Retail

RETAIL Membership application and business plan for [Name of organization] Date Led by: 1. INTRODUCTION This business plan has been prepared by [name] for [organization name] on [date of submission]. It covers the period [period to cover]. It is our application to the National Skills Academy for Retail to become a member of the National Network of Retail Skills Shops. We agree with the aims and principles of the National Skills Academy for Retail. Contact name: Title: Telephone: Email: Signed: Print name: _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Guidance for completing each section of this business plan template is provided in text boxes like this. Please delete the guidance text boxes before you submit the plan. Text enclosed in square brackets [] should be replaced with your own text and information. The approximate word numbers in text sections are only a guideline. Please refer to the Academy Skills Shop Handbook for more detailed information. Your Academy Quality and Membership Adviser will be able to provide additional help and answer any specific queries you have. Development funding If you have received development funding please show what the outcomes of this have been. (Approx. 500 words) [Insert text] Skills Shop Business Plan 1 Version 1: Expires 29 April 2009 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Summarize your business plan in one or two pages, covering the key aspects of the scope of your Skills Shop and how you will deliver which products and services. (Approx. 700 words) [Insert text] Skills Shop Business Plan 2 Version 1: Expires 29 April 2009 3. ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION [Orgnization name] is a [legal status] and is registered in [country] number [company/charity number]. This section sets out information about the organization the National Skills Academy for Retail will be contracting with. Aims and objectives Summarize the aims and objectives of your organization/partnership, including those aims and objectives that specifically address local circumstances. (Approx. 250 words) [Insert text] Geographic coverage State the geographic area in which you are seeking an exclusive right to operate the Academy brand. Include a map if possible. Explain why you are seeking an exclusive right for this particular area and how you will ensure you can deliver the Core Offer to the whole of the area. Also show how you plan to expand the geographic area you cover in the future. (Approx. 500 words) [Insert text] The organization/ partnership Explain the structure of the partnership/organization developing the Skills Shop, including: o Which partners are represented on the Skills Shop Board – ideally these will include representatives from the local community, retailer/ developer partners and funding partners; Which operational and delivery partners are represented on the Steering Group – ideally these will include skills providers such as FE institutions as well as schools, key customer groups, Business Link, Connexions and similar. o Show why your partnership is best placed to become a member of the Network. You should explain the roles and responsibilities of partners and what specific experience or links they bring to the partnership. You can use and expand the diagram below to show the key functions or otherwise delete it. (Approx. 750 words) Skills Shop Business Plan 3 Version 1: Expires 29 April 2009 [Insert text] Governance and legal constitution Skills Shops should be their own legal entity. Explain which legal form you have chosen and why it is appropriate. (Approx. 500 words) [Insert text] Skills Shop Business Plan 4 Version 1: Expires 29 April 2009 4. EVIDENCE OF DEMAND This section explains how we established demand for a Skills Shop in the area we will cover and what the findings mean. Market analysis and key findings In this section you should cover: o How you identified your target markets, including the information sources and methods you used; Who you consulted with to establish demand for the Skills Shop within individual market segments; and What the findings mean for your Skills Shop, including the location(s) for delivering products and services, the range of products and services, the way you promote the Skills Shop. (Approx. 1000 words) o o [Insert text] Fit with existing or planned Skills Shops Demonstrate your awareness of nearby Skills Shops that either exist already or are being developed. Explain how you have consulted with their lead organizations to ensure the wider area is covered appropriately and there is no overlap or duplication of services. (Approx. 250 words) [Insert text] Supporting local, regional and national strategies What strategies were relevant in developing your Skills Shop business plan? How will your delivery plan support them? (Approx. 500 words) [Insert text] Skills Shop Business Plan 5 Version 1: Expires 29 April 2009 Feasibility assessment If you carried out a feasibility study please give a brief summary of how this was done and what the key findings were and attach the full report. (Approx. 