Think Enterprise Issue 36

TE THINK ENTERPRISE QUARTER. 1 — 2022

READ INSIDE

A WELCOME TO OUR NEW IOEE CENTRE

URBAN MBA INTRODUCTION THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATIVITY IN SMALL BUSINESSES

HOW TO STAND OUT AND SUCCEED

THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY & COVID-19 NEW IOEE ACADEMY WELCOME

iUK ACADEMY

® INSTITUTE OF ENTERPRISE AND ENTREPRENEURS

THINK ENTERPRISE Quarter 1 — 2022 Vol. 36

CONTACT US 53 Coniscliffe Road Darlington DL3 7EH 0845 467 4928 newsletter@ioee.uk ioee.uk

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SARAH TROUTEN, IOEE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Welcome to the first edition of Think Enterprise for 2022. We’ve the usual exciting enterprising news and stories from our centres and partners as well as a few showcase articles.

This month we spoke with one of our new academies, Urban MBA, a registered charity whose mission is to create a “world where no young person is lost or left behind”. Read about founder, Kofi Oppong’s vision and plans.

We shine the spotlight on one of our qualifications, our Passport to Enterprise and Employment, and look at which are the most popular modules being delivered.

This month, we also have three featured articles on the entertainment industry, goal setting and the importance of creativity in small businesses.

All sure to give insight into some of the things affecting small businesses in the UK or how to work smarter.

I’d also like to give a very warm welcome to another new centre that is joining us this year, iUK. We caught up with them to find out about the work they’ll be doing under the IOEE banner.

And finally, after the launch of our free content and materials for our approved centres and academies, I’m pleased with the reception they’ve received and it’s spurred us on to develop even more. Watch this space!

I think that’s all, so grab your beverage of choice and enjoy this edition of Think Enterprise!

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06 An Introduction to Urban MBA

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Our Modules in the Spotlight

Entertainment Industry Closed: The Reason? Covid-19

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The Importance of Creativity In Small Businesses

Goal Setting: The Short Term and The Long Term

A Warm Welcome to iUK

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An Introduction to Urban MBA

As we start a new year we welcome a new not tailored anymore to the pro4le of the centre into the IOEE. Welcome on board new generations and the digital world the UrbanMBAandtoKo4Oppong,whofounded live in.( UrbanMBA) .

Urban MBA. Urban MBA is a registered charity focusing on providing skills to the n our interview, Ko4 commented on his young people in their community. Their personal focus on performance. Finding missionistocreatea' worldwherenoyoung waystoperformbetter,moreezcientlyand person is lost or left behind( (UrbanMBA) . more e ectively, Ko4 explained how this approach could also be used as a focus for Founded o the back of Ko4s experiences teaching, learning and business. The more with education, culture and employment, spoke with Ko4, the more considered my UrbanMBA is 4rmly based in reality, with ownexperiencewiththeeducationsystem. a personal approach to education. This Some forms of learning seem outdated, centre uses metaphors linked to Ko4s andtheinformationseemstohaveexpired. own interest in sports. They have a deep A change in business trends isnt being understandingoftheworldofbusinessand discussed enough, education isnt being commercialism as well as understanding presented in an accessible way and it s the shift in e ective methods of educating having an impact on the lost generation. young people. Focusing on the lost But UrbanMBA will not leave this group of generation of Gen Z, Urban MBA teaches learners behind. about the importance of goal setting, big ideas and trends in business.

Fitting into this generation myself, it ca sometimes be frustrating to be taught The lost generation is something spoke of past trends or to focus on the short to Ko4 about in detail. This lost generation term. Ko4 told me about the lack of long of Gen Z is a group of people who seem term goals in this lost generation and we to be left behind. The world evolves and discussed the potential link to inst adapts but the education system has left grati4cation, the world of social media and a group behind. The lost generation may the life span of content. We live in a world have a low level of ambition, a lack of skills focused on the present. All that matters i or a lack of desire to progress. ' This is a the moment of now. Commercially we buy typical symptom of generations Y and Z; what we want now, and think about the the new generations frequently described e ects after. We post instant snapshots as the lost children ( (UrbanMBA) , but this of our life to social media and tend to is something UrbanMBA seeks to make a focus on what is happening around us in thing of the past. ' Market research has led an easy to digest way. Ko4 challenges this Urban MBA to believe that this issue comes thinking and pushes for long term goal from an existing education system that is setting, consideration for the future an

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ways to explore the unknown by projecting possibilities ahead of us.

Another big focus for UrbanMBA is Problem Solving. As one of the foundation blocks for entrepreneurship, problem solving is a crucial skill to have in todays world. Being able to attack problems head on, rationalise issues and understand various viewpoints is important for any enterprising individual out there.

But why did UrbanMBA choose OEE? When we discussed the reasoning around choosing OEE, Ko4 seemed sure that this was a step in the right direction for his centre.

