Channel 4 Programme Notes
Careers - Work it
Working Week
Programme 5
Businesswoman

Aims:

To give a realistic idea of the various aspects of running a small business, including: To raise issues of self-awareness and development, including:

Synopsis:

00.00–00.49
Introduction.

00.50–04.08
Monday
The home–office. Basics of Iona’s business. Her background.
Wedding invitations plus a home-visit to bride.

04.09–07.08
Tuesday
Preparing a corporate party, visiting the venue.
Networking lunch.
Fiancé Andy helps with the business, reflects on the tough hours.

07.09–10.35
Wednesday
Bulk-buying the drink for the party. Issue of budgeting.
Evening meeting with investors.
Talks about start-up finance, business plans, Prince’s Trust, mentors.

10.36–14.22
Friday
The party – preparation, staff briefing, guests arrive, various entertainments.

14.2 –15.57
Sunday
Day off. Talking about her motivation for the venture.

15.58–18.45
Monday
Catering meeting for the wedding.
Back at the office – Iona’s role is absorbing the stress.
Shopping with the bride.
The costs of weddings.

18.46–23.58
Six weeks later …
The wedding – various crises, but all managed successfully.
Credits

Curriculum Relevance:

England & Wales
This programme is focused on Careers Education and Guidance, but could be used in aspects of PSHE and Citizenship curricula, for KS4 and post-16.

It is appropriate in terms of the national framework of CEG for 11–19 and the recent emphasis on learning through work, as a preparation for work experience and as a ‘TV experience’ of the working environment, with respect to specific learning outcomes of self-development, career exploration, and career management.

Northern Ireland
The series focuses on Careers Education and Guidance. It will also be useful for courses at KS3 and KS4 dealing with Learning for Life and Work, including Education for Employability, Local and Global Citizenship and Personal Development (including PSHE and Home Economics).

It is appropriate in terms of the national framework of CEG for 11–19 and the recent emphasis on learning through work, as a preparation for work experience and as a 'TV experience' of the working environment, with respect to specific learning outcome of self-development, career exploration and career management.

Scotland
This programme focuses on Careers Education and Guidance, and can be used in aspects of PSE and Citizenship curricula at National Qualifications and post-16 level.

It can be used to support learning through work, as a preparation for work experience and as a ‘TV experience’ of the working environment, with respect to specific learning outcomes of self-development, career exploration, and career management.

Background Information:

At the start of 2002 it is estimated that there were 3.7 million businesses in the UK, 99 per cent of which were small or medium-sized enterprises, employing fewer than 50 people. (Only about 1.1 million businesses have employees.) These businesses provided about 44 per cent of employment outside of the government sector and were responsible for 50 per cent of the UK’s turnover – £1 trillion.

Generally, the size of businesses is defined in terms of the number of people employed. A micro business employs 0 to 9 employees, a small business 10 to 49 and a medium 50 to 249.

New businesses, especially small firms, are the greatest source of new jobs.

Although accurate figures are hard to get, it is estimated that there were 6,200–18,000 new businesses in 2000. Survival rates in 1997 were 65 per cent.

Currently the most popular sectors for new businesses are: About 13 per cent of small to medium-sized businesses are operated by women.

A Business Plan
A good business plan is central to the success of a business. It is the strategic statement of the business – what the business aims to achieve and how it plans to do this. It defines the structure of the business, its products and services and it lays out the potential for growth. It establishes the financial parameters of the venture. It is also a document of inspiration and motivation for staff and other stakeholders. Business plans set realistic targets over a time framework and should have built-in assessment functions.

There are many consultancy companies and online business facilitators that can help draw up a business plan. While some consultants will charge a fee, there are many organisations whose aim is to help start-up businesses who will give free advice.

Suitability
Running your own business requires, amongst other things: Some things to be aware of!
Starting a new business can be very exciting but also very challenging. Many experts say that the early years are extremely tough and predict that, amongst other things, you will: There will be numerous big decisions to be made, and it is worth getting some expert advice about many aspects of business management, from initial finance to IT needs, from tax information to staffing strategies. Most importantly, be very careful about investing personal money or assets into a business and always take professional advice about managing finances.

Activities:

Take a look at a business plan.
There are many helpful sites on the internet through which you can get an understanding of Business Plans. A particularly helpful one is Real Deal http://www.channel4.com/life/microsites/R/realdeal/make_it/index.html, or try biz-in-a-box http://www.biz-in-a-box.co.uk/startup.html. Both have a Business Plan template for a fictitious company. Students can read through it and take on board the kinds of clarity and planning ideas that are needed when starting out with a business.

Think about and create a business idea based on students’ interests – a small company, running a music shop, opening a club or selling a service. Discuss the issues that would have to be thought through to develop a business plan and get started. (This is more to get a sense of the issues rather than to try and write up a detailed business plan)

Planning a party!
A huge amount of Iona’s time is spent doing the actual party/wedding planning. This is her service that she sells. Could you manage it?

Plan an ideal party / wedding / social event. Think of all the aspects you have to take care of, from the venue and invitation lists, to the catering, entertainment, music and other elements. How many staff do you need? How many services are sub-contracted? Plan a schedule of the build-up time, with jobs allocated for each day / week leading up to the actual day. Make sure that you think through the financial implications of every element. (The budget can be fictitious, but the thinking should be detailed.)

