Starting a business? Start with a plan!
What a year it’s been
2020 has seen so many young Australians living in communities grappling with the devastating effects of drought, flood or fire. Now with the COVID19 pandemic, many more have had to adapt to remote learning, not seeing their friends and watching on as parents or carers face an uncertain employment future.
They’ve been battered, bruised and confused in the classroom and at home. Then they’re faced with the headlines …
CORONAVIRUS EMPLOYMENT STRESS SET TO IMPACT FUTURE OF NATION’S SCHOOL LEAVERS
YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE UP TO 16.4% – MORE THAN DOUBLE THE NATIONAL RATE
HISTORY SUGGESTS YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT WILL SURGE, PAIN WITLL LAST A DECADE AFTER CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
It’s enough to knock the confidence of even the most optimistic school leaver – or soon to be school leaver.
It can be difficult preparing students for a positive employment future when times are so uncertain. With large and small businesses hit hard, entry-level jobs will be more difficult to come by, and have a longer line of experienced applicants in wait. That’s daunting for any young person just out of school.
So what can we do?
We can continue to encourage our students to understand and communicate their strengths and brush up on their transferable skills. Skill up, chin up and put their best foot forward. Sure there’s bound to be some disappointment.
But If there is one thing we have learned in 2020 (aside from the importance of hand hygiene and social distancing) – it’s that young Australians are resilient, optimistic, caring, adaptable, community minded and enterprising. Yes – enterprising!
The workforce and our experience and expectations of employment have changed dramatically over the last decade. The casualisation of the workforce means that it’s not unusual for people to work more than one job. Some are even exploring their own talents and skills to fill the employment gap.
It’s clear that young Australian jobseekers will need to be flexible and enterprising as they enter their work life in a post COVID world
Our classrooms are filled with young people brimming with ideas and enthusiasm, and ready to take their future into their own hands. And in 2020 the Australian community is more focussed and in tune with home grown, Australian made, community based and locally owned. You only need to look at the rise in popularity and support for small business startups and local business. So, if any of your students have an interest, a talent, a passion or an idea that will translate into a small business, don’t see it go to waste.
Information and communication technologies mean that starting a business is not so daunting, and there is a wealth of information and support available to give new businesses the opportunity for success.
So if any of your students has an idea for a business and are up for the challenge, you can help them to plan!
My Business Plan is an easy to use workbook that can be used in the classroom or at home. It helps students to explore the viability of any business idea and guides them through the process of creating a comprehensive and well-structured business plan that will give their business idea scope for growth.
My Business Plan will give students a greater scope of options than they may otherwise have dreamed. Who knows, starting their own business may even help them to beat those headlines and set them on the path to a more positive work future.
You can order copies of My Business Plan for your students on the TMP website, or by contacting us by phone or email.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions you may have. We’re always happy to talk.
Oh yes – My Business Plan is a great companion workbook to the Work-Ready modules STARTING A SMALL BUSINESS and SELF-EMPLOYMENT.