FindingacompanythatcansupplyUrbanMBA with a seal of approval as well as the online platform and available learning content was something that Ko4 seemed interested in.

Being able to provide the online campus as well as additional learning content and centre supportissomethingthatsetsOEEapartfrom other providers. Having worked with another company in the past that may not have been the best match, when OEE could o er the complete package, joining OEE would be a strategic and bene4cial decision.

After having a chat with Ko4 about Urban MBAs plans for the future, opportunities for education and ways to help the younger generations, all can say is keep your eyes peeled as there are some very interesting ideas being discussed.

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Our Modules in the Spotlight Level 1 Award in Passport to Enterprise and Employment The level 1 Award in Passport to Enterprise and Employment is a course, aimed to introduce the learner to enterprising and employability skills.

This course is reflective, providing the learner with many opportunities to recap their own experiences and practice new skills they may learn about or discover on this course. Within this course, learners are given the freedom to choose from a list of units. The more units the learner completes, the higher the qualification.

Depending on the number of units completed, the learner could achieve: An award, an extended award, a certificate, an extended certificate or a diploma in Passport to Enterprise and Employment.

This course provides learners with an introduction to the employability skills that may be desirable to future employees, as well as the processes that are needed to set up a successful enterprise / maintain that healthy business lifestyle.

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This course includes learning content for the following modules (with more learning content being created): • • • • • •

Self-Awareness and Self-Belief Developing an Enterprising Character Understanding your Customers Creative Thinking Understanding the Importance of Business Planning Understand how to market your business

Included in this course are individual unit assessment workbooks, drafted learning content for you to use or adapt, and a year long membership to the IOEE online campus.

We have documents full of learning content, we have created slides to use in your teaching and provided access to extra resources, such as additional reading or interactive learning opportunities, such as quizzes.

Self-Awareness and Self-Belief

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The aim of this module is to develop an understanding of yourself, becoming self aware and demonstrating a level of self belief.

The module will allow learners the chance to explore their understanding of themselves, their abilities and identify elements of themselves that they could improve. This module allows learners a lot of times to reflect on their own experiences.

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Unit Overview and Main Outcomes: This unit contains two learning outcomes and will support you to: Be able to demonstrate self-awareness.

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Identify own needs, wants, interests and goals Identify own strengths and areas for improvement

Be able to demonstrate self-belief through completing tasks.

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Guided Learning 16 hours Unit Overview and Main Outcomes: This unit contains 3 learning outcomes which will support the learner to be able to:

• •

• • • • •

This module provides the learner with prompts for self discovery, elements of reflection and ample opportunity to explore the skills and abilities they possess, and have utilised. Asking the learners to analyse their own behaviour allows them to develop their own sense of self awareness. This will organically lead to a development of self belief. This unit provides the prompts needed for the learner to take their first steps on the self awareness journey.

Identify a situation where a task has been completed successfully demonstrating the following:

Developing an Enterprising Character

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Drive to contribute to something that is good for self or others Passion and willingness to achieve goals and face challenges Determination and not giving up when facing difficulties Recognition that resources are not unlimited Valuing of possessions and using them responsibly Time management Seeking the views and opinions of others Clear communication with others

Understand the meaning of the term enterprising character Understand own enterprising character Understand how to develop own enterprising character

Assessment and Grading of This Unit: This unit is graded on a pass or fail basis and the learner must demonstrate evidence against all of the listed assessment criteria in order to achieve this unit.

The following provides examples of assessment methods that could be used to generate evidence for this unit. This list is not an exhaustive list and other methods can be used by the centre.

• • • • • • •

Product evidence Learner statement/case study Pre-approved worksheets Professional discussion Recognition of prior achievement Recognition of prior learning Witness testimony

This unit allows the learner to consider their enterprising traits. Not only does this unit give the reader confidence, by recognising their enterprising nature, but it highlights the areas for development and assists them in creating their own route to being the enterprising character.

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Understanding your Customers Unit Learning hours: 8 hours Unit Overview and Main Outcomes: This unit contains 2 learning outcomes which will support the learner to be able to: • •

Be able to identify customer needs Understand and demonstrate appropriate customer care

This unit is graded on a pass or fail basis and the learner must demonstrate evidence against all of the listed assessment criteria in order to achieve this unit.

The following provides examples of assessment methods that could be used to generate evidence for this unit.

Creative Thinking Unit Learning hours: 8 hours Unit Overview and Main Outcomes: This unit contains 2 learning outcomes which will support the learner to be able to: • •

Understand why creative thinking might be or might not be appropriate in different contexts Understand how to use tools to come up with a creative idea

Assessment and Grading of This Unit: This unit is graded on a pass or fail basis and the learner must demonstrate evidence against all of the listed assessment criteria in order to achieve this unit.

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This list is not an exhaustive list and other methods can be used by the centre.

