Whether you work for someone or run your own business your business skills and experience could be just what your local school needs.
4 years ago I started as Young Enterprise business adviser for Balwearie High school and this week their team Limitless (because anything is possible) won the Fife finals and now go on to represent Fife in the Scottish finals in June.
To be in with a chance of winning the team had to set up a business which included:
· Naming the company
· Allocating roles including a MD
· Identifying a product or service to provide
· Undertaking Market Research
· Production of the goods or delivery of the services
· Taking part in a tradefair
· Complaints handling
· Issuing a business report
· Presenting their company at the Fife final
Which in addition to the practical aspects of running a business also involved them learning a lot about communication & team working. Skills we all know will be very useful when they move onto university, a job or setting up their own business when they leave.
My role as business adviser, and yours if you accept the challenge, is to be there for them. To let them make the mistakes to learn from and yet still challenge their decisions when needed. I’ve loved every minute (ok perhaps not every minute it’s not been without its frustrations) and would be happy to speak with anyone wishing to offer their services as a business adviser here in Fife for the next year starting in August.
For further information contact Alison at: Alison@alisonsmith.eu
