to protect themselves from fraud.
The new course builds on the Open University’s established work in public financial education. In 2014, David donated more than £1.4 million to establish the True Potential Centre for the Public Understanding of Finance. Since then, the centre has developed free resources to improve financial confidence among adults.
However, the latest programme shifts the focus earlier. By embedding financial literacy in schools, the Open University aims to equip young people with practical knowledge before they enter employment, apprenticeships or further study.
For Milton Keynes, the initiative reinforces the Open University’s national influence from its headquarters base. As a result, the university continues to play a central role in shaping workforce skills, supporting social mobility and strengthening long-term economic resilience.
The course is free for schools and available now via the Open University’s OpenLearn Create platform.