• • • • • • •

Product evidence Learner statement/case study Pre-approved worksheets Professional discussion Recognition of prior achievement Recognition of prior learning Witness testimony

This unit supplies learners with an understanding of the types of customers they may encounter.

From internal to external customers, this unit covers the interactions that may take place, ways to take care of each customer. This unit works harmoniously within the passport as a great foundation block for employability and enterprising skills.

The following provides examples of assessment methods that could be used to generate evidence for this unit. This list is not an exhaustive list and other methods can be used by the centre.

• • • • • • •

Product evidence Learner statement/case study Pre-approved worksheets Professional discussion Recognition of prior achievement Recognition of prior learning Witness testimony

This unit pushed the learner to think outside the box. Creative Thinking is a unit which looks to challenge the thinking of the learner whilst engaging and pushing them to consider alternative methods of working. With the self reflective tasks, this unit will allow the learner to look at their own behaviours as well as ways to solve future problems in a creative and effective way.

Understanding the Importance of Business Planning Unit Learning hours: 14 hours Unit Overview and Main Outcomes: This unit contains 3 learning outcomes which will support the learner to be able to: • • •

Understand the importance of business planning Understand the components of a business plan Understand the legislation that can affect the development of plans for a business

Assessment and Grading of This Unit: This unit is graded on a pass or fail basis and the learner must demonstrate evidence against all of the listed assessment criteria in order to achieve this unit.

Understand how to market your business Unit Overview and Main Outcomes This unit contains 3 learning outcomes which will support the learner to be able to: • • •

Understand the need to research the market for a business Understand how a business can reach the customers Understand how to assess customer satisfaction

Assessment and Grading of This Unit This unit is graded on a pass or fail basis and the learner must demonstrate evidence against all of the listed assessment criteria in order to achieve this unit. The following provides examples of assessment methods that could be used to generate evidence for this unit. This list is not an exhaustive list and other methods can be used by the centre.

• • • •

Product evidence Learner statement/case study Pre-approved worksheets Professional discussion

The following provides examples of assessment methods that could be used to generate evidence for this unit. This list is not an exhaustive list and other methods can be used by the centre.

• • • • • • •

Product evidence Learner statement/case study Pre-approved worksheets Professional discussion Recognition of prior achievement Recognition of prior learning Witness testimony

Understanding the Importance of Business planning is a unit all about effectiveness, efficiency and sticking to company and legal policy. This unit provides an understanding of legislation and company policies, to the learner.

The tasks allow the learner to demonstrate an understanding of how to draft a business plan and what an effective business plan will cover.

• • •

Recognition of prior achievement Recognition of prior learning Witness testimony

Marketing your business is one of the most successful ways to drive sales. That is why Understanding how to market your business is another foundation block of the Passport to Enterprise and Employment qualification. This unit gives learners an understanding of ways to market their business, how to understand analytics and asks them how they could increase their reach with marketing.

The Level 1 Award in Passport to Enterprise and Employment is a useful stepping stone for any learner who wants to take their knowledge or employability to the next level. This course not only looks good on a CV, but it also provides the learner with an understanding of various business components, from business planning to customer service, marketing to creative thinking and how to handle complaints or difficult situations.

For more information about this qualification, or any of our qualifications, please head to: www.IOEE.uk Or head to our contact me page to get in touch at: www.IOEE.uk/contact-us

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Need Funding?

Throughthestrategic partnershipwithSFED Awards,OEEAcademieshave accesstoarangeofregulated quali4cationstosupportyour customers.Manyoftheseare eligibleforpublicfundingvia twogovernmentalbodies.

To4ndoutmoreemailour fundingteamat: funding@ioee.co.uk

Entertainment Industry Closed.

The Reason?

Covid-19.

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any industries were heavily affected by the introduction of lockdown restrictions. From office based roles to hospitality, the arts or education, everyone’s way of life was flipped upside down. On the 16th of March 2020, theatres and performance venues across the country were forced to close. Of course, in the world of politics, nothing can be this straight forward. With ‘suggestions to close’ but no clear guidance to cancel performances from the government, the entertainment industry was knocked down and confused. Being self employed, with many actors’ income was unpredictable / unstable, a lot of the funding available to most workers was not available to artists.

We fast forward a few months and the situation has changed. Artist’s could claim self employment support. The Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS), was a capped cash injection that meant those who were self employed could gain up to “80% of 3 months’ average trading profits” (Gov, 2020) with a maximum grant amount of £7500. This support was only available to those who earned a certain amount of money and it would only cover a certain portion of the profits. But, providing some help is better than providing no help. It meant those who had a significant reduction to their income were able to see some of this predicted profits in their accounts to help cover the cost of living.

But what about those affected, what did they do?

Many theatres in London’s West End were constantly pushing back their ‘booking until’ dates, just to secure some temporary income. An ambitious goal of November was set by the Dominion for audiences to return to see the Prince of Egypt.

