Is career development planning the secret for success at work ?

Good afternoon you lovely BAF learners

the last task for this part of the course is to start carving out your PLAN for the next 5 years.

This will be based around three little questions:

• Where are you now ?
• Where do you want to be ?
• How will you get there ?

You can't leave any of this to chance as the world is getting more and more competitive every day.

If you don't believe me look at the video clip here - you'll need earphones or speakers to listen to it but its worth 10 minutes of your time.

I have set out a template to help you with this task so that its not too daunting.  Its broken down into:

• short term - rest of year 11
• medium term - next 3 years inc college
• long term - next five years inc University or your first job.

Every 10 minutes planning saves you hours of doing so as Mr T say's on the 'A-team'

"I like it when a plan comes together" this is probably your first real chance of creating your game plan

Good luck and enjoy

Mr T

Homework

Easy peasy - finish your CDP plan by next friday and make sure its got some healthy detail in it



What does a quality controlled assessment look like?

Good Morning Year 11

I am concerned that we are going at a pace that might just leave you under pressure as we approach the end of term and the AQA Business Studies Controlled Assessment writing session.

So today we are going to look at some examples of good and not so good pieces of work.

Task

Choose an example from the ones that i have emailed you and using the marking scheme attached lets see if we can give it a score.  This activity will allow you to not just understand the marking scheme but will hopefully help you plan your research and investigation which in turn will help you collect only the relevant information that you need in your appendix that you will refer to in your report writing.

Assessing the skills required when setting up a new business

Good morning year 12

Now that we have decided on our teams and have initially recruited people for the key role you will need to assertain if any of your key people have any training needs.

Assessing the skills required for a start up business does not have to be difficult so I have created an appraisal check list for you to rank your top 10 personality traints.

Complete the self appraisal using the 1-5 scale provided and then get someone who knows you well to do similar for you.

For those who really need to know their strengths and weaknesses use this skills audit document

This should give you a percentage of efficiency / effectiveness which you can keep in your folder.  It will also allow you to identify your training needs as you start the journey of an entrepreneur.

Homewwork due in today:
My vision, values and beliefs, a mission, strapline, aim and objective to propose for our company.

Homework for next week Wednesday 5th October
Research two entreprenuers that you admire saying what they did and how they did it and what it was about their skill set that has made them successsfull

Setting out my career development plan P2

Hi year 13

as promised here is the link to a sample career development plan that you can use for P2 of the current unit.

You will see that this plan looks at the short (12 month) medium (3 year) and long term (5 years) stages of your career and should be reviewed every year accordingly.

As a working document you can use it in conjunction with your performance reviews and appraisals in the workplace but also during one to one mentoring sessions with your form tutor and careers advisor after every assessment point in year 13. 

Every time you identify a training need you can incorperate this into your career develoment plan which will evolve accordingly.  Employers will love to see that you are monitoring and tracking your persone development when you discuss on your application form and Universities will be impressed when you mention this at interview.  Once started keep it up todate as it will drive your activities in the direction that you want to go.  Rememeber its as simple as:

• Where are you now ?
• Where do you want to be ?
• How will you get the there ? 

Anyway thats P1 & P2 in progress for the current unit so well done and lets keep up the momentum.

Mr T

Presentation from Jan Quillian of One Water

Good mornink Yr 11

P4 today you will be heading over to the conference centre hall to receive a presentation from JAn Quillian of One Water.  She is going to discuss how marketing was responsible for the rapid growth in the company One Water.  Setting up a business needs lots of hard work, determination skill and focus and I hope as you embark on your mini enterprises that you will get a taste of how important the marketing of the business is and why its so critical to do your research so that you can get the price, promotion, distribution and product to best match the needs and wants of your customer.

Year 12 level 3 and year 11 D&T will both be joing the session.  Can I remind you that even though you are not in a classroom you are still representing the Academy and I do not expect to hear that anyone has been removed due to bad behaviour or sloppy standards.

