Being able to make decisions effectively relies on gathering, processing  and analysing the right information. Learners will explore what makes a good business decision, how to interpret data, investigate potential drawbacks and benefits before reaching a preferred decision. It’s all about making smart moves in the world of business!

Customers and communication:

In this unit you will learn the purpose, methods and importance of communication in business and the appropriateness of different forms of communication for different situations. You will develop the skills that will help you create a rapport with customers and have the opportunity to practise and develop your business communication skills. You will also learn about the legal constraints, ethical and security issues that affect how businesses store, share and use information. 

 Accounting concepts:

This unit will give you an introduction to the foundations of business accounting. The unit will allow you to gain essential skills in, and knowledge of, the purposes of accounting, and the accounting procedures used to produce final accounts. You will consider the reasons for keeping accurate financial records and the importance of updating cash books and preparing bank reconciliation statements. This will prepare you for work, in areas of business and accounting, which require accurate recording of financial transactions. The unit will ensure you are familiar with the basic requirements of International Accounting Standards (IAS). 

Principles of project management:

In this unit you will learn about the stages of project management, and the type of skills a project manager should have. You will also learn why you need to monitor the progress of projects as it is vital to their successful completion and implementation. You will plan a project, and prepare a project plan. You will learn about the different planning tools available for project planning. Whilst preparing the project plan, you need to be aware of internal and external factors which might have an impact on the planning process, as well as the successful completion and implementation of a project. 

Responsible business practices:

This unit introduces the concept of responsible business practices (sometimes known as corporate social responsibility). By this we mean how a business manages its activities to produce a positive impact on society. In implementing responsible business practices, a business can be responding to legislation and regulations while some show a commitment to behaving ethically and contributing to economic development and improving the quality of life of the workforce, their families and of the local community. 

Business events:

This practical unit will help you develop the skills required to plan and make preparations for business events; support the running of events and review the extent to which events have been successful. Whilst the skills developed in this unit will help you to better support small events such as meetings and interviews, the focus is on the skills needed to support larger scale events such as conferences, exhibitions and product launch events 

 Year 2 

Marketing and market research:

The unit has particular emphasis on the role of market research and how it contributes to marketing decision-making, and the actions a business may take. Market research is the process by which organisations obtain the information they require. You will gain an in-depth understanding of primary and secondary market research methods used to inform marketing decision-making and any constraints on marketing activities. You will develop an understanding of the importance of selecting appropriate market research methods for market research proposals and you will be able to carry out market research, analyse the market research findings and present the findings. 

Human resources:

You are likely to be involved in recruitment and selection processes at some time in your life. This unit will give you an understanding of the process from a business’ perspective. You will learn about the different approaches that businesses can take to the recruitment and selection process and why recruiting the right new employees will contribute towards the success of the business. 

Economics for business:

You will be introduced to the basic economic principles of demand and supply and will apply these to a range of markets. You will also explore different competitive market structures and learn how businesses behave within each structure. This unit also helps you to understand how changes in the national economy and government policies, impact on businesses. You will gain an insight into the importance of unemployment, inflation and exchange rates and the methods to control them. In addition, you will increase your awareness of how international economic events and organisations influence UK businesses. 

Change management:

You will learn what to do to manage change and be able to apply this to any changes impacting on units being studied as part of this qualification, especially Unit 22 Delivering a business project. You will develop your ability to interpret quantitative and qualitative data to establish how effectively change is managed. You will learn that you need to be able to support the implementation of change to ensure that the organisational objectives of change are met. In this unit, you will learn you have to gain the commitment of stakeholders, and that this may involve managing resistance to change, both during and after implementation 

 International business:

In this unit, you will gain an understanding of key decisions that businesses must make when deciding whether or not to operate internationally. You will have the opportunity to research a business and then consider how this business may benefit from operating internationally as well as the challenges that it may face. This unit will provide you with practical experience which will be valuable should you wish to undertake further study in this area or follow a career in a business which either operates or aims to operate internationally. 

 Delivering a business project:

As a team, you will collectively take responsibility for project management to ensure the successful planning, implementation, monitoring and control of a project. Team members need to be adaptable, i.e. to be able to work with different people in a range of different ways. Team roles and tasks need to be assigned to the correct individual in order to achieve objectives. You will also create an individual plan that defines your own role in the project administration, delivery and support. This unit will require you to learn and apply the skills necessary to deliver a business project. This could be, for example, to research a marketing campaign and launch it or arrange a sponsored event for charity and then review the extent to which the project has been successful. 

Plus two optional units.