Nica Burns, the chief executive of Nimax Theatres, estimated that Nimax theatres made a loss of 20 million pounds in an 18 month period (BBC News, 2021). 339 staff members were put on furlough, 20%

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of theatre staff were unable to receive any funding from the government and 49% say the payments were not big enough to cover their household bills (Jonathan Mitchell, 2021). By pushing back the performance dates and hoping people don’t ask for a refund, west end shows can maintain their positions in their theatres, pay the rent and remain hopeful for a speedy return to their venues.

What about the performers?

Many creative individuals simply found themselves without their jobs. No income, no work, no benefits. The Equity General Secretary stated “A basic income guarantee is the only way forward to ensure that the precarious freelance workforce which underpins the creative economy – worth more to the UK than banking – can survive the difficult months and years ahead.”

(Equity, 2021). With a continued fight for some support from the government, Equity and other grounds took a stand for their industry.

But the performers still needed to cover their rent, utilities, groceries and other expenses. Some of those who were forced out of their jobs, were trying to find ways to pay their bills. Some took to online streaming platforms and performed concerts, hosted discussion panels or even

just had 1-2-1 meet and greets with fans to cover their overheads. Others took a more traditional approach.

Thomas Inge was touring with Saturday Night Fever the musical when Covid brought down that curtain for a long… long time. He found himself without a job, and no clear date when that income stream may return, so he looked for work in Tesco with his twin brother. “It felt like a great way to help out and also to earn some money.” (Matt Hemley, The Stage, 2021).

The supermarkets were struggling to keep up with the demand of their shoppers during the pandemic and suddenly, there were performers free when they usually would be touring. This seemed to be a great opportunity to get the bills paid whilst helping out the community. Adapting and finding a way through this tough time is an extension of acting.

Matt Hemley asked Thomas about the transferable skills they may have carried over. “I’m chatty with the customers and very smiley but sadly I am not giving it whack kicks down the aisles… yet.” (Matt Hemley, The Stage, 2021). Performers found themselves in a confusingly beneficial way as working in the arts trains you in customer service, complaints handling, the ability to memorise lists and sometimes being physically fit. Retail,

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hospitality and administration based jobs are a great fit for performers. Of course, this may not be what they hoped to be doing to earn a living, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Fortunately Thomas Inge has now been cast in the international touring version of Cats the musical, so he will be doing those kicks and splits in front of audiences in no time.

One performer who wasn’t holding back on those kicks in the aisles was Hannah Lowther. Working in Tesco, Hannah took to the popular social media app TikTok to share fun snippets of her life. Singing an adapted version of 9 to 5, a member of the creative team from Heathers the Musical spotted the viral TikTok. Hannah is now deep into rehearsals for her role in Heathers the musical playing on the West End. Sometimes, you just need to know what platforms your industry uses and try to engage with them there. As Hannah has shown, something that can be seen as a pastime can turn into a career if the right person spots it.

making skills whilst also fulfilling the orders she had coming in. This was a win-win for her, she was able to make some money over lockdown, and she got to do something she enjoyed. Eirlys’ online store is now empty, after such a successful launch and many impressive reviews. People really do love Lyssies Scrunchies and by making masks, she saw a need in the market and fulfilled this, Eirlys was sold out in no time.

The creative industry can sometimes be rather brutal. And of course Covid came along to add to the brutal nature of the industry and made it that little bit worse.

From West End stage to Tesco, from Tesco to West End stage. But as we see the industry open again, and see those auditoriums filling up, all we can do is hope that these really were unprecedented times and don’t happen again. Here is to a year filled with opportunity for the creative industry, hopefully 2022 is a great year for the arts and its artists.

References:

Creative enterprises that came out of Covid.

Theatres ‘ready to fight’ after year ‘from hell’ - BBC News

But not every theatrical person continued on to the stage or resumed their work stage left. Some creatives took the time over lockdown to take the first step on their enterprise journey. Eirlys Wiggett, costume designer and maker, spent her early costuming career working on University shows and local theatre company projects.

With a focus on sustainable practises, Eirlys strives to make her costuming as ecofriendly / aims to cause minimal damage to the environment as possible. Eirlys took the extra time lockdown gave her to set up a business. She set up LyssiesMakes, an online Etsy store which saw the need for face masks during the pandemic, and supplied them at a reasonable price, sustainably and with a quick turn around.

With an injection of cash, some supplies and the skills Eirlys was developing, this business was able to take off and sell out in no time. Eirlys was able to practice her

Devastating impact of Covid on London theatre and arts as 40% made redundant | ITV News London

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Equity - In the face of Covid uncertainty, Equity General Secretary calls for benefits reform to protect performers and creative workers Coronavirus: Meet the theatre workers who now have supermarket jobs (thestage. co.uk)

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The Importance of Creativity In Small Businesses: How to Stand Out and Succeed

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Introduction

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How can small businesses encourage creativity in their employees?

