Link Module 1- Preparation for the world of work
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2.
3.
4.
Introduction to Working Life
Job-Seeking Skills
Career Investigation
Work Placement
Link Module 2 - Enterprise Education
5. Enterprise Skills
6. Local Business Enterprises
7. Local Voluntary Organisations/Community
Enterprises
8. An Enterprise Activity
Working Life
• Work can be defined as an activity which requires
effort, e.g. Washing the dishes at home.
• Employment is when payment is received for working,
e.g. Washing dishes in a canteen and getting paid.
• Employers are people who hire workers in return for
payment.
• Employees are people who work for employers
• Self-employed people work for themselves.
School to Work
• When leaving school to start work, you will face a
lot of challenges:
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Time management
Money Management
New relationships and different roles
Rights
Responsibilities
Freedom and independence
Others
Different Types of Work
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6.
Employment
Self-Employment
Voluntary work
Homework
Housework
Charity work
Voluntary Work
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Voluntary organisations rely on people to work for
nothing e.g. St Vincent de Paul.
Very important to our society and has many
benefits.
E.g.
You can help others, improve your self-esteem and
acquire new skills.
Self-Employment
This is where you work for yourself, e.g. Butchers,
shop owners, builders and hairdressers.
ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
You're the boss
You have to work long hours
initially.
You keep all the profits after tax
You alone are responsible for the
business
You can develop a hobby
No one shares any losses with you
It's an alternative to unemployment
There is a risk of failure
You decide your working hours
You have limited finance
You make the decisions
Permanent Full-Time
Employment
ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
Regular Income
No incentive to move job
Don't have to worry about finding a
job
Work tends to be less varied
You can join the pension scheme
Less leisure/family time is available
Easy to plan your own finances
You may lose flexibility
Security of employment gives
independence
Moving house becomes difficult
Promotion prospects exist
Motivation may decrease
Part-Time Work
With part-time work, you work a minimum of eight
hours a week on a regular basis.
Time Rate:
If an employee is paid by time-rate, their hours
must be monitored.
E.g.
1. Sign in an attendance book
2. Clock in/clock out cards
3. Personal checks
4. Video cameras
5. Scan in ID cards
Why monitor time-keeping?
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Workers will learn to be punctual
Wages can be calculated accurately
One can check if employees are reliable
Checks are a must for flexitime as employees will
have a range of starting times.
Contract of Employment
When working you must receive a contract of employment. This
document sets out all the terms and conditions relating to
the position offered.
A contract of employment will contain the following:
• Employers name and address
• Employees name and address
• Job Title
• Job Description
• Date of commencement
• Salary
• Holiday entitlements
• Duration of contract
• Pension arrangements
Unemployment
Many people are unable to find suitable employment and are said to be
unemployed. This could happen for many reasons:
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Closure of a business, Change in the economy, Improvements in
technology.
Training Schemes for the Unemployed:
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FAS
Runs large no. of training courses/receive weekly training allowance.
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Community Enterprise Scheme (CES)
For long-term unemployed/advise & training is given to a communitybased group that has a plan to create local employment.
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Failte Ireland
The national tourism development authority, provides opportunities
for people over 17, to train for employment in the Irish tourist
industry.
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VTOS Courses (Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme)
Run by the Department of Education and operated through the
VEC's. Unemployed adults are given the opportunity to learn new
skills and prepare for the world of work.
FAS Employment Services
FAS is the National Training and Development Authority. It provides
training for job-seekers, helps the unemployed return to work and
provides recruitment services.
FAS provides the following services:
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Initial guidance interviews to help build up your profile.
Career information including guidance, planning and support.
Advice on employment incentives e.g. Assistance for disabilities.
Information on FAS programmes and training.
Access to a wide range of job vacancy information.
They can submit your details to employers with suitable vacancies.
Financial Assistance to the Unemployed
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Jobseekers Benefit - weekly payment payable to those who have
lost their jobs.
Jobseekers Allowance - weekly payment to those not eligible for
jobseekers benefit.
Family Income Supplement (FIS) - in order to qualify, the net
average family income must be below a specified amount.
Revenue Job Assist - a tax allowance for people returning to work.
Part-time Job Incentive Scheme - allows people who have been
receiving jobseekers allowance for at least 15 months to take up
part-time work and still receive a part-time allowance.
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance - encourages unemployed people
to return to work by setting up their own enterprises.
Back to Education Allowance - encourages unemployed people to
return to education and acquire extra qualifications or retraining.
Changes in Employment
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Employees change jobs and careers many times during their life
More people work from home
Changes in technology means the types of jobs are changing
More people are working part-time/job-sharing and working
flexitime.