Good luck and enjoy

Mr T

Unit 1 Business Purpose 'Supporting Local Business'

Good morning year 9

I am out of school today on a training course for GCSE Business Studies so can I ask that you taken the five businesses that you identified for course work and for each create a page of your magazine explaining the following:

• What is the PURPOSE of the business (what does it do, has it got a profit focus or does it operate at cost or below cost)
• Include a definition of the business type i.e. what is a sole trader, a partnership, a LTD company, a PLC and a charity.
• What SCALE is the company operating on.  Is it LOCAL, REGIONAL, NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL.
• What is the SIZE of your chosen company, is it SMALL (less than 100 employees, medium, or large, employing more than 250 employees.

I have created a writing frame to support those who need it just click here
Remember that you have a level 2 core text book, your own notes and access to www.businessstudiesonline.com click the link here if your own class notes are not substantial enough.

Rememeber this unit is to be completed by Christmas if we are to access a GCSE equivalent qualification in year 9. Click here for the assignment that covers the entire unit and the deadlines.

Good luck and enjoy.  Anything that you would like me to mark print and leave on my desk on your way out.

Mr T

PLTS being assesses today - Independent enquirer, self manager, confident individual.

Applying for your dream job, work experience or apprenticeship

Good morning Yr11BAF


Have you got what it takes to apply for a job or work experience in Business & Finance.  Which blue chip company would you like to work for?  How are you going to impress a potential employer and compete for a place in the current economic climate? Would you believe it if I told you that nearly one million young people between the age of 16 and 18 are NOT in any sort of employment, education or training!

Where do you start to get your CV at the top of the pile? How important is your covering letter?
By now you have probably got a career path in mind so who do you rate as the best employers in the market and what positions are they currently advertising. Try looking at the following websites and find a position  that you feel confident applying for:
 www.gumtree.com
http://www.totaljobs.com/
jobcentreplus
http://www.connexions-cw.co.uk/
http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/

Once your happy with a position that's appropriate to your skills, experience and personal attributes that you have identifies, tailor your CV to represent this and create a covering letter to post out with it.

Creating a CV link
Job application form link 
Covering letter click this link or this link

I would like to get these in the post for 5pm but if we dont manage it you can finish it for homework and email it to me before next week

Good luck and enjoy

Mr T

P1 Presentation - Starting a small business

Good afternnon year 11

Sadly I wont be in  the lesson today as I am at an AQA training session in London (yes I will be aiming to get back for the football match Devon)

I have emailed you some slides to remind you what needs to be in your P1 business pitch which you will be having a trial presentation on Friday in our double lesson with the other class members peer assessing your performance - remeber his needs to be an 8 minutes and needs to cover the criteria on the slides.

I hope you use the lesson wisely and incorporate all the magic and excitment that your idea has generated into a formal first pitch.

God luck and enjoy

Mr T

Re-designing my research questionnaires for my controlled assessment

Good morning year 11

Well based on the marking exercise that you did yesterday its clear that the big points come from the big research.  Once you've decided on the problem that you are investigating i.e. customer service, marketing, finance etc you will need to gather evidence to support the options tha you generate to put the business back on track. Only then can youput your reccommendations forward for improving the business.

As you know I will not be in the lesson tommorrow so I will email you a help pack first thing in the morning.  The pack will give you some ideas as to how to create a questionnaire but it will also show you how to do one in google docs.  The advantage of creating a questionnaire in Google Docs is that it will allow you to email the link for people to pick up electronically and the information that they include will be collated in the form of graphs and tables for you to use.

By now you should have a collection of research from both Mr Coakley and I so why not start puting it in order in an appendix type layout that you can walk into the controlled assessment with e.g.

Appendix A location map of premises
Appendix B Demographics or facts and figures of local population
Appendix C Questionnaire design and feedback
Appendix D Interview notes with owner
Appendix E Suggested places to advertise premises

I can check this next week.  Remeber there are not many weeks to go and the last two weeks will be for writing it up only.  

Good luck

Mr T 

The classification of business activities

Good Afternoon Year 10

Today's lesson will test your independent enquiry skills by asking you to create a PowerPoint to explain the classification of business activites.