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The benefits of being a creative small business

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Examples of creativity in the workplace

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How to keep creativity alive even when things get tough

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1

Introduction What is creativity?

Creativityistheabilitytodevelopnew Acreativeprocessalsoinvolvesasking orimaginativeideasandturntheminto questionsaboutwhatneeds4xing, reality.Businessescanusecreativity trying in outdierentthingsuntilyou4nd theirworkplacebycreatinginnovative somethinggoodenoughthanmakingit solutionsforproblemsthatpromote happen! positiveworkenvironmentsaswellas encourageteamworkamongemployees whoarelookingatproblemsfromdiverse perspectiveswhichwillhelpbrainstorm bettertogether.

Why is it important for small businesses to foster a creative environment?

Bycreatinganenvironmentwhere Theincreaseoftechnologyhasmadeit peopleareabletothinkoutsidethebox evenmorenecessarytobecreativeas andbeinnovative,smallbusinessescan environmentsconstantlychangedueto encouragetheiremployeestocomeup theever-growingdigitalage. withnewandbetterwaysofdoingthings.

Thiscanhelpreducecosts,savetime,and createamoreezcientworkplace.

Theabilitytoquicklyassessnewsituations anddevelopstrategiesisanessentialskill forprofessionalsintoday'sbusinessworld.

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How can small businesses encourage creativity in their employees?

There is no one right way to be more creative in your business. However, by following the tips mentioned above, you can create an environment that encourages creativity and innovation.

Here are a few additional ideas: •

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•

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Anotherinterestingwaytoencourage creativityistoholdacreativityconte whereemployeessubmittheirbest ideasandthewinnerreceivesaprize likeaweekendaway.

• Maketimeforcreativity!Dedicate Encouragecreativityandinnovation timeeachdayorweektoallowyour bysettinggoalsforyourteamthat employeestobrainstormandcome challengethemtothinkoutsidethe upwithnewideas.Thiscanbedone box.Bysettingthesetypesofgoalswith inameeting,duringlunch,oreven deadlines,you'realsoprovidingasenseafterwork.Bydoingthisconsistently, ofurgencythatcanhelptostimulate you'recreatinganenvironmentwhere creativity. creativityiswelcomedandencouraged. tisalsopeopletodirectlyaskyour Createapositiveworkenvironment employees"whatareyoupassionate whereemployeesfeelcomfortable aboutworkingon." sharingtheirideasandtakingrisks.

Thiswillencouragethemtobemore • Bediverse!Promotingdiversitycan creativeintheirthinking.Asabusiness, leadtoamorecreativebusiness. youneedtopracticewhatyoupreach Thisisbecausetheperspectives, soheisopentonewideas!tisoften backgroundsandskillsofemployees saidthattheworkenvironmentisa cometogetherbeautifulideascomesto reRectionoftheowner. life!Sometimesoppositesdoattract.To promotethiskindofworkforceforyour Provideopportunitiesforemployeescompanyyoushouldhirepeoplewho tolearnnewskillsandexperiment havedierentskillsfromotherworkers withdierentmethods.Thiswillhelp orcreateteamswithindividuals themtocomeupwithnewideasand whoseoutlooksonlifeoerunique solutions.Byinvestinginteaching insightsthatcouldhelpsolveproblems yourstaskillsyouareincreasing creativelyaswellprovidenewsolution thechancesofsparkingtheircreative basedontheirownexperiences. juices.Mostcompaniesseethisas anunnecessaryexpense,butitisan• EncourageRexibleworkarrangements! investmentthatcanpayointhe Flexibleworkarrangementscanhelp longrun. employeesfeelmorecomfortable andproductive.Theymayalsoget Rewardcreativitybyrecognisingand thefreedomtomovearound,which praisingemployeeswhocomeupwith isimportantforcreativitysinceitlet innovativeideas.Thiswillmotivate themfocuswhentheyaremostactive otherstobemorecreativeintheir orinspiredratherthanfollowinga thinking.nfact,creativityshouldbe stricttimeline(whichcoulddiscourage encouragedandappreciatedinany productivity).Allowingpeopletochoose businesssetting.Somewaysyoucan theirhoursgivesanincentivenotonly rewardthisisbygivingemployeestime inbeingsuccessfulbutalsotakingtime o,giftcards,orpublicrecognition. oasneededtoavoidmentalburnout!

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The benefits of being a creative small business The benefits of creativity and innovation in small businesses are vast. creativity can help to: Generate new ideas

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fastandlearnfast,thisisthekeytogetting ahead!