More people are opting for self-employment
More people are working in services and trades
There are changes in economic activities
Economic Activities describes the different types of businesses that
exist. These can be divided into three categories:
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Primary - agriculture, fishing, forestry and mining
Secondary - manufacturing and construction
Tertiary (Services) - financial, transport, legal and medical
Employees
Rights
Responsibilities
• Receive a minimum wage
• Be honest and
trustworthy
• Have a safe place to
work
• Join a trade union
• Be treated in an equal
• Get the correct holidays
• An honest/fair days
work
• Protect the employers
good name and property
• Work as part of a team
Employers
Rights
• Set up a business
• Decide on the aims and
objective of their
organisation
• Select suitable staff
• Dismiss dishonest staff
• Expect employees to
honour their contract
Responsibilities
• Provide safe and healthy
working conditions
• Obey employment laws
• Pay agreed wages
• Keep employee records
for income tax and PRSI
purposes
Health & Safety Regulations
The Safety, Health and Welfare at work Act 1989 as well as
the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Regulations 1993,
set out the legal requirements to safeguard workplaces.
• The Health and Safety Authority.
 The Health and Safety Authority is a Statesponsored body, which promotes good standards,
advice, research and information on health and safety
in the workplace.
 It is responsibly for developing new laws and
standards.
 It inspects workplaces and investigates any accidents.
 They are responsible for both the employer and the
employee.
Areas of concern in the
workplace
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Bullying
Workplace safety
Sexual harassment
Manual handling
Workplace stress
Causes of accidents in the
workplace
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Lack of training
Untidy/cluttered areas
Not following safety procedures
Not wearing protective clothing
Lack of concentration
Not using machinery correctly
Haste
Horseplay
• All construction workers must have a Safe Pass:
this is a one-day course organised by FAS.
Employees Duties
• To take reasonable care to protect the health and safety of
themselves and of other people in the workplace
• Not to engage in improper behaviour that will endanger
themselves or others
• Not to be under the influence of drink or drugs in the
workplace
• To undergo any reasonable medical or other assessment if
requested to do so by the employer
• To report any defects in the place of work or equipment
which might be a danger to health and safety
• To use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and protective
clothing, if required.
• To ensure there is no bullying in the workplace.
Employers Duties
• Provide and maintain a safe workplace which uses safe
plant and equipment
• Prevent risks from use of any article or substance and
from exposure to physical agents, noise and vibration
• Prevent any improper conduct or behaviour likely to put
the safety, health and welfare of employees at risk
• Provide instruction and training to employees on health
and safety
• Provide protective clothing and equipment to employees
• Appointing a competent person as the organisation’s
Safety Officer
Trade Unions
• It is important to develop and maintain good
relationships between employers and employees.
• Many organisations promote good industrial relations,
e.g. Trade unions.
• Examples:
• SIPTU(Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical
Union)
• Impact
• TUI (Teachers' Union of Ireland
• ASTI (Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland)
Functions of a Trade Union
• Represent workers e.g. Negotiate for improved wages.
• Negotiate for improved working conditions e.g. Holidays
• Negotiate on behalf of employees when disputes with
employers
• National Agreements ensure that all wages are
increased by a fixed percentage
• Provide grants for education
• Support and promote equality in the workplace
• Give workers greater strength by uniting them
Shop Steward
• Elected by workers to act as their union representative in
the workplace
• Recruits new members to the union
• Keeps members informed of any union developments
• Represents workers in discussions with management
• Acts as a link between union head office and the workplace
IBEC - Irish Business and Employers
Confederation
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This is an organisation which represents employers and businesses.
Qualities for employment
• Energy, drive and hard work: when employees show
interest and overcome difficulties.
• Reliability: when employees can be trusted and
depended on.
• Enthusiasm and commitment: when employees show
interest, eagerness, dedication and responsibility.
• Adaptability: when employees are flexible and can
accept change.
• Good education: when employees have qualifications
and experience.
Methods of Recruitment
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Newspapers/tv/radio/internet
Recruitment agency
Work experience person
Contacts
Recruitment fairs/recruitment days
Job training agencies e.g. FAS
Word of mouth
Reasons for Vacancies
The business could be expanding
Employees could be retiring
Employees could be leaving
Replacements due to sick/maternity leave/career
breaks
• Seasonal work
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Difficulties for Employers when Recruiting
• The work itself may be dull/boring
• There may be a skills shortage in that field
• General economic conditions may make it difficult to
recruit
• The location of the business may be awkward for
employees
• Wages and working conditions may be unattractive
Ways to overcome Recruitment Problems:
• Recruit from abroad
• Over part-time/job sharing/flexitime
• Provide training opportunities/grants for further education
• Provide accommodation
Benefits of using Recruitment Agencies
• Offer a full range of services related to recruitment:
advertising, profiling, interviewing, short-listing, checking
references.
• Can save the company time and money
• Good recruitment agencies attract high calibre applicants
• Agencies have specialised staff that will recruit more
objectively
Applying for a job:
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Letter
Telephone
Email
Application form
Curriculum Vitae
Applying for a Job by Telephone
• Pre-telephoning
1. Have the advertisement and your CV in front of
you
2. Phone from landline in a quite room
3. Have a pen and paper ready
4. Have all times and dates ready
• While telephoning
1. Speak clearly, confidently and slowly
2. Ask to speak to person whose contact details were given in
advertisement
3. Record relevant information
4. Listen attentively to questions asked
5. Keep the conversation brief
6. Thank the receiver for his/her time
Tips for Letter Writing
• Letters should be typed and no longer than one page
• Use high quality, clean, A4 size paper
• Use black ink
• Do not use Tipp-Ex
• Do not photocopy
• Use Times New Roman and spell-check
Guidelines for filling out Application Forms
• Read the form carefully and thoroughly
• Have your CV beside you so that you can copy
from it
• Photocopy the form and practise filling it in
• Begin with the easiest questions
• Draft answers to complex questions on a rough
piece of paper
• Fill in ALL the boxes truthfully.
