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Teaching Enterprise and Business in Transition Year offers a unique opportunity to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs, innovators, and problem-solvers. With the freedom that TY provides, teachers can move away from traditional academic approaches and create a more dynamic, hands-on learning experience.
This practical, real-world focus can help students develop critical business skills, from financial literacy to teamwork and creative thinking, while also giving them a taste of what it’s like to run their own business.
If you’re an Enterprise or Business teacher for TY students looking for ways to make your lessons more engaging and effective, here are some tips and ideas to help you get the most out of your classroom.
Students are often more motivated to learn when they can see how their lessons apply to real life. Kick off your enterprise lessons by introducing real-world business case studies—focusing on companies they know and love. Discuss the success stories of companies like Apple, Spotify, or Irish success stories like the founders of Stripe, and highlight the entrepreneurial journeys of their founders.
Encourage students to look for lessons in failure too—analysing why businesses like Blockbuster didn’t survive but Netflix did can spark interesting discussions about changing markets, customer needs, and the importance of innovation.
Tip: Assign students the task of researching a startup or small business and presenting its success story, focusing on what made the business thrive or, in some cases, fail.
One of the best ways to teach enterprise is by allowing students to experience entrepreneurship firsthand. Many schools incorporate a Mini-Company Programme into their TY curriculum, where students work in teams to develop, launch, and run their own businesses over a term or school year.
Students can create anything from selling handmade crafts to offering services like tutoring or event planning. The experience teaches valuable skills in teamwork, financial management, marketing, and sales. Importantly, it gives students a real sense of ownership and responsibility, which can be highly motivating.
Tip: If your school doesn’t already offer a Mini-Company Programme, consider setting one up with a focus on practical skills like product development, budgeting, and marketing strategies.
Marketing is a vital part of any business, and TY is the perfect opportunity to let students explore it in a hands-on way. Whether through traditional methods or digital platforms, students can learn how to create campaigns that effectively communicate their business ideas.
Courses like Your First Online Store: A Beginner’s Guide to E-commerce are perfect for introducing students to the world of digital marketing. By setting up their own online stores, students can learn how businesses use social media, SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), and digital ads to attract customers. You can integrate e-commerce projects where students create an online storefront and promote their products using digital marketing techniques.
Tip: Challenge students to design a full digital marketing funnel for their store, from targeted social media ads to email newsletters, and track the “conversion rates” of potential customers.
Since most students are already familiar with social media, leveraging their knowledge of platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for marketing lessons can be incredibly engaging. Have students create social media strategies for their mini-companies, where they design posts, plan campaigns, and experiment with different content styles to see what resonates with their target audience.
For example, students could create promotional videos, run mock influencer campaigns, or develop branded hashtags. This not only teaches them marketing fundamentals but also how to adapt their messaging for different platforms.
Tip: Use tools like Canva for designing marketing materials, and platforms like WeVideo for creating short-form promotional videos. Students can test their campaigns with mock budgets to understand the cost-benefit of different marketing strategies.
Podcasting is an innovative way for students to explore marketing while building storytelling skills. Courses like Podcasting for Beginners give students the skills they need to produce their own podcasts, which can then be used as part of their overall marketing strategy. Students could create podcasts where they discuss their business journey, interview peers about their products, or share updates and behind-the-scenes stories. This long-form content allows for deeper engagement with potential customers and gives students a chance to refine their public speaking and creative communication skills.
Tip: Incorporate podcasting into a broader marketing campaign project, where students combine podcasts, social media, and online content to build a comprehensive promotional plan for their mini-companies.
Understanding how money works is fundamental to any business, and TY is the perfect time to start teaching students about financial literacy. Many students will enter adulthood without the basics of budgeting, saving, or investing, so giving them practical lessons in these areas is essential.
Create activities that allow students to manage “business finances” for their mini-companies or classroom projects. Introduce tools like Excel or Google Sheets to help them track expenses, profits, and losses. You can also use simulation games that teach budgeting or investment principles in a fun, interactive way.
Tip: Consider introducing a lesson on modern financial trends, like cryptocurrency or e-commerce. TY Online Courses offers a course on Bitcoin & Beyond: What is Cryptocurrency?, which dives into modern money and digital finance.
Marketing is a critical part of running any successful business, and TY students often find it one of the most enjoyable aspects of enterprise education. Use creative projects to get them thinking about branding, advertising, and social media strategies. For example, challenge students to create their own marketing campaign for their mini-company or a fictional product.
Tap into the TikTok generation by having them develop short, engaging promotional videos, or mock social media campaigns. This hands-on approach not only teaches them how to communicate effectively with potential customers but also helps them understand the importance of branding and consumer psychology.
Tip: Leverage free tools like Canva for graphic design and WeVideo for video editing. These platforms allow students to create professional-looking materials without needing advanced technical skills.
Bringing real-world entrepreneurs or business professionals into the classroom can make your business lessons come alive. Guest speakers can share their entrepreneurial journeys, offer practical advice, and provide students with insights into the realities of starting and running a business.
If possible, arrange for students to have business mentors—individuals who can offer guidance as students develop their business ideas. Mentorship can give students valuable feedback, motivate them to stay committed to their projects, and provide a real-world perspective on the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship.
Tip: Use local networks, business organisations, or alumni groups to connect with potential mentors. Many entrepreneurs are happy to give back by inspiring the next generation of business leaders.
Digital literacy is essential for modern business success. Help your students stay ahead by teaching them digital skills that will benefit them both in their mini-companies and in their future careers.
You can introduce them to e-commerce platforms through a course like Your First Online Store: A Beginner’s Guide to E-commerce, where they can learn how to set up and run an online shop. Additionally, teaching them about social media marketing, SEO, and Google Analytics can give them the tools to market their products effectively in a digital landscape.
Tip: Consider a module on digital entrepreneurship where students create an online business from scratch, learning the ins and outs of website development, online sales, and customer management.
At the heart of entrepreneurship is the ability to solve problems and think creatively. Encourage your students to view their mini-companies as solutions to real-world problems. Ask them to identify a challenge that their business could solve, whether it’s in their local community, in school, or on a global scale.
You could introduce design thinking workshops, where students go through the stages of empathy, brainstorming, prototyping, and testing solutions. These workshops encourage innovation and teach students to approach problems from multiple angles, a vital skill in any business environment.
Tip: Challenge students to focus on sustainable business practices. Ask them how they could make their mini-companies eco-friendly or how their products could have a positive environmental impact.
Running a mini-company or completing business projects in TY is a big achievement for students. It’s important to celebrate their successes, whether through a mini-graduation ceremony, awards for the best businesses, or even a TY Enterprise Fair where students showcase their products to the school or local community.
Just as importantly, encourage students to reflect on what they’ve learned—both the successes and the challenges. Ask them to think about what they would do differently if they were to run a business again, and how the skills they’ve learned can be applied to other areas of their lives.
Tip: Create a space for students to give each other feedback, and foster a classroom culture where learning from failure is celebrated as much as success. After all, entrepreneurship is as much about perseverance as it is about innovation.
Enterprise and Business in Transition Year is all about giving students the opportunity to think creatively, solve problems, and develop practical skills that they’ll carry with them into the future. Whether through hands-on projects like mini-companies, guest speakers, or lessons in digital marketing, there are countless ways to engage students and make business lessons more dynamic.