Attract and retain customers

Everycustomerwantssomethingdierent, Thismayseemobvious,butcreativityis andasasmallbusiness,itcanbedizcultto simplythesparkthatgeneratesnewideas.meet By alloftheirneeds.However,ifyoutap encouragingcreativityinyourteam,you're intocreativityyoucancomeupwithunique openingupthepossibilityfornewsolutions solutionsthatwillsetyouapartfromthe tooldproblems.Mostimportantlythiswillcompetition.Thiscannotonlyattractnew resultinbetterproductsandservicesfor customers your butalsokeepcurrentonescoming customersasyouarebringinginnovationto backformore.Ratherthanoeringthesame themarket. oldproductsandservices,becreativeandgive yourcustomerswhattheyreallywant!

Improve problem-solving skills Increase productivity Byimprovingyourteamscreativity,you'realso teachingthemhowtobettersolveproblems.

Productivitycanbeimprovedinanumber Thisisanimportantskillforanybusinessas ofways, it butcreativityisoneofthemost canhelptostreamlineprocessesandimprove important.Byencouragingcreativityinyour ezciency.Elonmushhassaidthatsolving team,you'reopeningupthepossibilityfornew importantproblemsisthekeytochangingthe solutionstooldproblems.Mostimportantly world!thinkheisonthesomething! thiswillresultinbetterproductsandservices foryourcustomersasyouarebringing Boost morale innovationtothemarket.Productivityisthe fuelthathelpsbusinessestogrow.

Whenemployeesarecreativeandfeel appreciated,theirmoralewillbeboosted.This Save time and money isanimportantfactorforanybusinessasit canhelptoimproveproductivityandcreativity.

Creativitycanalsohelptosavetimeand Apositiveworkenvironmentisessentialmoney. for Thisisbecausecreativityallows athrivingbusiness!Youseethatemployeesbusinessestocomeupwithnewsolutionsthat willtakemoreprideintheirworkandbemore donotrequirespendingalotofresources. likelytogotheextramilefortheneedtobensteadofpouringmoneyintoaprojectthat partoftheculture. isnotgoingtowork,usecreativitytocomeup withabettersolution.Noteverythingneeds Be more competitive tobedonethetraditionalway!Greatbusiness ownersgetcreativewiththeirbudget,because nordertostayaheadofthecompetition,itof is thistheycanavoiddilutingtheircompany importanttoconstantlyinnovate.Thiscan and beavoiddebt. donebyimplementingnewideasthatcome fromcreativity.Asasmallbusiness,youmay Additionally,creativitycanhelptoimprove nothavetheresourcestodoeverything,but ezciency,whichwillleadtolesswastedtime ifyoufocusoncreativityyoucanbringuniqueandmoney.Forexample,youraccounting solutionsandproductstothemarketthat departmentcancomeupwithanewsystem willhelpyoustandoutfromtherest.Sitting thatismoreezcientandeasiertouse,or aroundatableisawesomebutdon'tforget yourmarketingteamcancomeupwithanew takingactionontheideasiswhatseparates campaignthatismorecosteective.Thisleads normalcompaniesandgreatcompanies.Fail ustoournextpoint.

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Examples of creativity in the workplace Below is a practical guide of how you can be successful in different crucial areas of your business:

Human resources and creativity

Whenitcomestocreativityinthehuman resourcesdepartment,oneofthemost Marketing and creativity importantthingsistolettheseemployee bethemselves.Thismeansallowingthem Byhostingafreeworkshopforinterested tobecreativeinthewaytheydress,the individuals,yourbusinessdemonstrates waytheyspeaktocustomers,andeven creativityandcreatesanengaging howtheythink.Bygivingemployees experience.Theyareabletodothis thisfreedom,youaretappingintotheir becauseoftheirabilitytousetraditional creativityandpotential-whichcanlead marketingmethodsincreativewaysthat tosomegreatideasforyourbusiness! willresonatewithcustomersonboth ends-thoselookingintopurchasing naddition,creativityinHRcanalso itemsfromthemaswellaspeoplewho manifestitselfthroughtraininginitiat havealreadypurchasedsomethingatForexample,insteadofhavingaoneyourstorebeforecomingintoeventslike size-4ts-alltrainingprogram,consider these! allowingemployeestoattendsessions thatinterestthem.Thiswillshowthat Anothercreativeanglewouldbetodoyoutrusttheirjudgementandthatyou apop-upeventinanareathathasfootareinterestedinhelpingthemgrowas trazcbutmaynothaveofyourniches individuals. storesnearby.Forexample,partnering withalocalcafeorbakerytoholdtheSales are creativity eventandcross-promoteeachothercan helptoattractattentionfrompeople nstead who ofoeringonesize4tsall mightnottypicallyvisityourbusiness. services,creativebusinessesshould havemanyoptionsfortheircustomers.