• If a questions doesn’t apply, write N/A (not
applicable)
• Double-check spelling/grammatical errors
• Use black pen and BLOCK CAPITAL LETTERING
• Do not use Tipp-Ex or similar correction products
Curriculum Vitae
A CV is a summary of your education, skills and experience.
The purpose of a CV is to help you get and interview for a job.
Examples of Skills and Qualities
• Personal Skills Qualities: Honest/dependable/willing to
learn/confident/creative/self-motivates.
• Technical/Practical Skills: Writing reports/foreign
languages/computer skills/researching/numbers.
• Interpersonal/Group Skills: Working with others/
communication skills/ deal with conflict/chair meetings.
Preparing for an Interview
Pre Interview:
• You need to be prepared- research the job and
the workplace – use the internet – update CV – add
new qualifications.
• Practice possible questions and responses – rollplay an interview – Always stress the positive in
answers to questions.
• Organise what to wear and dress neatly and
appropriately.
• Plan to get to the interview on time
• Know your strengths and weaknesses. Do a SWOT
analysis.
Preparing for an Interview
During the Interview:
• Start with firm hand shake and smile.
• Establish and maintain eye contact.
• Communicate positively, clearly and with
confidence.
• Sit with both feet on the floor and don’t slouch.
• Listen attentively and answer truthfully.
• Expect the unexpected e.g. awkward questions.
• Thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet
you.
• If you get interview, evaluate it and consider what
improvements could be made for the next
interview.
Planning your Career Investigation
In planning your Career Investigation you must set
yourself goals. Consider the following SMART:
S
Goals must be Specific
Write them down
M
Goals should be Measurable
I hope to study or work at a
particular subject so that I
achieve a certain grade.
A
Goals should be Attainable
Starting with short-term
goals, can make long-term
goals more attainable.
R
Goals should be Realistic
They should provide neither
too great nor too small a
challenge
T
Goals should have Times attached
Allow enough time to achieve
the goal and evaluate.
Stages of a Career Investigation
• Compile a personal profile e.g. assess you skills,
qualities, aptitudes, interests and work preferences.
• Select your preferred job and conduct research, e.g.
career path, skills, qualities, training necessary.
• Draw up a contingency plan.
• Interview and/or work shadow in your chosen career.
Work Shadowing
• Watching rather than doing.
• Work shadowing is an excellent opportunity to improve
your communication skills.
• Provides you with an excellent opportunity to learn
about careers of interest to you.
Planning and Preparing Work Shadowing
• Generate a list of questions
• Explain the purpose of this experience
• Document what you learn
• Be aware of the assessment criteria
• Be courteous at all times
• Allow time for reflection and evaluate
• Thank employer
Find a Work Shadow Placement
• Guidance Counsellor
• Family, friends
• Newspapers, magazine
• Internet
• Writing to or e-mailing an employer
Advantages of Work Experience
• Offers an insight into the duties, tasks and responsibilities
associated with a particular type of work
• Can relate directly to your career aspirations.
• Can make contacts for future work, get content for your CV
and acquire references.
• Can help develop and improve interpersonal, communication,
organisational skills.
• Can motivate you to work harder when you return to school.
• Chance to interact with adults in the working world.
Advantages of Work Shadowing
• Exposed to variety of careers by doing couple of shorter
placements
• Improve interpersonal and communication skills
• Suitable for careers that don’t lend themselves to work
experience e.g. social work
• Make contacts for future work
Finding Work Experience
When looking for work experience you should do the following:
• Decide on the career/experience you would like
• Identify the business in your locality that would be suitable,
e.g. a primary school or creche for childcare
• Write a letter to/telephone/or personally visit the business
Ask family members/relatives if they have contacts
• Ask your LCVP teacher for advice or assistance
• Identify and research placement opportunities
• Prepare CV and Letter of Application
• Liaise between employer and school
• Accept responsibility for planning/organising placement
Preparing for Work Experience
Pre-Placement:
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Set your objectives
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Develop organisational and communication skills
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Prepare a CV
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Revise letter writing and write a letter
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Revise telephoning/e-mail
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Revise interview techniques
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Organise transport
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Inform your principal
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Get Insurance forms
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Get employers’ report forms
Preparing for Work Experience
During Placement:
• Find out about the company
• Make a note of your duties
• Make a note of training
• Write down your observations
• Make a note of interactions with staff
• Describe a dress code
• Describe a typical day
• Describe your highs & lows
• Make a note of safety, health and welfare regulations
Preparing for Work Experience
Post-Placement:
• Evaluate work placement e.g. what did I learn/skills
required/qualities required/am I suitable/can I improve
• How did I overcome problems
• How did I master unfamiliar tasks
• Are there any career possibilities
• Did I make contacts for the future
• What would I do differently
• Would I recommend the job to others
• Sent a thank-you message to employer by letter/email
Don’t forget – Law and the Workplace!
