Identify an entrepreneur that you admire. Outline what it is that you admire about them and why (500 words)

A person who sets up a business or businesses, taking a greater than normal financial risk in order to do so. (Oxford Dictionary, 2000)

I have chosen to look the Innocent smoothie founders Richard Reed, Adam Balon and Jon Wright, they went to university at Cambridge together then set up innocent after quitting their jobs to build Innocent Drinks. I think it is an amazing company because it has simple products and outlooks but they operate in a very innovative way. Innocent Drinks was founded in 1999, it has 77.5% of shares in the UK smoothie market² and sells two million bottles per week.³

I think the founders are entrepreneurs because they came up with a new idea and found a gap in the market for a product, they spent £500 on fruit and made lots of smoothies then went to a music festival in London and asked the attendees whether they should quit their current jobs and make smoothies instead, and to answer the smoothie testers had to put their empty bottles in ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ bins, by the end of the festival the ‘Yes’ bin was completely full and the ‘No’ bin had three smoothies in it.

I admire the fact that they set up the business with a core idea and strong values about the company and have kept in throughout the journey of the business, whereas many entrepreneurs tend to loose there initial values and ideas as there business grows. I also admire the fact that the three men who founded it all share the same ideas and they all know exactly what they are trying to achieve so they are working towards the same goal.

Since the beginning innocent had always tried to be a sustainable company,  they review everything about the company and recognise where they could improve it to make positive impacts environmentally and socially.

The entrepreneurs took a very big risk by quitting their jobs for a project that they were not sure that would take off and they faced many times where they were not sure that it was a good idea, but they overcame all of the obstacles and are now what they are because of them.

 The company has a very positive attitude in all areas of it business I think this reflects the successes, they have 250 employees and have been voted one of the best companies to work for in the UK, the company

The success of Innocent was achieved because of many different factors, but I think the founders not just had a good product but they were innovative and had a good plan for setting up the company.

­­Bibliography

1.                           Concise (2000). Oxford dictionary . New York: BCA. p476-p477

2.                           Cheatsheet (2006). Available: http://www.innocentdrinks.co.uk/press/cheatsheet/. Last accessed 9 Dec 2010.

3.                           ‘Coke buys into Innocent smoothies’. Available: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7986901.stm. Last accessed 10 Dec 2010.

Dance Company - Current Social Issue (500 words)

Sway Dance Company is a production dance company based in Sway, Hampshire. They work with teenagers and adults living in and around Sway, putting on dance shows and theatre performances for the local community.

This dance company has many different options for developing a new activity to engage with a current social issue, presently they only work with teenagers and adults which is limiting there reach into the community. They could do workshops or classes for people with learning difficulties or people with mental health problems; they could also work with people less-privileged from the local area.

One social issue the do address is getting young people involved in projects so they are off the streets and don’t have time to be bored so won’t cause trouble.

Obesity in children is a current social issue that has been in the media a lot over the past few years, my suggestion for Sway Dance Company would be to do afterschool dance and drama sessions for the local school St. Luke primary, so the children can learn how to be healthy and exercise. Dance is a good way to get children exercising without forcing them to do sport where some over weigh or unconfident children may feel very intimidated.

The school may already have some afterschool clubs and activities but they don’t have dance or drama club because they do not have the facilities on site.

 I feel this new activity would be suitable for the company because the community centre where they are based is very close to the school which makes it very accessible and they haven’t previously involved children in any shows or production. The company will become well-known then have more audience at the shows and will also develop a good reputation as they are working with children to get them healthier.

This new activity will affect the organization because they will have a busier schedule therefore the workings of the company will change and they might have to hire a new staff member who has had previous experience working with children. They will also be generating more money as there will probably be a small charge for going to the classes each term. In the longer term this activity will still be beneficial because new children come to the school every year so there will always be interest and the school and the company may join together in a partnership relationship.

In conclusion the company has many different options for expansion which puts them in a good position and I think my idea to work with the local school would be very beneficial to the company.