Purpose
The purpose of the Enterprise and Employability Challenge is to develop learners’ skills, whilst providing opportunities for learners to develop enterprising skills and attributes and enhance employability. During the Enterprise and Employability Challenge learners will explicitly develop skills in Digital Literacy, Creativity and Innovation and Personal Effectiveness and apply them in an appropriate manner.
Introduction
What opportunities and experiences can I expect from the Enterprise and Employability challenge?
What skills will learners be able to develop and use?
What does this Challenge involve?
In today’s world it will be desirable for the learner to develop an enterprise mind-set which can enhance employability prospects. In this Challenge learners will have the opportunity to create and implement innovative ideas based on meeting the needs of customers and/or businesses by developing a product or service. This can be achieved and enhanced by following an enterprise process which includes liaising with employers and interacting with successful local entrepreneurs. This challenge will enhance employability by enabling learners to be more opportunity-focussed, self-aware and attuned to the business environment.
Young people today often say they want to be their own boss, to start their own company or to make a living from a personal passion. The Enterprise and Employability Challenge is the learner’s opportunity to develop the creativity and innovation skills needed to become an entrepreneur. Learners will be able to gain an appreciation of the use of social and other electronic media in business. Learners will also be able to develop and apply digital literacy skills in creative and innovative ways.
The Enterprise and Employability Challenge provides learners with an opportunity to develop important team working skills. Learners will be able to recognise the contributions they can make when collaborating with their peers, business advisors and potential customers in developing a business concept. By effectively working with others learners will develop positive working relationships as well as being able to take responsibility and work independently. Learners will need a can-do attitude and the drive to make ideas happen whilst being able to take risks and manage their roles and contributions effectively.
The Enterprise and Employability challenge requires the development of a business idea and proposal, and with final proposals illustrated in a visual display and pitched to a panel.
Evidence for Assessment
Each learner must provide supportive evidence of a Skills Audit, a Visual Display of a business proposal, Minutes of team meetings, Confirmation Statement of Pitch and a Personal Reflection.
Skills Audit
The purpose of the Skills Audit is to help each learner to identify, plan, develop and improve the personal skills needed to carry out the Enterprise and Employability Challenge successfully.
The Skills Audit must include evidence of the:
- Identification of current personal and team-working skills relevant to the Challenge
- Identification of any additional personal and team-working skills likely to be needed
- Plan for developing and improving relevant skills
Visual Display
The Visual Display of the business proposal could include evidence of the:
- aims, objectives and details of the product, service or business partnership
- potential customers/clients
- financial implications including cost analysis
- marketing and promotional materials (using digital technology)
Minutes of team meetings
These should be sufficiently detailed to demonstrate:
- roles and responsibilities (individual and team);
- time management, personal behaviours and team working.
Confirmation Statement
The Confirmation Statement of the Pitch must record the standard of presentational skills demonstrated.
Personal Reflection
The Personal Reflection must include evidence of the:
- personal role/contribution in carrying out the challenge;
- records of team working including personal effectiveness;
- analysis of the development and application of personal and teamwork skills