Safetly, Health & Welfare at Work Act 1993:
• Follow instructions and heed training
• Use protective equipment
• Report any dangers or injuries
• Use all equipment in the proper manner
• Do not endanger others
• Look out for safety signs
• Ask employer for their safety statement
• Give your insurance details to your employer
• If harassed or bullied, inform your contact person
Evaluating your Work Experience
Work experience can by evaluated by;
• The quality and content of your Diary of Work Experience, in
particular the evaluation.
• Your employer completing an Evaluation Form or by
interviewing the employer
• By assessing your progress in school after the placement.
Maybe your more motivated and working harder (ask teacher)
• Class discussions on what you have learned and how your
skills have improved can be used as a method of evaluating
the work placement.
Ways to improve your Communication Skills
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Practice speaking in public: this will help with tone and speed
and will help you overcome any feelings of nervousness.
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Know your subject: you will come across as more confident and
relaxed.
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Learn to listen carefully: helps you to understand and avoid
being distracted.
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Do a Communication course: highlights what you need to improve
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Join a club, preferably as an officer (chairperson, secretary,
treasurer)
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Learn to improve your body language
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Practice writing reports/letters
Important points regarding Work Placement
• Organise work experience in plenty of time.
• Ensure you are covered by the school insurance policy
• Work on building site requires a health and safety certificate
(‘Safe Pass’) which involves training and a fee
• Consent forms are required from parents/guardians for
insurance purposes
• Present your Employers Report Form
• Keep a diary of your activities each day, including tasks
performed, names, dates and evaluation.
Enterprise
Personal Enterprise: undertaking something to
improve or acquire qualifications/skills, getting a
part-time job, organising an activity.
Community Enterprise: People get together on a
voluntary basis to improve or promote their local
area e.g. Tidy towns’ committees.
Business Enterprise: An enterprising person who
sets up a business to provide a good/service is
called an entrepreneur.
Enterprise
• A purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially
one that requires effort or boldness)
• The human ability to be innovative and willing to do
something new and challenging with the risk of
possible failure.
The Importance of Enterprise
1. Generates new business
2. Raises the standard of living
3. Provides business for banks and service providers.
4. Generates tax revenue for the exchequer.
Definition of an Entrepreneur
A person who applies enterprise to setting up a new
business.
A person who comes up with the idea and
sets up a business to develop that idea at a
profit, e.g. Bill Gates (Microsoft), Richard
Branson, Louis Walsh, JP McManus etc.
Skills and characteristics of an
entrepreneur
• Characteristic’s: special attribute or trait that
distinguishes one person from another.
• Skills: and ability people have gains through practice
and knowledge.
Characteristics of an Entrepreneur
Risk taker
Opportunity
Pro-active
Innovative
Decisive
Highly motivated
Analytical
Ambitious
Confident
Ruthless
Decisive
Hardworking
Skills
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Inner Control
Planning
Setting Goals
Being Realistic
Risk-Taking
Innovative
Decision Making
Strategies for Idea Generation
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Brainstorming
Mind Maps
Thinking in new ways
Finding solutions to problems
Analysing the failures of others
Finding new uses for products/services
Identifying a niche market or a gap in the market
Creating false crises
Idea Generation to Sales
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Idea Generation
Market Research
SWOT Analysis
Target Market
Competition
Marketing Mix
Test Market
Sales... Profit
Evaluation – ConclusionsRecommendations
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Where the goals achieved?
What did or did not work?
What was learned from the activity?
What problems were encountered and how were
they dealt with?
What the activity worthwhile and\or costeffective?
How well did the team work together?
How well did you perform your role?
What lessons can be learned for the future?
What changes are needed to ensure success in
other activities?
Ownership Options
• Sole Trader (Business owned and run by one
person)
• Partnership (Business with between 2-20 partners)
• Company (private & public)
• The big advantage of a company is that it has
limited liability, the owners/shareholders will only
lose the money they invested.
• The they also raise capital through issuing shares.
Number of Employees
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Micro Business (1-10 employees)
Small Business (10-50 employees)
Medium Business (50-250 employees)
Large Business (more than 250 employees)
Stakeholders in a Business
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Employers
Employees
Consumers
Suppliers
Investors
Government
Trade Unions
Local Community
Voluntary Organisations
Community Enterprises
Family
Competitors
Teamwork
• A team is a group of people working together to
achieve a common goal/objective.
• Team building is a process to strengthen teams.
Advantages of Teams:
• Work is completed faster
• Responsibility is shared
• Workers have responsibilities to others, therefore they
take more ownership of their work
• Share expertise and skills
• Improve team relations
• Encourages participation and communication
• Improves interpersonal skills
Leadership
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“The process of influencing the activities of an
organised group towards goal setting and goal
accomplishment”
A leader needs to direct and coordinate the
activities of the team in order to achieve the
desired objectives.
