- Ask pupils to research their local business environment. Local newspapers, telephone directories and town or community websites may be helpful for this. Encourage them to look at a range of organisations large and small, private and public. What businesses are represented in the area?
- Groups of pupils visit a range of local businesses to find out about the local business environment. They investigate the products and services, how they are made or provided, who buys them and what the business does that other businesses do not. Why do these businesses operate in the area? What are the skills needs of local businesses? How are local businesses financed? Pupils consider the advantages and disadvantages for businesses of operating in the area, eg a good skills base, closeness to components, tax incentives, good transport links, the high cost of property, and the impact of the business on the local community, eg it provides employment opportunities, supports a local charity, has a positive or negative impact on the environment. They find out whether the business is publicly or privately owned. Is it listed, eg on the Stock Exchange or Alternative Investment Market (AIM)? If the business closed, what kind of impact would there be on the local community? What kind of advice and support services does the business use?
- Each group records its findings and shares them with the other groups, using ICT to prepare presentations.
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- understand the role of business in the local economy
- know what the business they investigated tries to do
- identify some of the impacts of the business on the local community
- understand the local opportunities for future employment
- know some sources of support available to businesses when starting up and when operating
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