What is the purpose of this task? To understand the fundamental aspects of how businesses work What will you learn from this task? Define the main types of business Define key business roles and what they do Understand different working patterns You will need Internet access Business categories sheet Company roles sheet Company structure diagram Company roles answer sheet (1 and 2) Working patterns definitions Working patterns scenarios Working patterns answer sheet

Task: Business Categories Working singly or in groups – look at the business categories sheet. Can you list any of these types of company in your local area? Spend a few minutes using the internet to find examples of the following types of business: – Public sector – Private sector – Charity or voluntary sector – SME – Sole trader – Not for profit company – Partnership – Multi national – Limited company – Social enterprise

BUSINESS CATEGORIES SHEET Public sector The sector or part of the economy that is controlled by local or national Government. This includes health, policing and state education. Private sector The sector of part of the economy that is not controlled by Government. Private businesses operate in many different forms. Charity or voluntary sector A business where the main purpose is to raise money for a good cause rather than profit (often called a “third sector” or “not for profit” company) SME SME is short for “Small and medium enterprise” businesses which have a limited number of employees. Although this classification is used in many different countries the number of employees varies. Sole trader A business owned and managed by one person. They have complete control of making decisions and profit but also the risk of failure. Partnership A business with 2 or more owners who share profits and losses. They have unlimited liability unless it is a Limited Partnership. Multi national A large business with interests or activities in more than one country. Limited company A business where the partners only risk the amount they have invested even if the company fails with larger debts. Social enterprise A business where the main purpose is to improve society or the environment. They can be “profit” or “not profit” companies.

Look at the company roles sheet and read what these people do Match the roles to their places on the company structure diagram (write the number of each role in its correct place on the blank company chart) Compare answers to the company role answer sheet and chart Task: Business Roles

COMPANY ROLES SHEET (1) 1 This person heads the Board (on Non-executive Board of Directors). S/he is not a full time employee of the company but is responsible for ensuring that the decisions taken by the head of the company and managers are correct. This person is at the highest level in a company. 2 This person is employed as the full time head of the company. S/he is directly responsible for senior managers, and for ensuring that the company delivers its products and services. 3 This person promotes the company’s products and services to others. S/he produces flyers, websites or advertising material. They create the company “brand” or public image, packaging design or logos. This person is creative and good with words. 4 This person manages the company’s income and expenditure. S/he handles payments and money paid in or out for goods and services and reports on the company’s overall financial performance to others. This person enjoys working with figures. 5 This person directly takes the company’s products and services to customers. S/he works on the telephone, using the internet and e mail and by visiting other people to give presentations. This person is confident and has good presentational skills. 6This person offers vital support to other teams. S/he carries out a wide range of tasks including handling letters, e mail, preparing documents for meetings, greeting visitors, taking notes at meetings or making travel plans. This person is confident with IT and on the phone and good at organising.

7 This person manages the buildings, equipment and supplies needed to run a company. S/he is responsible for ensuring that building repairs are carried out and for ordering materials and goods. This person is good with people and enjoys practical work. 8 This person is responsible for helping to keep people safe at work. S/he needs to know all about the law affecting everyone at work. This person creates the company’s own policy or rules and tells others how to follow it. 9 This person organises conferences and large meetings. S/he is responsible for planning and organise the venue, making travel arrangements for others, looking after visitors on the day of the conference and making sure everything runs smoothly. This person likes working with people and is good at negotiating. 10 This is usually the first person visitors see and talk to when they arrive at the company. S/he also manages the company’s internal switchboard, and directs incoming phone calls to the right person. This person needs to be presentable and calm under pressure. 11 This person manages all matters relating to the other employees. S/he is responsible for recruiting new people, induction and training, salaries, performance and disciplinary issues. This person needs to be good with people and take a genuine interest in helping them to progress. 12This person makes sure that the company premises and people are protected from intruders or unwelcome visitors. This person is polite and authoritative and good with people. COMPANY ROLES SHEET (2)

COMPANY ROLES ANSWER SHEET

Task: Working Patterns Look at the working pattern definitions and scenarios Match each person (scenario) to what you think would be the best working pattern for them Compare your answers to the answer sheet

WORKING PATTERNS DEFINITIONS Full Time There is no set number of hours for full time work but generally this means working for more than 35 hours a week. Shift Work Shift work means working different hours at different times according to an agreed pattern. Shift work can mean rotating between days and nights, early or late slots or working intensively for a time and then having time off. Home Work Homeworking is where you work all or part of your contracted hours from home. Job Share Job-sharing is where you work part time either, part day, part week or part year and share the duties and responsibilities of a full-time position with another part-time worker. Flexi-Time Flexitime allows you to choose, within agreed limits, when to start and end your working day. Part Time A part-time worker is someone who works fewer hours than a full-time worker. There is no specific number of hours that makes someone part-time. Term Time Only This is where your work follows school term patterns. You work as normal during term- time then during school holidays you don't go to work but you are still employed. Freelance People who work freelance are not attached to one company but get involved in projects with different companies. This is usually because they are experts who can help solve particular issues but won’t be needed all the time. Freelance workers are often called Consultants.

Review Where could you find out more about the types of business in your area? Did any of these roles appeal to you, if so why? Which did not appeal to you and why? How could the type of organisation you work in affect the roles available to you? What are the advantages and disadvantages of different working patterns? NB: Did you know that employers have a legal duty to consider flexible working patterns?

Extension If you want to spend longer on this topic…. Think about people you know and the work they do What types of organisations and working patterns do they involve? Choose one of the companies that you found on the internet and spend more time researching the company website What can you find out about the roles and working patterns available there? Complete the company structure diagram again using your school as the organisation - how many roles can you match?