1. Conduct a class brainstorm for a set time on a business that could be run from your school.
2. Write all the ideas on the board as they are suggested. Remember – no criticisms are allowed at this stage.
3. When the set time is up, review each idea and see how realistic it might be.
4. Have a class vote on the best idea.
Personal skills audit A personal skills audit is used to identify all your main strengths and weaknesses. It identifies any assets you have and any useful contacts you have made. It also includes family and community assets. These are then reviewed to inspire entrepreneurial ideas. This is what Lucy used to generate her business idea.
Generating business ideas using a personal skills audit (a) Identify your strengths These could include: • your hobbies and interests (e.g. playing football, fashion, singing)
• your skills (e.g. digital skills, cooking)
• any part-time jobs you have had (e.g. delivery person, babysitter)
• any jobs you have done at home (e.g. cutting grass, assembling flat-pack furniture)
• any jobs (paid and unpaid) you have done for other people (e.g. cleaning windows)
• all the ways that you have helped people out in the past (e.g. minding pets)
• any ways in which you have helped anyone with their job or business (e.g. answering the telephone)
(b) Identify your weaknesses • List any possible business weaknesses or disadvantages that you can think of, including your dislikes. For example, do you dislike working alone? Do you dislike working with noise?
(c) Identify your useful contacts • List any people you know who could potentially be useful to your business, for example a relative who is a carpenter or a neighbour who owns a shop.