To support this I have attached two presentation for you to look at.  Firstly click here and then here and click on unit 1section 2 business activity and changes in business activity. Dont forget we also have books that you can use best one for this task will be the BTEC Business L2 on the side

Task:

1. Create three PowerPoint slides one for each of the three business activities of the economy, Primary, Secondary & Tertiary
2. Within each slide add a definition about what each sector does.
3. On each slide add the name and logo of a local and national business example that operates in this sector. State the purpose of each business i.e operates at cost, below cost, for a profit etc.
4. Finally add some staggering facts of figures relating to the sector you have represented by the businesses that you have chosen.  Research the internet for this information or use the core text.

Homework

Complete the 'wants & needs' worksheet and find out the information requested about the local business community emailed to you by Mr Thompson by our next lesson on Tuesday 26th September 2011.

Have a great weekend

Mr T

Having vision and a capacity to inspire...

Good afternoon year 12

Following on with our theme of identifying the entrepreneurial mindset today we are going to focus on how companies inspire individuals within their orgsanisations to focus on achieving their core purpose.

Task

1. Choose TWO companies that inspire you!
2. Using the internet research the list below for each company.
3. Create a PowerPoint presentation for each and identify their:

• Vision
• Values & Beliefs
• Mission statement
• Strapline and

Summarise what you find out on your powerpoint slide.  Once you can recognise these in other companies you are now in a position to start to create an image for your company. 

Homework

Now create YOUR vision, values, mission statement and strapline for your businesses.  The best entries will be used in the marketing and branding of your company.  You need to press the turbo buton on inspirational writing and think about how you are going to present this to your business mentor when they come in next week.

Your company IMAGE will be based heavily around the company product and your vision, values and beliefs should help you to create a very positive mission statement and strapline that will inspire customers to buy your products.

Below are a few video clips that might help and inspire you:

The difference between vision statments and mission statements

What do you think was the focus of M&S vision when they produced this corporate update

Can you identify the vision that drove this company to its phenomanal success.


Good luck, well done and see you next week and make sure that your caught up by then !

Mr T

LO Know how to access career related information

Good morning year 13


You should have all completed a SWOT analysis of your personal strengths and weaknesses by now so feel free to let me have a look at it to see if its at the right level.  In period one today I will ask you to look at some of your personality traits in more detail.
I have created several activity tests and subscribed to software packages for you to use.  Focus on an activity that you have not completed before you re do an activity that you may have used at level 2.  Remember as human beings everything about us changes every seven years, our hair, our blood, our values and beleifs.  You will have changed a great deal already since you completed your GCSE's and start planning the next stage of your career: 

1. Connexions Kudos - online
2. Skills audit - written
3. Personality test - online
4. Self appraisal - see Mr T who will email you this document
5. My PLTS profile - a new area for skills development in OSA see Mr T.

PLTS used in these activities -  Independent enquiry & effective participants

After completing the activities above, save your work as this will identify areas that will need development when you write P2. 

Lesson 2 today.
We are now in a position to start the task for P1 for this 'Development planning for a career in business unit who's first learning outcome is:

'Know how to access different sources and different types of career related information so that we can use it to develop your career plan for P2.  By now you will have probably identified a career pathway which is starting to appeal to you.  This career path with almost certainly have a professional body or association associated with it and it is a resource that should be keen to know more about.  Last week I posted some links as examples of the professional associations that exhist for the different professions.  Professionla associations maintain standards within an industry and members usually subscribe (pay) to be associated with them.  Mmebership is often available at different levels based on your qualifications and experience.

Professional Associations
What professional association relates to your career, what is required for you to gain membership, how much does memership cost, what services are made available through this memebership and what does your professional association provide in terms of ongoing training and development.
Trade Magazines and Newspapers
Each professional association will have their own publication and journal, which one relates to your chosen career?
Connexions at Oxford Spires Academy
Have you introduced yourself to the new team at OSA, made an appointment and ask how they can support the writing of your 'Career Development Plan'
Company career packs & graduate recruitment opportunities
Who are in the Times 100 list of graduate employers that you would consider working for? 
University Careers Services
Did you access any during your UCAS application process or do you still have to do this?
Career and recruitment fairs
When are the next career fairs in Oxford, they usually have one in the City Hall and Oxford Univerity, last year OEBP held a massive event at the Kassam.  Are these dates in your diary?
National Skills Academies
The previous government sent up National Skills cademies for each sector of industry. Is there one for you that could offer development opprtunites?
Internships and work experience?
Most of you will be competing with graduates who have left university several years before you for employment.  What voluntary work or internship can you demonstrate you have completed when you go for that first job or university interview.