Operations and creativity Thiswaytheycantailorservicetoeach individual'sneedsanddesiresbyusinga Creativitycanhelpimproveoperations morepersonalizedapproachthatreRects byleapsandbounds.Onewayisto theclientaswell.Thisletssalespeople encourageemployeestocomeupwith thinkoftheirfeetallowingthemtosell newwaysofdoingthingsthatare theproductinamoreinnovativewaythat bothmoreezcientandsavetime-for istailoredtothecustomer. example,comingupwithafastersystem fordataentryorcreatingtemplatesWhen for facedwithacustomerwhoisnot commonlyuseddocuments. happyaboutthepricestheyareoered, professionalswillcomeupwithcreative Anothergreatwaycreativitycanbe solutionstobetter4ttheirneeds.For putintouseintheoperationalrealm instance, is ifyouwantmorethanjustone byimplementingproblemsolving.For productorservicefromyourcompany instance,ifamachineisnotworking thenwecouldoerdiscountsdepending correctly,comingupwithaworkaround onhowmuchtheyorder!Youcanalso insteadofwaitingforatechnician afterthingslikeacustompaymentplan tocomeand4xit.Thiscouldinvolve togetthedealdone! somethingassimpleasusinganextra pieceofequipmentyouhaveonhand orimprovisingwithmaterialsthatare readilyavailable.

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How to keep creativity alive even when things get tough

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Everyone gets mental fatigue! We wake up oneentrepreneurial ambitions who want to start day to there being no interesting ideas circling their own business, we will need creative the brain but instead a feeling of emptiness. solutions that allow them to do so without The good news is that creativity can be breaking the bank or going into debt. We refuelled and it doesn't have to be hard. hope this article has given you some food for thought and that you will continue to explore The following are some tips on how to keep creativity in your small business! And if youre creativity alive in your small business: looking for a quali4cation which includes how to explore creativity in small businesses then Take a break look no further than our Passport to Enterprise and Employment.

Sometimes all you need is some time away from work to clear your head and come back with fresh ideas. You can use meditation and mindfulness exercises as simple ways of promoting taking time out from your day or having outdoor space where employees feel comfortable relaxing in between tasks.

Encourage collaboration Working in a team can help creativity Rourish as members bounce ideas o of each other and come up with better solutions. You can encourage this by setting up brainstorming sessions or even just having an open-door policy where employees are free to talk to you about anything related to their work.

Set rules but be flexible t's important to have some guidelines in place for creativity to thrive, but you also need to be Rexible enough to allow employees to explore their ideas. This could mean allowing them to take on tasks that are outside of their job description or working with them to develop new products or services.

Final thoughts The use of creativity can help an entrepreneur to develop new ideas and generate more revenue, as well as create employment opportunities for themselves and others.

Creativity may come from traditional sources such as art or music, but it also comes from innovation born out of necessity - inventing something because you have no other choice. As long as there are people with Think Enterprise | 23

Goal setting, the short term and the long term work life balance, which for some may be the focus of 2022. And for others it may be thinking about ‘what should I do next’ that gives them a focus, as they progress onto new ventures.

How do we take the first step?

As we start a new year, it's the perfect time to set those resolutions and get those goals. I, personally, like to write these goals down on paper. Having goals written down, on paper, makes me hold myself accountable when it comes to the end of the year and checking whether or not I stuck to my goals.

Having the physical list of goals also allows me to check in and see how I am progressing. By giving myself a few checkpoints throughout the year, I am able to measure my progress and see what I need to do to meet the target.

These check in points allow me to take a long term goal and split it into many short term goals. Instead of having one long goal and no way for me to track my progress, I am able to give myself clear markers of progress along the way.

I think we can all agree that 2021 was a bit of a strange year, and I am sure we are all hoping for a more straightforward 2022. One thing we can do to help make this year a bit more structured, is to set ourselves goals. Despite a whole list of external forces, it comes down to us, as individuals, to keep ourselves on track. It is ultimately up to us to make sure we remain as productive as we possibly can be.

Goals and targets help to keep us all on track.

Whether it be an amount of money we want to make, an amount of work we want to get done or even an amount of down time that we want to achieve each day. I think it is fair to say that goals are what keep us, as humans, focused. Although we all set goals, each of us has completely different focuses and aims for our lives.

For some, setting goals at work may make them more efficient and productive. For others, goals may give them the clarity they need to strike the perfect 24 | Think Enterprise

Towards the end of 2021, I spoke to Kofi Oppong, the founder of Urban MBA. I learnt all about his organisation and how Urban MBA learns from the past and looks to the future. Kofi had told me about the need for long term and short term goal setting, especially within the younger generations. We had a great conversation about how the younger generations seek quicker turn arounds, instant rewards and plan shorter goals. With a change in how quickly we can see results, specifically in relation to the use of social media and the instant gratification a retweet may give us, our conversation focused on the use of technology and social media within GenZ. So I thought it would be good to learn even more about long term goal setting and its importance. So I asked Kofi to explain this a little more.