250 words) [Insert text] Skills Shop Business Plan 6 Version 1: Expires 29 April 2009 5. PRODUCTS AND SERVICES This section sets out the range of services and products we will deliver. Tell us which services your Skills Shop will offer, including if and how you will supplement the NSA for Retail Core Offer with services aimed at your local market. Show which Core Offer and other services you already provide and which you are planning to provide by ticking boxes in the table below as appropriate. You can extend the table if you need to add more local programmes. Once you have completed this section, please show in the next Service delivery structures and processes section how you are planning to deliver the whole range of services. Under Service projections we ask you to put numbers against individual services. If you are unable to provide the whole range of Core Offer services from the start explain below the table how you will have the capacity to deliver them in the future. (Approx. 500 words) Services we have been providing in the last year (existing services) Services we will provide from the start once Skills Shop is set up Services we are planning to introduce within the next 5 years (future services) 1. Pre-employment training for adults 2. Information advice and guidance Adults Young people 3. Work placements 4. Skills programmes Skills for Life Level 2 Level 3 Apprenticeships Short courses Mentoring Retailer mapping Skills Shop Business Plan 7 Version 1: Expires 29 April 2009 5. Store management programmes Level 4 Short courses 6. Essential training courses 7. Business support and training for independent and small retailers 8. Signposting 9. [Local programme] 10. [Local programme] [Insert text] Skills Shop Business Plan 8 Version 1: Expires 29 April 2009 6. SERVICE DELIVERY This section sets out in detail how we will deliver our services. Location Explain from which locations you will deliver services and why these type(s) of locations are most suitable for addressing local needs. This may include the use of mobile units. (Approx. 500 words) [Insert text] Service delivery structures and processes Describe in detail how you will deliver your services, including: o Types and size of facilities you use; o If the Skills Shop has a shop front; o If you have a mock retail shop for learners; o Management structures and processes; o How you will develop strategic partnerships/collaborations with retail sector organizations; o How you engage with employers; o Signposting mechanisms; o Financial management processes; and o Specific roles of your delivery partners. Also explain how you have built in flexibility in running courses to suit your target groups and if and why you have decided to charge course fees. (Approx. 750-1000 words) [Insert text] Service delivery projections Estimate the number of clients you aim to attract in each of the first five years. These should be broken down against the elements of the Core Offer as well as anything delivered as local provision. It will help if you can estimate the range you expect to attract as this will allow more accurate forecasting of resources needed to deliver these projections. Please explain how you have arrived at these projections, and detail any issues you have identified in projecting the level of service you intend to deliver. For existing services please put in actual figures for the last 12 months. (Approx. 500 words if applicable) Skills Shop Business Plan 9 Version 1: Expires 29 April 2009 No of learners Year 1 No of learners Year 2 No of learners Year 3 No of learners Year 4 No of learners Year 5 No of learners Last 12 months (for existing services) Min 1. Pre-employment training for adults 2. Information advice and guidance Adults Young people 3. Work placements Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Actual 4. Skills programmes Skills for Life Level 2 Level 3 Apprenticeships Short courses Mentoring Retailer mapping 5. Store management programmes Level 4 Short courses 6. Essential training courses Skills Shop Business Plan 10 No of learners Year 1 No of learners Year 2 No of learners Year 3 No of learners Year 4 No of learners Year 5 No of learners Last 12 months (for existing services) Min 7. Business support and training for independent and small retailers 8. Signposting Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Actual 9. [Local programme] 10. [Local programme] [Insert text] Skills Shop Business Plan 11 7. RESOURCE PLAN This section explains how we will use staff and financial resources to deliver our services and where resources will come from. Staffing Set out the staffing structure for the Skills Shop and summarize the responsibilities of each role. You can use and expand the diagram below or delete it if you have your own. Explain how you ensure delivery staff and assessment teams have the right skills and experience – particularly industry competence - and what the arrangements for staff training and development are (CPD schedule). (Approx 500-750 words) [Insert text] Skills Shop Business Plan 12 Financial Plan In this section you should set out your three-year financial plan, covering: Financial Strategy (Approx. 