Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones has been awarded a CBE for services to business, entrepreneurship and young people in the Queen’s New Year Honours.

Peter became a household name while appearing on BBC2’s Dragons’ Den and in 2006, he worked with the X Factor’s Simon Cowell to create a new reality TV format show, American Inventor. He then signed a contract with ITV to produce and star in the business show, Tycoon.

In March, the millionaire announced the launch of a new National Enterprise Academy – which is backed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown – aimed at helping teenagers to “unlock their entrepreneurial talent”.

His 2007, Peter’s book ‘Tycoon’ became a bestseller.