An effective leader will build on the strengths and
talents of the people around them.
A leader must also provide people with the
necessary resources.
They will allow others to take responsibility to
work on their own initiative in order to achieve
agreed objectives.
The leader also leads by example.
Meetings
A formal type of
communication
Meeting occurs when at least two people
come together for one the following reasons:
• To give and receive information about a particular
topic
• To discuss and solve a problem for example a union
management meeting
• To enable different groups of people to co-operate
together, for example departments in a firm
• To make decisions, for example board meetings
Planning/Organising a Meeting
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Send out a notice of the meeting to invited people
Prepare an agenda
Book a room that is properly prepared
Elect a chairperson and secretary
Adhere to the items of the agenda
Allow only one person to speak at a time
Allow each item to be properly discussed
Make sure a written record is taken (minutes)
Vote properly
Decide on relevant actions
NOTICE OF MEETING
must include the following details
1. Name of the business, club
2. The place where the meeting will take place
(venue)
3. The date of the meeting
4. Time of the meeting
Notice and Agenda of the Meeting of the
LCVP Fundraising Group
NOTICE
The meeting of the above group will take place in Room 4
on Wednesday 12 October 2011 at 1.15pm.
1.
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5.
6.
7.
AGENDA
Minutes of last meeting
Matters arising from the minutes
Correspondence
Treasurer’s report
Fundraising ideas
Organising team tasks
AOB
Signed:
Patricia Clarke
Secretary
Example
of
Notice &
Agenda
Date:__________
Minutes of the Meeting
of the LCVP Fundraising Group
The minutes of the above group took place in Room 4 on
Wednesday 12 October at 1.15pm. A total of 16 attended.
1.
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5.
(a)
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8.
Example
Minutes
of a
Meeting
The minutes from the last meeting were read out.
There were no matters arising from the minutes.
A letter was received from a local charity organisation thanking the group for the
offer of fundraising. The charity has offered the services of a guest speaker. It
was decided to invite the speaker to attend the LCVP class at a mutually acceptable
time.
The treasurer reported that no funds have been raised to date.
A number of fundraising ideas were suggested and the group finally decided on
investigating:
A sponsored 10km walk; and (b) a Christmas calendar with adverts.
Two teams of eight people were chosen to investigate each option, draw up a plan
and report back at the next meeting. Each team will meet separately to assign
duties.
There was no other business, so the meeting ended at 1.45pm.
The next meeting will take place on Wednesday 26th October 2011 at 1.15pm in Room
4.
Signed: Patricia Clarke
Secretary
Roles within a committee
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Chairperson
Secretary
Treasurer
Public relations officer
Chairperson
• Most meetings require a chairperson in order to control
and direct the proceedings.
• They carry the authority to keep order and maintain
progress in line with the agenda.
Functions of a chairperson:
• Run (chair) the meeting
• Ensure that order is maintained
• Give each person an opportunity to speak
• Organise a vote, if needed
• Follow the order of the agenda
• Represent the meeting/organisation.
Secretary
The Secretary is responsible for keeping records and
looking after correspondence.
Functions of a Secretary:
• Keep minutes of the meeting
• Send out the agenda
• Keep a register of members
• Deal with all correspondence
• Keep all official documents
Treasurer
• The Treasurer is responsible for financial policies,
procedures, and controls.
• The Treasurer receives and disburses all funds and
pays bills as they come due.
• It is their responsibility to keep an accurate
account of all transactions.
• The Treasurer shall make financial reports to it
committee.
Public Relations Officer
• The Public Relations officer shall arrange the
preparation and dissemination of news releases
regarding activities etc.
• They will also be responsible for all internal
publications e.g. newsletter.
Benefits of Local Enterprises in Local
Area
• Employ local people and have positive effect on the
economy
• Other businesses in the area will benefit e.g. Banks
• One business can attract other businesses
• Enterprises can support local projects, improving area
• Enterprises can sponsor local events
• They may welcome school visits
• They may provide work placements
• They may agree to visit a school
• Local infrastructure benefits
Evaluating the success of a Local
Enterprise
• Profitability & Sales: does the business have high
sales and make a profit?
• Continuity of business: how long has the business
been in existence?
• Expansion: has the business grown/no of staff
increases?
• Image: how is the business regarded by
customers/does it have a good brand image?
• Low labour turnover: do employees stay with the
business?
• Rising share price: In the case of a company, has the
share price risen?
10 Factors to a Successful Business
1. Business Plan: Necessary to apply for loans/grants. Useful as a
control mechanism. Used to review and evaluate, compare
planned objectives to actual results
2. Finance: Capital/Grants/Other sources/Cash flow.
3. Product: Must be demand for the product (Mkt Research/Mkt
Mix very important)
4. Staffing: must have properly trained staff (Recruiting
procedures/training/incentives)
5. Location: consider transport services/employees/rail or port if
exporting/customers/suppliers.
6. Managerial Experience: To run a business successfully
management skills and management activities are NB.
