Syllabus: Pearson Edexcel AS Business
Module: Entrepreneurs and Leaders
Lesson: 1.5.1 Role of an Entrepreneur

Introduction

The topic “Role of an Entrepreneur” is part of Theme 1 in the Pearson Edexcel AS Business qualification, under Unit 1.5: Entrepreneurs and Leaders. This section introduces students to the practical and strategic significance of entrepreneurship in the modern economy. It aligns with the course’s broader aims of equipping learners to understand business in real-world contexts, develop problem-solving skills, and evaluate the effectiveness of business decision-making.

For teachers and SLT, this topic offers a strong entry point for contextualising curriculum content with contemporary relevance. For careers leads and headteachers, it presents a natural bridge between enterprise education and employability skills development, reinforcing Gatsby Benchmarks and personal development goals.

Key Concepts

According to the Pearson Edexcel AS Business specification, students should understand:

• The role of an entrepreneur in creating and developing business ideas, spotting opportunities, and taking calculated risks.

• The responsibilities of entrepreneurs, including:

  • Innovation and idea generation

  • Organising resources effectively (land, labour, capital, enterprise)

  • Making business decisions

  • Understanding and managing risk

• The link between entrepreneurship and the wider economy, including job creation, contribution to GDP, and innovation diffusion.

• The differences between intrapreneurs (those who act entrepreneurially within an existing business) and traditional entrepreneurs.

This topic requires students to grasp both theoretical foundations and applied examples. It is particularly well-suited to collaborative, active learning strategies such as project-based challenges or simulation tasks.

Real-World Relevance

Entrepreneurship is not an abstract ideal in this topic – it’s live, tangible and local. Consider recent UK examples like:

• Steven Bartlett, co-founder of Social Chain and youngest-ever Dragon on Dragons’ Den, often speaks about building a business from a student bedroom to a global agency.

• Grace Beverley, founder of TALA and Shreddy, exemplifies the modern entrepreneur leveraging social media, purpose-led branding, and sustainability as business pillars.

• Monzo Bank’s founders, who capitalised on digital disruption in traditional finance by identifying customer pain points.

These examples make entrepreneurship feel accessible and diverse – no longer limited to Silicon Valley or “tech bros.” Using them in lessons can help demystify what an entrepreneur looks like, and challenge stereotypes for your students.

How It’s Assessed

In the Pearson Edexcel AS Business assessment, this topic appears in:

• Paper 1: Marketing and People (1 hour 30 minutes)

• Section A often includes multiple-choice or short-answer questions on definitions or roles.

• Section B or C might contain data-response or context-based extended questions on a real business/start-up scenario.

Command words typically include:

• Describe or Explain (e.g. “Explain two roles of an entrepreneur in a start-up business.”)

• Analyse (e.g. “Analyse the importance of innovation to an entrepreneur.”)

• Evaluate (e.g. “Evaluate the impact of entrepreneurial decisions on business growth.”)

Encourage students to use clear chains of reasoning, apply examples, and reflect critically on both risks and benefits of entrepreneurial activity.

Enterprise Skills Integration

This topic is a natural fit for developing:

• Problem-solving: evaluating how entrepreneurs tackle early-stage challenges (finance, operations, staffing).

• Decision-making: choosing between growth strategies, managing risk, prioritising investments.

• Creativity: coming up with viable business ideas or adapting to changing market conditions.

• Resilience: understanding and learning from business failure.

The Enterprise Skills MarketScope AI Tool can be used here to simulate market opportunities and help students refine business ideas using real data – a good fit for formative group tasks or pitch-style activities.

Careers Links

This topic supports:

• Gatsby Benchmark 4: Linking curriculum learning to careers – entrepreneurship is a live option, not just a theoretical concept.

• Gatsby Benchmark 2: Learning from career and labour market information – exploring how start-ups contribute to economic growth and regional development.

Related pathways include:

• Business founder or co-founder

• Business development associate

• Product manager

• Innovation consultant

• Freelance creative or digital entrepreneur

Introduce tools like the Pitch Deck Analyser for career-linked enrichment – students can test and improve pitch ideas, developing communication and analytical skills valued across many industries.

Teaching Notes

Top Tips:

• Start with a “What’s the problem?” question – get students identifying pain points or needs in their school/community. This sparks entrepreneurial thinking.

• Use Dragon’s Den-style role plays or case-based debates.

• Bring in local entrepreneurs for Q&A – many are willing to do 30-minute Zoom sessions for free if asked by a school.

Common Pitfalls:

• Students often think entrepreneurs = rich tech geniuses. Broaden the definition to include social enterprises, side hustles, or even teachers who’ve started tuition businesses.

• Watch out for surface-level responses in assessments (e.g. “Entrepreneurs are risk takers”). Push for examples and context.

Extension Activities:

• Ask students to create a “Business Idea Portfolio” across the term.

• Use Enterprise Skills’ MarketScope to map out trends and explore viable gaps in the market.

• Link with PSHE or citizenship to explore ethical entrepreneurship or social impact.