The list above is not exhaustive and I look forward to seeing other sources of information that you discover as you carry out your research so that you can share these with the class next week.

Homework

Using the information from the above and your ongoing research  I would like to see a draft copy of P1 before our next lesson on 27th September 2011.  You can email it to me at TThompson@oxfordspiresacademy.org before that date if you would like some feedback, further information or guidance.

Good luck and enjoy

Mr T

Test your current affairs & business knowledge and watch your passion for the subject grow

Calling all OSA business, economic & enterprise students and anyone else that knows me,

Why not test your general business knowledge using this weekly fun tutor2u Biz Quiz and bring what you learn into your business lessons, add an additional dimension to your learning and impress your friends and teachers for free.

Its easy to do just click on the link below and see if you can get in to the habit of doing it on a weekly basis and that just might get you obsessive about watching the news or reading a newspaper every day.

Go on you cant' be that busy and I am sure most of you could pull it down on your smart phones and make a note of your score in your planner.  It wont take long before your 10/10.

Hot News Biz Quiz for

logoscrabble to add a little fun to your day whilst the quiz arrives - why not use it for your front page title !

It's back its back....

week ending 20th April 2012 click here or alternatively click here for an update in a
three minute round up of Sky News 3 news
Easter Quiz click here

week ending 20th January 2012 click here
week ending 13th January 2012 click here
Mad News treat yourself to Christmas some fun and laughter with this link.
week ending 2nd December 2011
week ending 27th November 2011
week ending 18th November 2011
week ending 11th November 2011
week ending 6th October 2011
week ending 29th Sept 2011
week ending 22nd Spet 2011
week ending 15th Sept 2011
week ending 6th Sept 2011

The local demographics - controlled assessment secondry research

Good Morning year 11

todays lesson is all about demographics and you will then have an opportunity to find out what the profile of Oxford is and answer some of the important questions on page 6 of the Research Diary that I have emailed you. The link before may be something that you have used but is all the information together in one place
Click on the link below and open the PDF Oxford Profile 2010 and save it to your user area:

http://www.oxford.gov.uk/PageRender/decC/Statistics_about_Oxford_occw.htm

Now answer as many of the questions on page six of the Research Diary.  If you need other websites for your secondry research ill get you some.

This controlled assessment can take your D to a B so dont wast this opportunity to springboard yourself to a better grade and dont kid yourself that you cant benefit from this as I have seen your paper 1 results and we will only pay for you to have a resit if this piece of work is done and dusted by the end of term and to a level you are proud of.

Keep looking at the blog over the weekend as I intend to post some examples of what a great controlled assesment looks like for us to discuss next lesson.

Good luck and well done

Mr T

Unit 15 Development planning for a career in business

Good morning year 13

 You'll be delighted to know that in your final year of sixth form we have introduced a unit of study that allows you time to reflect on your career aspirations before you commence your next stage of development be it university, work, apprenticeship or an internship.


As we only have a double lesson on a tuesday morning I would imagine that progress can be made swiftly through the use of e-learning opportunities and electronic submission of coursework and feedback.


I have enclosed a copy of the Unit 15 specification for you to familiarise yourself with so read it during period one and make a note of any questions that you may have.


