Enterprise activity - producing a product or service
This element focuses on developing foundational enterprise skills by guiding learners through the process of planning, creating, and selling a simple product or service. It equips learners with practical abilities in production, advertising, and self-evaluation, which are essential for future employment or self-employment.
Assessment criteria
Topic Overview
The City & Guilds Level 1 Award in Employability Skills is designed to help you develop the essential skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the workplace. This qualification covers key areas such as understanding your own strengths and weaknesses, working effectively as part of a team, communicating professionally, and managing your time and workload. It is ideal for school leavers, apprentices, or anyone looking to improve their employability and confidence in a work environment.
This award is part of the wider Employability & Work Skills suite, which focuses on preparing learners for employment, further training, or progression to higher-level qualifications. By completing this course, you will gain practical skills that employers value, such as problem-solving, self-presentation, and the ability to follow instructions. The qualification is vocationally related, meaning it is directly relevant to real-world jobs and helps bridge the gap between education and the workplace.
Mastering these skills is crucial because they are transferable across all industries. Whether you aim to work in retail, hospitality, administration, or construction, employers consistently look for candidates who can communicate clearly, work well with others, and take initiative. This award provides a solid foundation for your career journey and can be a stepping stone to further qualifications like the Level 2 Certificate in Employability Skills.
Key Concepts
Core ideas you must understand for this topic
- →Self-assessment: Identifying your own strengths, weaknesses, and areas for development to set realistic career goals.
- →Teamwork: Understanding group dynamics, respecting others' opinions, and contributing effectively to achieve shared objectives.
- →Communication: Using verbal, non-verbal, and written communication appropriately in different workplace contexts.
- →Time management: Prioritising tasks, meeting deadlines, and using tools like to-do lists or planners to stay organised.
- →Professional behaviour: Demonstrating punctuality, appropriate dress, positive attitude, and following workplace policies.
Learning Objectives
What you need to know and understand
- Identify the resources needed to produce a product or provide a service
- Plan the step-by-step process for producing a product or delivering a service
- Produce a simple product or demonstrate a service to meet basic requirements
- Advertise the product or service using straightforward promotional methods
- Review the enterprise activity by comparing outcomes against the initial plan
Assessment Criteria
Key criteria assessors look for in your portfolio
- Award credit for a clear, simple plan that outlines the sequence of production or service delivery
- Evidence of the finished product or service being provided (e.g., photographs, witness statement)
- A basic advertisement that includes the product/service name, purpose and how to obtain it
- A completed self-review sheet that identifies at least one strength and one area for improvement
Assessment Guidance
Guidance for achieving higher grades
- 💡Use simple diagrams, photos or bullet points in your plan to show each step clearly
- 💡Evidence can take many forms, such as witness statements signed by your assessor or photos of you working
- 💡For advertising, think about who will buy your product and tailor the message to them
- 💡When reviewing, compare what you actually did to your plan and give concrete examples of success and learning points
- 💡Use specific examples from your own experience when answering questions about teamwork or problem-solving. Examiners look for evidence that you can apply skills, not just define them.
- 💡Read each question carefully and identify the command word (e.g., 'describe', 'explain', 'list'). Tailor your response to what is being asked – for instance, 'describe' requires more detail than 'list'.
- 💡In assessments, pay attention to the number of marks available. For a 2-mark question, two distinct points are usually needed; for a 4-mark question, aim for four clear points or a detailed explanation.
Common Mistakes
Common errors to avoid in your coursework
- Writing a plan that describes the product rather than the steps to make it
- Overlooking the need to list materials, equipment or costs in the planning stage
- Creating an advertisement with unclear messaging or missing contact information
- Being overly critical or vague in the review without referencing specific evidence from the activity
- Misconception: Employability skills are only about getting a job, not keeping one. Correction: These skills are equally important for career progression, building relationships at work, and adapting to change once employed.
- Misconception: Teamwork means always agreeing with others. Correction: Effective teamwork involves constructive disagreement, compromise, and valuing diverse perspectives to reach the best outcome.
- Misconception: Communication is just about talking clearly. Correction: It also includes active listening, reading body language, and choosing the right medium (e.g., email vs. face-to-face) for your message.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions students ask about this topic
Pass / Merit / Distinction Evidence Checklist
How your portfolio evidence is graded for CITY & GUILDS LIMITED Enterprise activity - producing a product or service
Every vocational unit is marked against named criteria rather than an exam percentage. Your tutor's brief lists the exact codes for this unit — here is what each band is asking you to do.
Demonstrate baseline knowledge, accurate terminology, and core practical application.
Provide detailed analysis, structured explanations, and clear workplace reasoning.
Deliver thorough evaluation, original problem solving, and fully justified recommendations.
Before You Start
Prior knowledge that will help with this topic
- •No formal prerequisites are required for this Level 1 Award, but a basic understanding of English and maths (Entry Level 3 or above) is helpful for completing written tasks and interpreting instructions.
- •Familiarity with using a computer or tablet for online learning activities can be beneficial, though not essential.
Coursework AI Review
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Key Terminology
Essential terms to know
- Planning production steps
- Resource identification
- Product or service creation
- Basic promotion and advertising
- Self-reflection and review
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