7. Laws: Health & Safety/Employment Equality/Sale of Goods
Act/Young Persons Act/Tax, Maternity leave, data
protection/Consumer Information Act.
8. Economic Factors: Recession (high taxation/high unemployment)
9. High Quality Product/Service:
10. Local Environment: must obey environment laws.
Impact of the Single European Market
• Irish companies have access to wider European markets
• Irish companies face more competition, therefore must
become more competitive
• International companies may locate in Ireland to gain
access to the European market.
• Currency: the introduction of the Euro has made it
easier to do business in the Euro Zone.
• Irish companies have to compete with low-wage eastern
European countries.
• Documentation when trading with EU is easier
• Recognition of qualifications within EU is better
• Financial institutions are able to open in member states
• Sales can increase leading to Economy of scale
• Costs involved e.g. Transport/packaging/interpreters etc
Business plan
Why should a business plan?
What is a Business Plan
1. The most important part of setting up a business is
preparing a Business Plan.
2. “Failing to plan is the same as planning to fail”.
3. By having a plan a firm knows where its going and
what it hopes to achieve.
4. A plan is essential if you wish to apply for a loan or a
grant.
Elements of a Business Plan
1. Description of the Business
• The business's legal structure: sole trader/partnership/company
Type of enterprise e.g. Manufacturing. Product or Service
2. Personal
• Names of owners/directors. Management responsibilities.
Departments and organisational structure. Qualifications/Salaries
of staff.
3. Finance
• Capital (money to start up bs)/Loans (money borrowed from
financial institutions)/Accounts (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow)/
Sources of Finance
4. Marketing
• Market Research/target market/marketing
mix/advertising/competition
5. Production
• Job/Batch/Mass production. Quality. Safety
6. Other Relevant Information
• Leases/Legal documents/CV's/Patents
Reasons for a Business Plan
1. Raising Finance
• A business may require loans/grants. Planning helps decide capital
requirements
2. Setting Objectives
• Short-term goals (to maintain 50% market share.
• Long-term goals (to expand into a foreign market)
3. Indentifying Weaknesses
• Need to be aware of weaknesses - take corrective action
4. Controlling/Evaluating
• A business plan helps you monitor progress, test achievements and
evaluate performance
5. Timing (Schedule)
• Both employees and management know what is to be done and when.
6. Decision Making
• A plan helps management make day-to-day decisions and also helps
them to evaluate whether or not to start/continue the business
Support/Training for New Business
1. City & County Enterprise Boards
• Give advice, training, support and financial assistance to microbusinesses.
2. Udaras na Gaeltachta
• They attract investment to Gaeltacht areas by offering grants
3. FAS
• They provide training and employment programmes
4. LEADER Plus Programme
•
5.
•
6.
•
7.
•
Promotes development in rural areas
Small Firms Association
They provide support and advice to small firms.
Enterprise Ireland
They provide support and grants to Irish firms.
Failte Ireland
Semi-state body that promotes tourism
Marketing
The management process responsible for
identifying, anticipating and satisfying
customer requirements profitably.
Research

Primary Research (Field research)

Takes place after secondary research, the
aim is to discover new information (surveys;
questionnaires; focus groups)
 Secondary Research (Desk research)
• First type of research, done to discover what
information is already know from previous
reports etc
Marketing Mix (5 P’s)
1. Product: what does the consumer need/want
2. Price: how much should we charge, what will the
consumer pay
3. Place: where should we sell/how will we get the
goods to the consumer
4. Promotion: how will we encourage people to buy
5. Packaging: can sometimes be more important than
the product
Product
• Do you have the right product
• Every product should have unique selling point
(USP)
• Has it something that sets it apart from similar
product
• Ensuring we are not producing a product that won’t
sell
• Reaching a standard customers demand
• Good design, and is quality up to standard
Price
• Do you have the right selling price/pricing strategy
• What price are customers willing to pay
• Do you cover the production price and make a
profit
• Are you in line with competitors prices
Place
• Where to sell
• Outlets, internet, direct selling, wholesaler,
retailer
• Looking for new places to sell
• Where are the most potential customers
• Distribution- how to get the product to the market
• Aiming the advertising to the right type of
customer
Promotion
• How to advertise the product effectively to its
target market
• Sales promotional techniques, coupons, displays,
etc.
• PR. Advertising
• How to attract new customers.
Promoting a product
• Advertising (TV, radio, paper, billboards, receipts)
• Sales promotion (coupons, special offers etc)
• Publicity (contests, sponsor events, exhibition)
• Branding (a name, logo, slogan, and/or design
scheme associated with a product or service)
Merchandising
• Is promoting a particular brand of
products/services through direct and indirect
advertising, displays and in-store sales promotional
techniques.
• Examples include offering free samples of goods in
store (lady frying the sausages)
• Stacking a special display provided by the producer.
• Giving of complimentary products, buy one get one
free, or at a reduced rate.
• Give away items, related to the product, cuddly toys
or gimmicks. (Mc Donalds toys)
SWOT Analysis
SWOT analysis is a way to analyse and evaluate your
current situation and environment to help you identify
the most beneficial strategies and goals.
