NZIM Small Business Entrepreneurs Programme SBEP

This programme is on hold and not currently available.

Introduction

The Small Business Entrepreneurs Programme is specifically designed for people who are in business or in the process of starting up a business.

The course is designed so that the learning occurs on the job. The course is based on participants solving the practical problems they face in their own business. These will be tackled as a series of individually mentored projects.

It is available through polytechnics and other tertiary providers.

Course description

The NZIM Entrepreneurs Programme is specifically designed for people who are in business or in the process of starting up a business. It is an approved 80 credit, Level 4 certificate.

Because it relies upon the use of real practical problems being faced by participants in their own business, it is not suitable for those engaged in full-time study or others who are not involved in business

The course has four broad target groups:

Self-employed contractors or consultants
People starting up a new business
People acquiring an existing business
People who want to develop or consolidate an existing small business

Course content is flexible enough to allow it to be shaped to meet the needs of each of these target groups.

The NZIM Certificate in Small Business Management meets the demand for small business education for people not in these target groups.

The qualification takes around 800 hours, of which up to 400 hours comprises teaching, mentoring and assessment, and a further 400 hours consists of supervised action research.

Participants complete the qualification part-time over twelve to eighteen months

Modules

The qualification consists of eight modules in three parts.

881 Analysis and Planning (5 credits)882–887 Action Research 1–6 (60 credits)888 Business Evaluation (15 credits)

Entry to the programme

The programme is open to all people who are:

Currently running a small business
Planning to run a small business
Operating as a sole trader, consultant, contractor or portfolio worker.

All intending participants undertake an analysis to determine their suitability for the programme. This analysis may be undertaken by organisations not providing the programme and students may be referred to the programme as a result of such an assessment.

This analysis gives the provider information about the feasibility of the business or business proposal, immediate and longer term priorities, the level and intensity of mentoring and support required, and the ability of the participant to undertake reflective or independent practice.

Only participants who show that they will clearly benefit from the programme and that they are able to complete it satisfactorily will be accepted for the programme. Other participants will be redirected into other programmes more suitable for their needs.

Recognition of prior learning

Because this is a practical qualification, cross-crediting will not be given from other courses. Instead, participants who have adequate experience in an area of the course will be able to demonstrate their abilities to the satisfaction of the provider during the course, and thereby move more quickly through the relevant projects.

Description of modules

881 Analysis and Planning (5 credits)

Participants are introduced to basic tools for assessing both their business and their personal training needs. Using a diagnostic model applied to their business, they identify the strengths they bring to the running of the business and the knowledge and skill requirements they need to ensure its success. As a result of this diagnosis they plan a developmental action research programme to meet the needs they have identified.

882–887 Action Research 1–6 (60 credits)

The participant undertakes six action research projects that address key business issues. The participant is assigned to a mentor to assist with the projects. Once more pressing business issues have been dealt with, the projects will be chosen with an eye to giving participants the opportunity to round out their skills and knowledge and to put these into practice in their business.

888 Business Evaluation (15 credits)

Participants review all significant aspects of their business and set their priorities for the future. This final project is designed to ensure that the participant has:

addressed all the significant areas of entrepreneurship knowledge relevant to their business
demonstrated the ability to look at their business as a totality and assess it in the context of the overall environment in which it operates
developed a strategic plan for taking their business forward.

This qualification is being provided at selected sites around New Zealand.

Interested in taking this course?

Click on the links below for further information.

For further details contact us at:

NZIM
PO Box 67
Wellington 6140

phone 04 473 0470
email national_office@nzim.co.nz

Interested in providing this course?

If you wish to provide the programme, click on the links below for further information.