Business SHSM
Entrepreneurship, marketing, finance—your Business SHSM introduces you to how the professional world works. The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Canada helps you develop the soft skills that set business leaders apart: communication, initiative, and the ability to set and achieve meaningful goals.
How you can link your SHSM experiences with Award Canada:
Complementary SHSM Experiences:
Business certifications, entrepreneurship training, marketing projects, financial literacy workshops, and business industry placements.
Example SMART Goal (Bronze, 13 Weeks):
Over the next 13 weeks, I’ll develop my business skills by spending about an hour each week on SHSM projects in areas like marketing, financial planning, or business communication. I’ll complete at least three projects and track my improvement through feedback and grades.
Example Assessor:
SHSM Lead Teacher or Business Industry Partner
Example Log for ORB:
Today I worked on a marketing analysis for our class project, researching our target audience and competitors. I organized my research into clearer sections this time. Next week, I’ll create a presentation and practice explaining my findings in a short, clear way.
Complementary SHSM Experiences:
Physical activities that support focus and wellness, fitness routines, stress management through exercise, and active recreation.
Example SMART Goal (Bronze, 13 Weeks):
For the next 13 weeks, I’ll improve my physical wellness by exercising for at least an hour each week (walking, gym, or sports). I want to manage stress better and have more energy for school. I’ll track how exercise affects my focus and mood.
Example Assessor:
Phys. Ed Teacher, Coach, or Fitness Instructor
Example Log for ORB:
Today I went for a 30-minute walk and did stretching before my presentation. I noticed that I felt calmer and more focused. I’m starting to understand that exercise really does help me think better. Next week, I’ll try a morning workout and see if it helps my energy during class.
Complementary SHSM Experiences:
Volunteering for business-related community initiatives, supporting school fundraisers, mentoring in financial literacy, and contributing to non-profit organizations.
Example SMART Goal (Bronze, 13 Weeks):
Over the next 13 weeks, I’ll volunteer about an hour each week helping a community organization with business tasks like event planning, marketing, or tracking donations. I’ll track what I learn about running a non-profit and how my organization skills improve.
Example Assessor:
Non-Profit Supervisor or Volunteer Coordinator
Example Log for ORB:
Today I helped organize a fundraising spreadsheet for the community centre, sorting donations and adding up totals. I figured out how to use formulas to make the calculations automatic. Next week, I’ll help create promotional materials for their next event.
(Completed as a team over 2 days and 1 night. Your team will plan, do, and review the journey together—learning through teamwork, challenge, and reflection.)
General Activity Description:
An entrepreneurship exploration where your team travels on foot through business districts, visiting local businesses and interviewing entrepreneurs. You’ll learn about different business models, understand what it takes to run a business, and reflect on the role of small business in your community.
Example Team SMART Goal (Bronze – 2 Days, 1 Night):
As a team, we’ll complete a 2-day journey visiting at least four local businesses. We’ll interview business owners about their entrepreneurship journey, document what we learn about running a business, and reflect together on business skills and how we collaborated to gather information.
Example Assessor/Supervisor:
SHSM Lead Teacher, Business Industry Partner, or Approved Award Leader
Example Group Debrief (Progress-Focused):
Talking to real business owners showed us that entrepreneurship takes more persistence than we expected. We got better at preparing interview questions and assigning note-taking roles. Next time, we’d schedule appointments ahead of time and follow up with thank-you messages.
Career Pathways
- conference and event planners
- retail salespersons
- storekeepers and parts persons
- accounting and related clerks
- accounting technicians and bookkeepers
- administrative assistants
- administrative officers
- assessors, valuators and appraisers
- banking, insurance and other financial clerks
- conference and event planners
- court officers and justices of the peace
- desktop publishing operators and related occupations
- human resources and recruitment officers
- human resources professionals
- insurance adjusters and claims examiners
- legal administrative assistants
- personnel clerk
- professional occupations in business management consulting
- purchasing agents and officers
- retail and wholesale buyers
- social policy researchers, consultants and program officers
- supervisors, finance and insurance office workers
- supervisors, supply chain, tracking and scheduling co-ordination occupations
- business development officers and marketing researchers and consultants
- economists and economic policy researchers and analysts
- executive assistants
- financial and investment analysts
- financial auditors and accountants
- human resources professionals
- mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries
- professional occupations in business management consulting
- securities agents, investment dealers and brokers
- social policy researchers, consultants and program officers
- accounting and related clerks
- administrative assistants
- banking, insurance and other financial clerks
- customer service representatives – financial services
- customs, ship and other brokers
- general office support workers
- mail, postal and related workers
- other customer and information services representatives
- payroll administrators
- personnel clerks
- purchasing and inventory control workers
- real estate agents and salespersons
- receptionists
- records management technicians
- retail and wholesale buyers
- retail salespersons
- shippers and receivers
- storekeepers and parts persons