Helps to identify issues that are part of current
and future situation of the business.
Allows an examination SWOT of a new idea,
product or service in the market place.
**Maximises the strengths, takes advantage of
opportunities and minimizes weaknesses and threats,
reduces the risk of failure of a new product or
service**
SWOT Analysis
1. Strengths
Advantages/What is done well
2. Weakness
Disadvantages/What is done badly
3. Opportunities
Markets/New Trends/Events
4. Threats
Competition/Changes in Technology/Changes in
legislation or government policy/Changes in consumer
needs/wants.
Voluntary Organisations
A group of people who have come together on a voluntary
basis with the expressed aim of improving the lives of
others in the community (local or national organisations)
Local Organisations
Tidy Towns Committee
Youth Club
Drama Club
Homework Club
Neighbourhood Watch
National Organisations
Society of St Vincent
de Paul
Amnesty International
The Rehab Group
Trocaire
The GAA
Aware
Bothar
Aware
Voluntary Organisations
What do Voluntary Organisations do?
Promoting the Development of Local Community:
e.g. Tidy Towns
Promoting protection of Local Community:
e.g. Neighbourhood Watch
Help disadvantaged groups within society:
e.g. Society of St Vincent de Paul.
Involvement in Sports:
e.g. GAA
Examples of Voluntary Organisations
GAA
Established to revive and
nurture traditional
indigenous pastimes
Promoting hurling/
Gaelic/football/irish
dancing/music & song.
There are over 2,500
clubs in Ireland alone
St Vincent de Paul
Voluntary org.
Membership open to
people of all faiths.
Aims to help people in
need on an individual
basis.
Provides clothing, fuel,
food, beds, furniture and
holidays.
Examples of Voluntary Organisations
Focus Ireland
Believes everyone has
the right to a place that
they can call home.
They try to empower
homeless people so they
can look after themselves
Providing them with
information, resources
and training, enabling
them to rejoin society.
Macra Na Feirne
Aims to promote
agriculture and rural
development.
It organises activities
around 8 different
programme areas: sports
and social, travel,
competitions, art and
culture, farming, rural
development, education
and leadership training.
Benefits of Voluntary Organisations
Provide a service not otherwise available
Help the less well off in society - so that everyone
has a basic standard of living e.g. The elderly
Provide a good example to young people and encourage
them to get involved and improve their skills
Foster greater community spirit - more support when
community projects are undertaken
Individuals involved benefit hugely as they are
committed to their local community
Evaluation in Voluntary Organisations
Evaluation is NB for voluntary organisations so they
can take a close look at themselves and what they
are doing on a regular basis.
It allows the organisation to review that it has
achieved.
The organisation's achievements can be compared to
its objectives.
Evaluation provides an opportunity to plan ahead, make
improvements and branch out into new areas.
It is a chance to check that funds are being properly
used.
People involved in Voluntary Organisations
•Most people involved in voluntary organisations work
on a voluntary basis.
•Some are paid and work on a full-time or part-time
basis.
•People have different roles, e.g. Counsellors, fundraisers, coaches, managers and administrators.
Community Enterprises
A Community Enterprise can be defined as a small
commercial enterprise that has been established for the
benefit of the local community rather than an individual




Promote development in particular communities
Udaras na Gaeltachta works in Gaeltacht areas
LEADER Plus programme promote rural enterprises
City and County Enterprise Boards promote the
development of micro-businesses
Examples of Community Enterprises
FAS
FAS operates training
and employment
programmes and
recruitment services.
It also provides support
for businesses and
community-based
enterprises.
City/County Enterprise
Boards
Provide support services
to small businesses.
Provide advice and
training grants.
They promote
entrepreneurship through
the Enterprise Awards
Scheme and Enterprise
Encounter.
Examples of Community Enterprises
Udaras Na Gaeltachta
Aim is to preserve and
strengthen the Gaeltacht
and the Irish language.
Encourage strong
communities who achieve
their full potential and
enjoy a high quality of
life.
Attracting investment to
the Gaeltacht regions and
offering grants and
incentives.
LEADER Plus Programme
An EU initiative for rural
development.
Enables groups in rural
areas to implement their
own business plans for the
development of their
area.
It is co-funded by the
Irish Government and the
EU.
Benefits of Community Enterprises
Help reduce unemployment
Generate income and provide services
Restore community pride
Improve the local environment
They help those who are socially excluded
They provide a service not otherwise available
Foster greater community spirit
Sometimes they receive grants which are utilised
locally
Voluntary Organisations v's Business
Enterprises
Voluntary Organisations
Non-profit making
Volunteers may receive
payment
Finance comes from
grants, fundraising, the
lotto
They may not have a
risk element
Business Enterprises
They trade for a profit
Staff receive payment
Finance comes from
investors and they charge
for product/service
They have a risk element
Multinational Business
• The advantages of a multinational business to host countries
are:
• They create jobs for the local population.
• The companies help the development of the country by bringing in
technology and knowledge that the host country does not possess.
• Transfer of technology, capital and entrepreneurship.