Personal awareness – professional behaviour
What are the things that you noticed about Iona and the way she handled her clients and sub-contractors. What were her professional standards of behaviour like at the various events, including her dress, manner?

In the programme Iona says that because she doesn’t sell a product as such, her reputation is terribly important to her. Discuss the scene where the marquee suppliers are not performing very well. How would you have handled it? Was Iona too soft or tough enough?

Links:

Channel 4's Real Deal is an excellent resource for anyone hoping to get an original business idea off the ground.
www.channel4.com/realdeal

This web page contains links to other websites that are neither controlled nor maintained by Channel 4 Television. Channel 4 Television is not responsible for the content of these sites and does not necessarily endorse the material on them.
The Prince’s Trust is an organisation that can help young people start businesses, giving helpful information and business guidance as well as possibly giving loans.
http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/

The Business Link is a new (November 2003) DTI website aimed at helping small and medium-sized businesses get the most direct web-based help and information. It has useful guides to starting up businesses, including financial assistance, as well as contacts and information about government regulations and services, tax and employment law.
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/home/

The Young Enterprise Scheme is a charity that runs business and enterprise education programmes and helps inspire and equip young people with their business ideas.
http://www.young-enterprise.org.uk/

The Ethnic Minority Business Forum aims to help businesses specifically in the black and minority communities.
http://www.ethnicbusiness.org/

The Department of Trade and Industry aims to promote enterprise and innovation in business and increase productivity across the economy. The site has all kinds of information about employment-related issues.
http://www.dti.gov.uk/

The National Federation of Enterprise Agencies is the membership body for Local Enterprise Agencies in England. It is a network of independent local agencies aimed at helping small and growing businesses with a range of services – pre-start, start-up and micro businesses, helping develop their ability to start and sustain themselves, and to encourage growth and stability.
http://www.nfea.com/

Credits:

Hair Colour Technician
Camera (Bar) Mike Fox, Zoran Veljkovic
Sound (Bar) Mike Lax, Ewan Reynolds
Music Audio Network
Dubbing Mixer Jim Betteridge
Online editor Matt Scragg
Sound David Marks
Assistant Producer Roz Sinclair
DV Director Imogen Haigh
Production Manager: Pippa White
Executive Producer Andrew Bethell
Editor Sam Bennet
Series Director Nick Woodroffe
Series Producer Ingrid Falck

Produced by Double Exposure for 4Learning

Emergency Nurse
Camera (Bar) Mike Fox, Zoran Veljkovic
Sound (Bar) Mike Lax, Ewan Reynolds
Music Audio Network
Dubbing Mixer Jim Betteridge
Online editor Matt Scragg
Sound David Marks, Richard Nicholls
Assistant Producer Roz Sinclair
DV Director Imogen Haigh
Production Manager Pippa White
Executive Producer Andrew Bethell
Editor Sam Bennet
Series Director Nick Woodroffe
Series Producer Ingrid Falck

 Produced by Double Exposure for 4Learning

Journalist
Camera (Bar) Zoran Veljkovic
Sound (Bar) Ewan Reynolds
Music Audio Network
Dubbing Mixer Jim Betteridge
Online editor Matt Scragg
Sound David Marks, Alice Ballentine-Dykes
Assistant Producer Roz Sinclair, Imogen Haigh
DV Director Sacha Mirxoeff
Production Manager: Pippa White
Executive Producer Andrew Bethell
Editor Jayesh Lathia
Series Director Nick Woodroffe
Series Producer Ingrid Falck

Produced by Double Exposure for 4Learning

Youth Worker and DJ Tutor
Camera (Bar) Mike Fox, Zoran Veljkovic
Sound (Bar) Mike Lax, Ewan Reynolds
Music Audio Network
Dubbing Mixer Jim Betteridge
Online editor Matt Scragg
Sound David Marks, Richard Nicholls
Assistant Producer Roz Sinclair, Imogen Haigh
Production Manager: Pippa White
Executive Producer Andrew Bethell
Editor Sam Bennet
Series Director Nick Woodroffe
Series Producer Ingrid Falck

Produced by Double Exposure for 4Learning

Businesswoman
Camera (Bar) Zoran Veljkovic
Sound (Bar) Ewan Reynolds
Music Audio Network
Dubbing Mixer Jim Betteridge
Online editor Matt Scragg
Sound David Marks,
Assistant Producer Roz Sinclair, Imogen Haigh
Production Manager: Pippa White
Executive Producer Andrew Bethell
Editor Jayesh Lathia
Series Director Nick Woodroffe
Series Producer Ingrid Falck

Produced by Double Exposure for 4Learning

Shop Display
Camera (Bar) Zoran Veljkovic
Sound (Bar) Ewan Reynolds
Music Audio Network
Dubbing Mixer Jim Betteridge
Online editor Matt Scragg
Researcher Richard Nicholls
Sound David Marks, Alice Ballentine Dykes
Assistant Producer Roz Sinclair Imogen Haigh
Production Manager: Pippa White
Executive Producer Andrew Bethell
DV Director Sacha Mirzoeff
Editor Sam Bennet
Series Director Nick Woodroffe
Series Producer Ingrid Falck

Double Exposure for 4 Ventures