Entrepreneurial Skills

Lesson Overview

Unit: Entrepreneurial Skills Development (Lesson 2 of 5)
Duration: 90 minutes
Class size: 10 students
Age group: Post 16–25 SEND (Entry 3 level)
Subject area: Other - Employability / Life Skills
Curriculum alignment: National Curriculum (England), Employability and Personal Development Skills, Entry Level 3

Learning Objectives (WALT)

WALT: Identify and list essential skills and qualities needed to be a successful entrepreneur.
WALT: Understand the importance of teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills in entrepreneurship.
WALT: Collaborate effectively in group discussions to share ideas and opinions related to entrepreneurial qualities.

Success Criteria

Students will be able to:

Name at least five skills and qualities that entrepreneurs need.
Explain why teamwork and communication are important for entrepreneurs.
Complete Worksheet E3.1.2 to demonstrate understanding of key entrepreneurial attributes.
Participate actively in group discussions, respecting others’ ideas and contributing their own.

Curriculum Links and Standards

Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) - Employability skills:
Develop independence and collaborative working skills suitable for the workplace. (Entry Level 3)
English (Speaking & Listening):
Participate in discussions, expressing ideas clearly and listening to others (National Curriculum for England, Entry Level 3 Speaking and Listening).
Functional Skills English (Entry Level 3):
Writing simple sentences and completing worksheets to demonstrate understanding.
Preparation for Working Life (Entry Level 3):
Identify personal qualities and skills needed for work and understand teamwork's role.

Resources Needed

Worksheet E3.1.2 (Skills and Qualities of Entrepreneurs) – designed for Entry 3 level, includes simple matching, fill-in-the-blank, and sentence completion tasks.
Large poster paper and coloured markers for group work.
Whiteboard or flip chart for teacher input.
Visual aids: pictures or flashcards showing different entrepreneur qualities (e.g., communication, problem-solving).
Name badges for group activities to encourage speaking.

Lesson Breakdown

1. Starter (10 minutes)

Activity: Icebreaker & Focus Setting

Warm-up ‘Skills Sorting’ game: Display pictures/words of various skills and qualities (e.g., creative thinking, honesty, teamwork, confidence, punctuality).
Learners quickly sort them into two groups: “Good for entrepreneurs” and “Not important for entrepreneurs.”
Briefly discuss choices with the class, correcting misconceptions and linking to real-life examples.

Teacher input: Explain the purpose of the lesson and introduce “entrepreneur.” Use simple language and check understanding.

2. Introduction to Key Skills and Qualities (15 minutes)

Activity: Teacher-led explanation with visuals

Present the essential skills and qualities of entrepreneurs focusing on:
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Confidence
- Creativity
Use real-life examples of young entrepreneurs or simple case studies relevant to their interests.
Ask questions to encourage learners to share any skills they think are important.

Differentiation: Use easy-to-understand definitions and gestures for learners with communication difficulties.

3. Main Activity: Group Discussion and Worksheet (40 minutes)

Activity 1 (20 mins): Group Work

Divide class into 2 groups of 5. Each group discusses:
- Which skills do they think are most important and why?
- Examples of times they have used these skills in their own lives or work placements.
Groups jot down their ideas on a poster using keywords, drawings, or symbols.

Support: Provide sentence starters for discussion (e.g., “I think…” / “Teamwork is important because…”). Use peer support pairs for lower ability students.

Activity 2 (20 mins): Worksheet E3.1.2

Individual task to complete Worksheet E3.1.2 based on the earlier discussion and input.
Include simple tasks such as matching skills to definitions, filling blanks in sentences about entrepreneurship, and a short reflective question “Which skill do you want to improve?”

Extension: Advanced learners add examples of people they know who show these skills or write their own short sentences explaining why these skills matter.

4. Plenary (15 minutes)

Activity: Group feedback and quiz

Each group shares their posters with the class.
Recap key skills with a quick oral quiz using simple questions and thumbs up/down voting to reinforce understanding.
Reflect on the success criteria: Did they meet today’s goals?

Differentiation: Use visual feedback cards for learners who struggle with verbal responses.

5. Extension Activity (for advanced learners or homework)

Research a famous entrepreneur and list 5 skills or qualities that made them successful. Prepare a short verbal or pictorial presentation for Lesson 3.
Create a personal skills checklist: “Which skills do I have? Which do I want to develop?”

Differentiation Strategies

Visual supports: Pictures, symbols, and graphic organisers to aid comprehension.
Sentence starters & modelling: To support spoken and written contributions.
Pair and group work: To encourage peer learning and lessen anxiety for less confident learners.
Concrete examples: Use familiar or personal contexts to illustrate abstract concepts.
Chunking tasks: Break activities into smaller steps with clear instructions.

Assessment and Evidence of Learning

Observation notes on participation in group discussion and ability to contribute ideas.
Completed Worksheet E3.1.2 as a formative written record of understanding.
Verbal responses during plenary quiz to assess recall and comprehension.
Self-reflection through the worksheet’s “skill to improve” question to monitor self-awareness.

Reflection for Teacher

Note which skills learners found easiest/difficult to understand.
Consider if group size and composition helped or hindered discussion.
Plan any modifications for learners needing more targeted support in next lessons.
Evaluate the effectiveness of visual and practical strategies to engage SEND learners.

This lesson plan ensures that learners with SEND at Entry 3 level engage with foundational entrepreneurial concepts tailored for their abilities, actively practice employability skills, and prepare confidently for future lessons in this unit.