Kofi wrote “Nobody on our courses is allowed to do anything to do with business unless they have been through goal setting. That is because without a goal you have nothing to look forward to and then and as I always say if you have not set any goals yourself you become part of somebody else’s goals.”

Making sure you have your own ambition is important. Not only to develop your sense of determination and drive, but also to make sure your goals are your own. Making sure YOU thrive and YOU develop in line with YOUR interests and aims should be at the forefront of your daily actions.

Yes, we do all have to interact with others and these interactions matter too, but in terms of achieving your goals, you will have to do the work. If you want to earn a certain amount of money, it may mean starting a new business or taking on extra responsibility at work. If you want to have more of a personal life and shut off from work at a certain time, it is up to you to implement steps to make that happen. This all comes from setting our own goals, and accepting the responsibility ourselves.

Kofi went on to say “It is very important to remember that you need to be motivated and inspired in order to really gain long term change. As pointed out already, that is the main reason people are changing jobs! Many have decided they are no longer prepared to put up with just working[...]”. Work should be something we are passionate about. In 2020, Kofi tells us “There were almost 726,000 new businesses created in the UK in 2020”. In a time where uncertainty was at its peak, the goal setting, passion and ambition shone through as more and more people took to setting up new businesses that they wanted to create.

Setting up a business isn’t a short term goal. This is a long term goal which requires a lot of time, before the business is even set up, and then constant maintenance after the business is up and running.

The increase in new businesses shows a great interest in long term goals, and determination.

Hopefully the year of lockdown can instead be remembered as the year of start up businesses.

Whether you are looking to set up a new business, focus on your work life balance, or maintain the balance you have found, goal setting is one tool that can help keep us on track.

Within the Self-awareness and Self-belief unit in the Passport to Enterprise and Employment, we discuss the importance of goal setting, how to set goals and what makes a good goal. This unit has a focus on goal setting in relation to setting up a business, so it is perfect for those looking to set up their business who need a little extra guidance. If this is something that interests you, and you want to learn more, get in touch with us and ask about our passport qualification.

We can all make 2022 a well structured and productive year. Let’s get some goals written down and check back in towards the end of the year.

Wishing all of our centres, members and everyone in our network a very productive year!

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A Warm Welcome to iU We would like to give a very warm welcome to another new centre that is o j ining us this year, iUK Academy. iUK Academy recently o j ined IOEE as an accredited IOEE Enterprise Academy, and A A A A AT A A A A A A A A A A A A A I recently had a chance to get to know iUK Academy a bit more. I spoke to Candice Moss, A A A A A A A A A A rise in business start-ups and some interesting connections between the creative arts and potential new trends in business.

Why IOEE? Candice told me that there were multiple reasons for choosing IOEE. A A A A iUK Academy A felt A it important A iF rstly, to be able A A to benchmark their programmes against the approved a N tional Occupational Standards for Enterprise in the UK . e R ceiving approval from an external professional body not only validates A A A the Academy’ A s programmes theA high standard of A AA A A A AA A A for their A A A learners.

A further selling point was that in o j ining IOEE, iUK Academy also has access to a community of like-minded enterprise institutions with whom AT A A A A A A A they can discuss and exchange ideas with as e H adquartered in o L ndon with representative well as gain insight into initiatives taking place at A A A A A A other centres.

A A A A A A A A innovators choose the UK to invest and establish iF nally they mentioned the similarities in both A A A AT missions and how A we operate. Seeking A our a is to provide enterprise training, mentoring and way to engage the learner and focus on the local expert market knowledge to support those learner outcomes rather than being solely international entrepreneurs who are looking A A A to set up an innovative business in the UK. iUK iUK Academy’s values. Ultimately they share T A A A A similar vision A Afor providing A a knowledge and A A A Aexpertise to help A individuals A maximise their A potential and their wider contribution to the growth and success of UK PLC. A A A AT A A A A A A A A A A hadA made A We agreed that theA pandemic it more T A A A A A A A market but had not necessarily stopped the We are really excited to be working with iUK A A A A T A A A A A a shift A in ideas but A it was A unclear as to what A A A A A A A A A A A A

26 | Think Enterprise

A AT

A

UK Academy tech based market or will it be a shift towards businesses with a personal touch. Much like the arts industry, during the pandemic I think we all missed interacting with other people.

Perhaps business will shift from the automated back to human to human business.

Who knows what the future will hold for the market. Hopefully, whatever the future looks like, businesses are thriving and new innovative ideas are making their way out. iUK Academy is there to support international innovative thinkers who wish to start up their business in the UK. Thank you iUK Academy

for taking the time out to speak to me, and I look forward to seeing the great ideas that come from your learners.

We hope that 2022 will be a great year for all of our centres, partners and everyone in our network. 2021 may have been a rocky year but fingers crossed 2022 will be full of learning, developing and success.

TolearnmoreaboutiUKAcademyvisit: https://iukacademy.com/

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