Business Idea Template
Stage 1
New Business Track
This template is for schools who are starting a business for the first time
IMPORTANT: HOW TO COMPLETE AND SUBMIT YOUR BUSINESS IDEA
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This template should be completed by students with the support of teachers.
Please use the format provided as this is aligned to our marking scheme.
There are 8 questions. Please answer ALL questions. You may use extra pages. However,
please try and keep your submission to 5 pages maximum.
The numbers in brackets e.g. (10) indicates the highest number of points that can be
awarded for that question.
Follow our top tips to score high points and increase your chances of winning a prize!
You can also earn bonus points by including supporting documents in the Appendix of this
document!
When you are ready to submit your completed business idea template to us, please follow
these instructions:- Log in to your account at: www.schoolenterprisechallenge.org/login
- Go to the ‘Progress Report’ on the right hand side.
- Click on 1) ‘Submit Your Business Idea!’
- Choose your file and upload your completed Template. Click SUBMIT!
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Any Questions
Contact the School Enterprise Challenge team at:E-mail: info@schoolenterprisechallenge.org
Blog: http://schoolenterprisechallenge.wordpress.com
Website: www.schoolenterprisechallenge.org
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New Business Idea Template 2015
Section A: Your Details
School name
Country
Lead teacher
Business Name
Business Activity
No. of students in the school
No. of students involved in coming up with
the business idea
Yellow Sparrows Craft Centre
Kenya
Vera Ngendo
Zawadi Zuri
Hand-crafted products
10-15
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Section B: Your School
1.
Tell us about your school. For example, What age are the students? Location? Environment? There are
no marks for this question; however, your answers to this question help us to understand your school
business better.
Yellow Sparrows is a Club and Centre run privately. We offer weekend and holiday
based training in Craft-making skills, basic technology in arts and entrepreneurship.
The age group is currently between 5-12 years though we do partner with other
organisations to offer teenagers the same craft-skills. The trainings take place at a
school that we rent called Bambini Montessori School, Jabavu road, Nairobi that is
within an urban residential centre.
Section C: Your Resources
TOP TIP!
To help you score high marks in questions 2-4, we strongly recommend carrying out a Resource Assessment.
You can find a Resource Assessment Template in Weekly Guide 2 and in the ‘Resources’ section of your school
profile!
2.
What resources at your school could you use to start a business and how?
1. We have of plenty empty plastic containers
2. We can all bring glass bottles from home or collect them from within the neighbourhoods
3. We have lots of waste paper
4. We know the source of the clay pots
5. Availability of tropical flowers
3.
How could you use your school’s location as a business opportunity? The proximity to a mall that is
frequented by both the locals, expatriates’ and tourist, provides us with an opportunity to set up our
market either in or within it. We can also use the schools grounds to set up a mini-market as it is
within an urban residential place.
4.
How could you use your existing skills to start a business? Most of the children in our centre are
members of the club equipped with craft-making skills, basic entrepreneurship and a little of the
technology in arts. These skills can now be tested by creating products that are to be sold.
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Section D: Brainstorming
5.
What business ideas did you think of when brainstorming? Please tell us your 5 best ideas E.g. eggs,
growing vegetables, bags, handicrafts (2)
1. Recycling glass bottles and plastic containers
2.Accessorising Clay pots
3.Making and selling handmade paper from recycled paper
4. Making and selling note books/journal
5.Offering training on craft skills to other children within the residential area
Section E: Your Business Idea
TOP TIP!
To help you choose the best business idea and to score high marks in this section, we strongly recommend
carrying out a Feasibility Study. You can find a Feasibility Study Template in Weekly Guide 3 and in the
‘Resources’ section of your school profile!
6.
Which of your ideas did you choose as your Final Business Idea and why? (6). Please give 3 reasons why
you chose this idea. Remember to use the results of your Feasibility Study in your answer.
The business we would like to set up is: Decorating glass and plastic containers
Reason 1: Easy access to getting the containers and glass bottles
Reason 2: The re-purposed containers/bottles are an unique product especially at the craft market where
mainly curios, beadwork carry the day.
Reason 3: Having done a similar activity in class, would mean the children will be comfortable re-creating
quality products.
7.
How does your Final Business idea meet the People, Profit, Planet criteria? (6).
People: For home/office use decoration, Used at restaurants or weddings as centre pieces
Profit: We re-purpose the containers/glass bottles from our school and home, hence minimise the cost of
the raw material,
Planet: Save the environment from choking in plastic and broken glass that could injure people or
animals. Also, empty containers and bottles store water which stagnates and cause Malaria disease
Section F: Start-up capital
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8.
a) Does your business need start up capital (money)? Please circle one: Yes /No
b) If yes, how are you planning to raise the start-up capital?
1. We plan to borrow money as loan (from the club-yellow sparrows)
2. We make paper from recycled paper and sell to the greeting card designers
3. Each child has decided to donate each two story books and sell
4. We voted on each child selling a product made at the club as their share to the business which should
be reimbursed with a little interest
5. We have also agreed on seeking donations from their parents or guradians
OR c) If no, why do you not require start up capital? (10)
Appendix (OPTIONAL Bonus Points)
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT TEMPLATE
Does your school have any natural
resources?
Water
Yes No
If yes, give details
no
Land or farmland
no
Anything else e.g. beach, palm-trees,
orchard
yes
Internet
yes
We use internet bundles from the phone
Computers
yes
The club facilitator has a laptop
Printer
yes
Anything else e.g. sewing machine,
motorbike
yes
We are in the tropics and every now and then there is
flower blooming in our school and homes. The flowers
will be dried and used to accessorize the bottles
Does your school have any physical Yes No
If yes, give details
resources?
Rubbish that can be recycled
yes
Plastic containers, glass bottles and paper from the
classroom
Machinery or equipment
yes
We have a framed mesh made for the club, used
e.g. a paper recycling machine
manually
to make A3 size paper
Buildings e.g. school hall
yes
There is a classroom and grounds enough to work
from
Electricity or a generator
yes
The school is supplied with electricity
We have a printing cafe near the school
We buy the pots from a self-help group within Kibera
Slums, the plastic containers/jars are to be recycled
from our homes and glass bottles of used wine, soda
drinks
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Is the location of your school….
Yes No
If yes, give details
Near a big town or city
Near a Tourist Attraction e.g. Safari
Park
Near industry e.g. a textile mill
city
yes
Near a mall that has a weekly craft market (Maasai
Market)
no
In an area with fertile land
no
Anything else e.g. near a market
Yes
Are there students in your Team
with…..?
Arts, Crafts or Tailoring Skills
Yes No
Computer, Internet or Media skills
yes
yes
Farming or Cooking skills
Maths and accounting skills
We have trained them in arts & crafts skills -using
various mediums
Our club trains in basic technology, use of a camera
& design technology
no
yes
We also train in basic entrepreneurship skills by
discussing various ways of pricing and managing
their earnings
Sports skills
no
Music or Dance skills
no
Language or Teaching skills
no
Anything else
The Mall has a high number of shoppers and the
school is near an urban residential palce
If yes, give details
yes
They know how to price the products and persuade
their customers to buy
CONGRATULATIONS on coming up with a Business Idea! You have completed Stage 1! Submit NOW!
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