We can then start the research on how to access career related information and I have enclosed a few links below:

Careersoft         http://www.careers-gateway/ Careersoft

Careers A-Z     http://www.careersa-z.co.uk/ Careers A-Z

Connexions       http://www.connexions-direct.com/ Connexions

Brilliant careers  www.channel4.com/brilliantcareers Brilliant Careers

Suport4learning  http://www.support4learning.org.uk/ Support4Learning

There are also a number of industry-specific websites which have useful career information if your chosen career pathway is not on this list I am sure that we will find the professional association that relates to it for example:

Association of chartered Certified Accountants http://www.acca.co.uk/

The Chartered Insititute of Marketing http://www.cim.co.uk/

Chartered Institute of Personal Development http://www.cipd.co.uk/

The Law Society of England and Wales http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/  

Quality Improvement Agency http://www.sflqi.org/
Institute of Hospitality http://www.instituteofhospitality.org/
Teacher Development Agency http://www.tda.gov.uk/ and the General Teaching Council http://www.gtce.org.uk/

A useful starting point is to carry out a self-assessment (SWOT) of yourself. This could

include your knowledge, interests, leisure activities, qualifications, skills and competences. This would

generate an initial development/action plan linked to personal and career objectives. Self and personal

development might include maintaining a learning diary/log, progress review documentation and records

of meetings with others such as careers officers, employers, tutors or staff from voluntary organisations.

Homework
Take the output from your SWOT analysis and write a short PERSONAL STATEMENT similar to what you would use on a CV or UCAS application.  Let me see both when they are comleted
You may find the following websites helpful to get yourself SWOTTING:

http://www.quintcareers.com/SWOT_Analysis.html
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_05_1.htm
http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/1350/SWOT-analysis.html
http://www.businessperform.com/talent-management/career_change.html

Dont be surprised if your initial career choices change as information is gathered or your personal circumstances change. Work experience can often be an influential factor in determining career path decisions. Why not start this unit by applying to do some it just might give you the competitive edge as you apply for university or your first full time job.

I hope that this unit proves to be both stimulating and thought provoking and I look forward to supporting you through it over the next four terms.

Good luck & enjoy

Mr T 

Unit 17 Starting a Small Business

Good morning year 11

Now that you have decided on your chosen business consider it in relation to the assessment demands for this assignment and see if it will give you enough material to keep you motivated to be successful.

P1, P2, M1 Be able to present the initial business idea using relevant criteria and identifying their target market. This presentation will need to of a standard that can be presented to potential investors from the Said Business School in Oxford. 

The presentation will need to include information about your business idea, the possible profits that you cna make, your target market and also the benefits for you of running your own business.  The presentation should last approx eight minutes and should include the following:

• What type of business idea is it?
• What is the name, logo, strapline, aims and objectives of your business?
• What are the aims of your business and the plans that you have for it?
• What makes your business idea attratctive?
• How will you balance your personal needs and the needs of the business?
• How profitable could the business be?
• What does your market research tell you about your potential clients?
• What are the fashions and trends in this area of business?
• Who are your competition?
• What are the benefits of running this business for you as a group?

I have created a powerpoint help pack for those who might struggle to create an eight minute presention and this can be found temporarily on studentshare/business/doingbusinesswithmrt.

P3 M2 Understand the skills and personal development needed to run the business successfully.  Taking the skills audit that we did last year analyse it to create a report that details your personal development and training plan that you will need to put in place in order to run your business idea successfully.

BAF Diploma - Unit 7 Success at Work

Good morning year 11

The aim of this unit 'Me and my future' is to help you achieve your personal financial and career goals.  To achieve this unit you will:

• understand the financial benefits of employment and the requirements to secure and retain employment
• be able to research information on personal financial requirements
• to be able to prepare for and take part in an interview for a job
• to be able to plan and achieve your own career goals.

The first assessment will require you to make a short powerpoint presentation about yourself.  To get to know yourself better I have created several activity tests and subscribed to software packages for you to

1. Connexions Kudos - online
2. Skills audit - written
3. Personality test - online
4. Self appraisal

PLTS passport evidence -  Independent enquiry & effective participants

As we only have two lessons a week anything that you dont manage to get done will need to be completed as homework.  Completed activities can be saved to your user area in a folder titled Unit 7 Success at work or printed out and kept in your class notes folder.
I hope you enjoy this unit as much as I enjoy delivering it.

Homework

Using the information from the above four activities and use it to create a PowerPoint presentation about yourselves and email it to me at TThompson@oxfordspiresacademy.org before our nexct lesson next on Friday 16th September 2011.

I hope you enjoy this unit as much as I enjoy delivering it.

Best wishes and good luck

Mr T