• They increase the investment level and thus the income and
employment in the host country.
• Greater availability of products for local consumers.
• Greater access to high quality managerial talent which tens to be
scarce in host countries.
• Increase in exports and decrease in imports, thereby improving
the balance of payment of host countries.
• The new multi-national companies act as growth poles for other
similar companies. They could encourage more companies to locate
in that country once they see the benefits that it brings.
Multinational Business
Disadvantages include:
• Destroy competition and acquire monopoly.
• Often the jobs are highly skilled and so the company brings in
their own people to do them. Also, the technological nature of
many of these companies means that there aren’t as many jobs as
there might have been.
• The wages paid to local workers are often low and some companies
have been accused of exploiting the local workforce rather than
benefiting it.
• There are often tax incentives for these companies to locate in
countries in the Developing World. This added to the fact that
they take most of their profits out of the country, means that
the actual economic benefit to the country could be minimal.
• Many multi-national companies have very poor records on pollution
and worker safety. They have been accused of trying to cut
corners with both safety and pollution in order to keep costs down
In order to reduce the fears of host
countries MNC they need to:
• provide employment
• train managers
• provide products and services that raise the
standard of living
• introduce and develop new technical and managerial
skills
• increase productivity
Deciding on a product/service
• Develop a new idea.
• Copy an existing idea
• Change an existing idea – develop/add to
it
• Identify a gap in the market
• Enter a niche market, i.e. A specialised
area
• Do some research and development
Market Research
• Market Research is an important element of
marketing.
• Market research is used to identify the types of
people interested in a particular product or service.
• Used to find out what potential customers need and
want.
• It can help producers to find a suitable selling price.
• Used to investigate competitors
• Can help determine what standard of quality the
producer should try to achieve
• It reduces the risks associated with business and
helps to ensure that the business is successful.
Types of Market Research
 Desk Research
 Information that has
already been published
 Newspapers
 Central statistics office
 Internet
 Magazines, trade
journals
 Golden pages
 Reports from Gov Dept,
Chamber of Commerce,
City & County Enterprise
Boards
 Field Research
 Going into the market
place and interviewing
customers and
potential customers.
 Collecting information
 Questionnaires
 Observation
 Personal interviews
 Telephone interviews
 Consumer panels
 Retail audits
Questionnaires
 One NB aspect of conducting a survey is designing the right
questions!!!
 Before you design the questionnaire brainstorm what
information you need to get from the people who'll be filling it
in.
• Use closed questions/open-ended and multiple choice questions
• Number questions
• Use clear headings & instructions
• Leave clear marked space for answers
• Questions must be clear and easy to understand
• Keep short and simple
• Pilot the questionnaire
• Avoid leading questions
• Avoid biased questions
• Select a sample that is representative
• Analyse answers properly
The Marketing Mix (4 P’s)
Product
• Produce the right produce/service to suit consumer needs
• Ensure excellent quality and an ideal brand, promoting an outstanding image e.g.
• Ensure the packaging enhances the product and is appropriate
• Having a USP (Unique Selling Point) for a competitive advantage
Price
• Choose the most suitable price for the product
• Cover all costs, whilst yielding a sufficient profit
• Price may be determined by demand and competitors prices
• Prices may change from time to time e.g. sales
Promotion
• What methods of advertising will reach target market e.g. newspapers/radio/tv
• Use sales promotions – e.g. special offers, 100% extra free
• Deal with public relations issues e.g. dealing with complaints, public relations
Place
• Where is your market actually situated
• How will you transport your goods to the market
• How will you distribute your goods? (direct to the consumer/or through a retailer?)
Marketing
• Marketing is a term used to describe all
aspects of selling goods and services;
• From market research to purchasing raw
materials, to producing the product, to selling
and distributing the product or service, to
after-sales service.
• Marketing identifies, anticipates and satisfies
consumers’ needs, whilst still making a profit.
Promotion
• Promotion encourages customers to buy goods/services.
• There are basically four methods of promotion:
1 Personal Selling
Sales people convince customers to purchase goods/services.
2 Public Relations
PR is about promoting the good image of an
enterprise/product/service to the public.
3 Advertising
Advertising creates interest in and desire for the
product/service, persuading customers to buy it.
4 Sales Promotion
Promotions encourage people to buy the product by giving
them: Free gifts/special offers/money off
Advertising
Reasons for Advertising
•
Attracts attention/inspires interest/develops desire/achieves
action i.e. persuades the customer to purchase the product/service.
Forms of Advertising
•
Television/radio/magazines/newspapers/cinema/billboards/the
internet/shopping bags/sponsorship/Competitions
Planning an Advertising Campaign
•
Have clear objectives
•
Decide on a budget
•
Choose an appropriate form of advertising
•
Decide on an advertising agency/appoint advertising manager
•
Decide on a target market
Evaluating an Advertising Campaign
After the campaign, evaluate to see:
• What worked well?
• What aspects were cost effective?
• What would we do differently?
How to evaluate:
• Identify the costs involved and see if the
campaign was effective
• Survey the public
• Check if sales have show a significant increase
• Ask employees for their opinions