750-1000 words) An outline of the financial strategy you have adopted, for example the balance between different income sources; building reserves, cross-subsidizing activities, risk policies. Expenditure        Income  Sources of revenue income broken down by source and type, e.g. private sector, LSC, RDA, Local Authority, earned income from ‘commercial’ activities; Sources of capital funding – loans or grants; Sources of in-kind support. Costs of delivering the Core Offer to the level identified in section 6; Costs of delivering the additional local provision you intend to offer; Costs associated with management and administration; Staff costs; Costs associated with acquiring, modifying, maintaining and running premises (capital and revenue); Marketing and promotional costs; Other expenditure you expect to incur (both capital & revenue);   Detailed forecasts should be appended to this plan. Set up costs The last table focuses on the costs related to setting up the actual or proposed Skills Shop. Explaining the costs will give the Academy an indication of commitment and investment to date from partners and details on the ‘typical’ partners involved in Skills Shop infrastructure set up. Skills Shop Business Plan 13 Financial strategy [Insert text] Skills Shop Business Plan 14 Income and Expenditure Year 1 Income Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 Source 4 Source 5 Source 6 Source 7 Source 8 Source 9 Source 10 Source 11 Source 12 Source 13 Total Grant income Surplus carried forward Total income Expenditure Capital expenditure Staff costs (1) Buildings and externals (2) Consumables and services (3) Depreciation & charges Total Profit for year Accumulated surplus Year 2 Year 3 Note 1 includes employer's NI, pensions, insurances, travel and subsistence Note 2 includes rent & rates, cleaning, maintenance, security, utilities, telephone & data & ICT support Note 3 includes marketing, postage, stationery, professional fees, evaluation costs etc Skills Shop Business Plan 15 Balance sheet Balance sheet forecast Fixed assets Tangible assets Current assets Debtors Cash at bank and in hand Creditors Amounts falling due within one year Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Creditors Amounts falling after more than one year Capital and reserves Share capital Profit and loss account At end of financial year Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Set up costs Skills Shop set up costs Amount Building (1) Fit out (1) IT equipment (1) Other equipment (2) Stock (2) Other Total (3) Note 1 Who has paid for this and what conditions apply? Note 2 What is ‘life expectancy’ of stock – when will it be due to be replaced? Note 3 Provide information on whether public or private sector contribution, details of contributing partners and split between public/ private contributions Date Details Comment Skills Shop Business Plan 16 8. PROMOTIONAL STRATEGY This section sets out the strategy we have developed to promote the Skills Shop effectively to relevant audiences. Explain how you plan to promote the Skills Shop to the target markets you identified. You could use the table below or delete it and insert your own to give an overview of your strategy. This should include how you promote your activities to employers, employees, potential employees and the general public. (Approx. 750 words) Target audience Key messages Timing Method/ communication channel How it will be measured [Insert text] Skills Shop Business Plan 17 9. MEASURING PERFORMANCE This section explains how we will monitor activities and measure progress towards our objectives. Set out your plan for monitoring and evaluating activities. Explain which indicators you have selected for measuring progress towards your targets and how you will collect monitoring information. Also show which methods you will use to identify good practice you can share with other Skills Shops in the Network. (Approx. 750 words) [Insert text] Skills Shop Business Plan 18 10. QUALITY MANAGEMENT This section sets out our processes for managing quality in line with the Framework for Excellence and Training Quality Standard guidelines and in agreement with the Academy’s approach to quality and consistency. SWOT analysis Include a summary of your assessment of your Skills Shop’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. You can complete the table below or delete it and include your own SWOT table. o Strengths o Weaknesses o Opportunties o Threats Quality statement and processes Give an overview of the quality management processes you have in place and explain your current position in working towards the Part B of the Training Quality Standard. Provide evidence that you have appointed or will appoint a Quality Champion within your Skills Shop. Also show how you will manage risk and the processes you will use (such as a risk register). (Approx. 750 words) [Insert text] Skills Shop Business Plan 19 11. EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY This section explains how we will ensure that our activities comply with equality and diversity principles. Set out how your project will help address equality and diversity issues in an integrated way. Issues to consider include: o Minimizing the need to travel by selecting locations that are easy to access by public transport and walking and cycling; Providing local employment and training; Providing equal opportunities for all individuals to use services and facilities; and Consulting with local people to define additional services. (Approx. 750 words) o o o [Insert text] Skills Shop Business Plan 20 12. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Please provide a list of all supporting evidence and documentation you will submit with the application. We are submitting the following documents to support our application and business case: o o o [text] [text] Skills Shop Business Plan 21