Aims

Aims
•       To enable students to participate in the setting up and running of a real business.
•       To facilitate students to develop entrepreneurial abilities and skills.
•       To enable students to apply prior knowledge in a real life business setting.
•       To develop student awareness of working in relation to self-employment and small business creation.

In fulfilling these aims students will:
1. Work with other students to originate, plan and manage an enterprise effectively and within the relevant guidelines.
2. Develop systems and procedures for operating the enterprise and to implement these in practice.
3. Identify, evaluate and record their own skill development with reference to set criteria.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module provides the students with an opportunity to work in a team and run their own business. The course is structured to provide effective support, but the student needs to take responsibility for their group’s enterprise. The module is ultimately designed to improve student employability and to widen their career choices. Emphasis is placed upon the development of business skills, occupational awareness of new venture start up, self-employment and the small business sector. In teams, students will endeavour to originate, plan and manage an enterprise effectively within relevant legislation and regulations, involving the development of systems and procedures for operating the enterprise and their implementation in practice. Individually, students shall identify and evaluate their own skill development and learning in relation to set criteria.

In addition to formal lectures facilitated by academic members of staff, advice and support will be available from external business advisors. The module is structured through 20 two-hour sessions covering idea generation and development, networking, entrepreneurial finance, small business marketing and business plan writing in Semester 1. In Semester 2, the focus is on the potential launch of the business and covers topics such as sales, PR and investment as well as reflecting upon the entrepreneurial journey.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The course is structured as 20 two hour sessions, each organised around a concept/ theme as presented in the ‘outline of syllabus’. In addition to the reading list above we will be recommending other material – ‘non-academic journals’, newspapers, television programmes, websites, blogs and so on – which will give students further insight into managing efficiently and effectively their business ventures.

The companies originated by the students (are not part of a simulation) are expected that following development phase in Semester 1 will trade during Semester 2. The nature of the module therefore requires that students demonstrate a high level of initiative and resourcefulness, appropriate to venturing a real business. To support this a wide range of teaching methods and techniques are employed, including mentoring guidance from North East entrepreneurs and tutors and guest speakers, led by experts in the field of business and entrepreneurship.

The 20 two hour sessions are sculptured around the philosophy of a student-centred learning process; the academic environment provides ample opportunities to create core expertise, analytical and critical thinking, and to produce high-quality practitioners, while making the sessions enjoyable to participating students.

Blackboard Learning Environment:
The lecture notes, PowerPoint slides, details of assignments/exams and other information, together with important announcements, will be available on the Blackboard web site for this module. We will be using Blackboard to communicate with you and you are strongly encouraged to use Blackboard to communicate with each other (for example through discussion forums). You can access Blackboard at http://blackboard.ncl.ac.uk.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

All assignments will be explained in class in detail. Complete guidelines about each assignment are uploaded on BlackBoard. Your assessments are related to the aims and intended learning outcomes of the module. We are not assessing the success or failure of your business! Instead the three pieces of assessed work will evaluate (to differing extents) your knowledge of the functions relevant to the effective creation and management of a business venture and your skills in respect of commercial acumen, problem solving, self analysis and teamwork.