19 Apr 2012
Chelsea Finlayson, a Cambridge learner at Pinehurst School, Auckland, New Zealand, is the first ever winner of an Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award for Cambridge IGCSE Enterprise. This new qualification asks learners to set up and run an enterprise.
We asked Chelsea to tell us more about her experience.
What did you most enjoy about Cambridge IGCSE Enterprise?
I enjoyed the practical experience of running a business.The course content encouraged negotiation with a bank manager and gave us the opportunity to experience university lectures and have guest speakers come to lessons. This content was invaluable.
Why did you choose the course?
I have to confess that initially I took the course to please my parents, but I was worried that I would spend two years doing a business studies course filled with accounting which did not appeal to me. However, once I started my course with Mrs Baptista, my teacher, I realised that there is a 'fun' aspect to business, and that you can learn and develop as a young business person without comprising your personality and sense of fun.Rather than just being based on a final exam, I particularly enjoyed the challenge of the coursework content which allowed my developing business personality to show.
What type of enterprise did you set up?
I set up a childcare business. While this seemed quite a simple concept compared to some of the other students' choices, I think it was the simplicity of an 'old' idea done well that made it work.
What have you gained from the course?
The structure of my enterprise was straightforward and, most importantly, profitable! It gave me great experience and first-hand knowledge, and was a fantastic way to relate my work in the course to a real enterprise. I feel that gaining practical experience - such as negotiating a bank loan with a bank manager - has given me confidence to run another business in the future. The sky is the limit.
Related links
Learn more about Cambridge IGCSE Enterprise. This qualification is approved by Ofqual and funded for teaching in state schools in England.
Learn more about Cambridge IGCSE in the UK.