Trademore School-based Enterprise

TRADEMORE

Hayes P.O. Clarendon. Jamaica. Phone (876) 518-8108

Trademore offers an exciting incubator program for schools and youth organizations that combines practical experience with business theory. Trademore’s goal is to establish a School-based Enterprise by exposing students to international trade, entrepreneurship and information and communication technology.

A three-pronged strategy is used to achieve this goal:

1) Provide students with entrepreneurial, and information technology skills.

2) Establish a management partnership between the school and the private sector.

3) Link the program with a network of international partners.

1. Provide students with entrepreneurial and information and technology skills

Integrating entrepreneurship curricula and technology skills into youth programs requires an informed and supportive environment. Trademore’s model builds upon the knowledge of similar programs in Europe (they are called practice firms) and North America (they are called virtual enterprise) where students are exposed to running a business as part of their regular training.

2 Establish a volunteer management system

A volunteer management team made up of appropriate individuals will be responsible for introducing the program into the school or community, and to develop a strategic plan for its success.

3. Link with international partners

By linking the program with international partners, participating students gain international experience, to work with students from other cultures, allowing them to develop the various skills necessary for the globalized economy.

Trademore Incubator program is designed as an interactive multidisciplinary model which allows students to participate and apply relevant skills, using specific content and curriculum connections leading to a deeper understanding of key questions and concepts.

About US

Trademore is a virtual incubator service that provides opportunities for students to participate actively in a wide range of entrepreneurial experiences with local and international partners.

Students in the program learn firsthand about economic competitiveness through the formation of School-based Enterprises. The program enables students to learn the commercial and entrepreneurial skills required to set up a company, identify products, discover marketing opportunities, and then export products and services.

Trademore works closely with HEART/NTA to ensure that the program aligns with the National Vocational Qualification- Jamaica (NVQ-J) objectives.

Trademore is designed as an interactive multidisciplinary model which allows students to participate and apply relevant skills, using specific content and curriculum connections leading to a deeper understanding of key questions and concepts.

Objectives

Trademore’s mission is to make entrepreneurship and information and communication technology skills available to students regardless of their location.

Trademore’s main objectives are:

• To prepare students for survival in an economically diverse society

• To educate students with the potential for job creation and business development

• To empower all students to develop their skills and entrepreneurial attitudes.

• To give students an insight into the challenges and methods by which businesses are formed and managed

• To increase awareness and understanding of other cultures, citizens, and globalization.

• To promote modern technology within schools and emphasize the importance of information and communication technology (ICT) skills through the everyday use of on-line training materials, web cast and e-mail.

• To provide a practical learning context for teaching foreign language and business studies.

• To encourage parents and the business community to volunteer their services and become involved in supporting and working with local schools.

Time Scales

All participating schools/organizations should aim to start the program in September 2024 and cease operating by December 2025. Notification of partner’s details and personal passwords will be forwarded to the teacher/ coordinator at each school/organization on receipt of payment.

Once staff and students have become familiar with our Intranet site, they should make contact with their partner school/organization. Each company should allocate between one and four hours per week to spend on the program. During the first month, a student company should:

• Makecontactwiththeirpartnersandgettoknowsomethingsaboutthem.For example,names,ages,hobbiesetc.

• Arrangeawebconferencewiththeirpartnerstoallowtheparticipantstomeeteach other“facetoface”.

• Makecontactwithlocalbusinessesthatcangiveadvice.Arrangeforbusiness peopletocomeintotheclassanddiscusstheirspecialfieldorgoonvisittolocal manufacturers,retailers,suppliersetc.

• Startraisingfundsforthecompanybyholdingfundraisingevents,sellingsharesin thecompanyorseekingsponsorship.

