Career Paths in Business

There are a wide range of careers in business as it includes a wide range of topics.  Common career paths include:  Accounting & Finance, Commercial Banking, Corporate Finance, Insurance, Investment Banking, Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations, Market Research, Product Management & Retail.

BTEC [First Award] in Business

Mr S Moss - Head of Department         

Mr A Waterhouse - Teacher - Business Studies

Examination Board: Edexcel

Method of Assessment:

Core Units [must pass core units to gain overall qualification]

Unit 1: Enterprise in the Business World – Project [25%]

Unit 2: Finance for Business – External online test [25%]

Optional Units

Unit 3: Promoting a Brand – Project [25%]

Unit 4: Recruitment, Selection and Employment – Project [25%]

The BTEC [First Award] in Business is equivalent to one GCSE.  Grades are awarded as Distinction*, Distinction, Merit, Pass.  The course requires students to meet strict coursework deadlines throughout the year.

Coursework will be based on real businesses and real investigation work.  A range of assessment methods will be required, including, reports, presentations, leaflets and business plans.

Qualification Structure

Unit 1: Enterprise in the Business World [25% - coursework]

Students will know how the business environment will impact on a business, plan an idea for a new business and present a suitable business model for a business start-up.

Unit 2: Finance for Business [25% - online examination]

Students will understand the costs involved in business and how businesses make a profit.  They will be able to measure success and identify how to improve business performance.

Unit 3: Promoting a Brand [25% - coursework]

Students will explore the use of branding and promotion in business and develop and promote a brand for a business.

Unit 8: Recruitment, Selection and Employment [25% - coursework]

Students will know about job roles and demonstrate interview skills and plan their career development.

Benefits of studying BTEC [First Award] in Business

BTECs are vocationally related qualifications.  Students develop their business knowledge and apply this to real world case studies and develop essential skills that are required within a work-related context.  They develop independent learning skills and other skills such as teamwork, working to deadlines, presenting information effectively and completing accurate financial tasks.

GCSE Business (9-1)

Head of Department         

Mr S Moss

Examination Board: OCR

Method of Assessment:

Business (01): Business activity, marketing and people

1 hour 30 minutes = 50% of the qualification

Business (02): Operations, finance and influences on business

1 hour 30 minutes = 50% of the qualification

GCSE in Business equips students with the skills and confidence to explore how different business situations affect decision-making. They develop their understanding of concepts, objectives and terminology, and the impact of issues on a business’s operations.

Business 01: Business activity, marketing and people

Students are introduced to business concepts and issues concerning the activities of a business. They explore the purpose and role of a business from spotting an opportunity through to the growth of an established business. They also look at the role of marketing and human resources.

Topic 1 includes: The role of business enterprise and entrepreneurship, business planning, business ownership, business aims and objectives, stakeholders in business and business growth.

Topic 2 includes:  The role of marketing, market research, market segmentation and the marketing mix.

Topic 3 includes: The role of human resources, organisational structures, communication in business, recruitment and selection, employee motivation and retention, training and development and employment law

Business 02: Operations, finance and influences on business

Students take a closer look at the role of operations and finance in business activity. Operations include production processes, quality of goods and services, customer service, and working with suppliers. Finance covers its role, its sources, costs, profit and loss, cash and cash flow.  They also explore how business responds to external influences, such as ethical and environmental considerations, the economic climate and globalisation, and the interdependent nature of business.

Topic 4 includes: The production processes, ensuring the quality of goods and services, the sales process and customer service, consumer law, influences on business location and the importance of working with suppliers

Topic 5 includes: The role of the finance function, sources of finance, calculating revenue, costs, profit and loss, calculating break-even and cash flow.

Topic 6 includes: Ethical and environmental considerations, the economic climate, globalisation and the interdependent nature of business

Internal Assessment

Each topic once completed will be internally assessed and at the end of Year 11 there are two external examinations.

 

Head of Department         

Mr S Moss