SchoolCommitment

Astheprograminvolvesapartnership,itisvitalthatparticipatingschoolsand organizationsmakeacommitmenttoworktowardsasuccessfuloutcomeforall studentsinvolved.Thefollowingpointscoversomeoftheissuesthatmustbeaddress byparticipants:

Coordinators

Amemberofstaffshouldalwaysbeavailabletoassistthestudentcompany.Itis advisableforatleasttwomemberstobeawareoftheprogramandthecompany’s progress,incaseofillnessetc.Asthisisanentrepreneurialprogramthecoordinator shouldactasacoachandfacilitatortothecompany.

Students

Thereareninespecified“directorial”positionsintheSBE.Schoolscanrunthecompany withbetweenfiveandtwentystudents.Tenstudentswouldbeanidealnumber.

TechnologyandCommunication

Allmembercompaniesmusthavee-mailandInternetaccess.Eachcompanymustbe committedtocommunicatingwiththeirpartneratleastonceperweek.

Key Features of the School-based Enterprise

Each school that wants to take part in the program completes an application form.

Form a company – Each group of 5-10 students form a company (company forms on the platform). Each student is given his/her own responsibilities in the company as a director. Example, president, secretary, marketing, financing etc.

Use On-Line Training and Office Support – Groups are given access to the password protected on-line training material in the members section at the start of the program. Teachers and students are introduced to their SBE contact.

Get to Know Your Partner Group – Once contact details have been received, students will start to exchange profiles on their schools and information about their local area, culture and economy.

Exchange Product Ideas – Groups discuss various business opportunities.

Conduct Market Research – Groups conduct market research to ensure that there is a market for the products they are exporting and for those they are importing from their international partners.

Raise Capital – It is important that the groups learn to raise capital for their company. Groups can raise funds in many ways; they can sell shares, hold concerts or do bake sales, for example.

Order Goods/Confirm Partners Orders – Once a group has conducted market research and decided what products will sell in their local area, they start their operation.

Import/Export – If you are doing an international trade, remember shipment is sent using a freight carrier. Packages usually take a week to arrive.

Market and Sell Goods – If orders were taken in advance, all that is left to do is distribute the products. If not, groups will need to market the products they have.

Settle all Payment and Close the Company – group will receive bills from the suppliers, their partners and the freight carrier they use to import. All bills should be paid within the specific time frame. When closing the company, students must ensure all bills have been paid and all shareholders given their dividends. Any money left over after this stage is the profit. Groups can spend, save, or donate their profit as they see fit.

APPLICATION

Please ensure that all sections of the application form are completed accurately. A monthly subscription fee of JD$8,000.00 or US$35.00 will be sent to your sponsor.

School Name Street Address

Parish/State Zip Code Country

Name of Principal

School Phone Number

School Email

Name of Sponsoring Company/Organization

Sponsor’s Contact Name

Sponsor’s Phone

Sponsor’s Email

Name of Contact Teacher

Phone Number of Contact Teacher

Email of contact teacher

How many students will be in the group

Will the program be a class/ club activity

CO-OPERATIVE AGREEMENT

Trademore Limited, wishing to develop cooperative relations on the basis of establishing contacts and mutual understandings, especially to create opportunities for the youth and to support students’ entrepreneurial training, agree as follows.

Part 1

The areas of cooperation include, subject to mutual consent and appropriate conditions, the implementation of an educational program in the area of entrepreneurship, international trade, and information and communication technology and the exploration of other areas for collaboration between

and Trademore Limited

Part 11

The parties pledge to work together, subject to the availability of funds, to support the various skills training initiatives through such activities as:

1. Establishing of a School-based Enterprise

2. Development of a financial plan

3. Recruiting students

4. Training teachers/facilitators

5. Training students

Preparation of a monthly progress report on trainees’ progress

6. Evaluation of project effectiveness and implementation of correctional procedures

7. Outreach to the business community

Product and services will be sold to consumers to make a profit and to provide a “real world” business experience for students in the program.

This agreement will remain in effect for a period of one year subject to the availability of funds, and any amendment and /or modification of this agreement requires written approval of the director/principal of

and the director of Trademore Limited. Each party reserves the right to terminate this agreement upon three (3) months notice to the other.

School/Organization

Trademore Limited

Witness