Business Studies
Subject Leader: Mr G Gartside
Subject Leader Email Address: gareth.gartside@swale.at
Business opportunities are like buses, there's always another one coming.
RICHARD BRANSON
Subject overview
Business Studies gives students a greater understanding and awareness of the world they live in, but more specifically how individuals and businesses work within the economy. Business Studies helps to prepare students for the world of work. It can be useful for absolutely every job! It is particularly relevant if you want to work in human resources, marketing and finance roles, or if you want to set up your own business.
Year 10
In Year 10 students are introduced to the Cambridge National in Enterprise and Marketing qualification. This course encourages students to develop the practical skills and applied knowledge they’ll need in the business and enterprise sector. Students put their learning into practice and develop valuable transferable skills, beneficial if they’re considering starting up their own enterprise/business.
Studying this course will allow you to develop a range of skills such as:
• Analytical skills
• Creative thinking
• Digital presentation skills
• Research and planning
• Problem solving
•Verbal communication and presentation skills.
Why study this course?
The Cambridge Nationals in Enterprise and Marketing will offer opportunities to develop business skills demanded by employers in the UK today. They will enhance the learner’s readiness for the world of work by developing transferable skills, such as planning, research and analysis, working with others and effective communication. It is designed with both practical and theoretical elements, which will prepare students for further study of qualifications in enterprise, marketing or business.
What does this course lead on to?
By developing applied knowledge and practical skills in setting up and running a successful business enterprise, this course will help give you the opportunity to progress on to a Level 3 Business course, such as BTEC Nationals, a T Level in Digital Business, or an apprenticeship before starting university or work. Careers in Business could take you anywhere – from working in top city offices to launching your own business and being an entrepreneur.
No matter what you progress on to, the transferable skills you’ll learn from Enterprise and Marketing will prepare you for your future. Developing the ability to communicate confidently will make you stand out from the crowd.
Term 1:
In term 1 students learn about how to develop market research tools and use these to complete market research.
Enquiry Questions:
Why is conducting market research important for a business?
Term 2:
Following on from the completion of market research, in term 2 students will use their research findings to decide who their customers will be. Students are required to generate their own individual customer profiles that become their target market for their product proposal.
Enquiry Questions:
How does a business identify and understand a customer's needs?
Term 3:
Using their market research and target customer information students create a design mix and produce product design ideas for their business.
Enquiry Questions:
- Why does a business develop product proposals before the launch of a product?
- What does a product proposal involve?
Term 4:
During this term students will conduct self and peer feedback to assess the strengths and weaknesses of their initial product proposals. They will complete financial calculations to determine whether the proposal is likely to make a profit. They will use the evidence generated to decide whether they think that the new product is likely to be financially viable.
Enquiry Questions:
Why is it important that a business determines whether a product proposal is financially viable?
Term 5:
An overall evaluation is carried out by the student in term 5. This task requires students to assess the risks and challenges involved with producing and launching a new product and their impact on business.
Enquiry Questions:
How does a business know and review the likely success of a business proposal?
Term 6:
Throughout this term students investigate what a brand is and how brands are established. Students focus on how customers perceive brands and consider the unique combination of views held about brands by the customers.
Enquiry Questions:
What is the importance of having a brand identity?
Year 11
In Year 11 students learn about the main activities that take place in order to support a startup business and what the key factors are to consider when starting up a business.
Students prepare for and pitch a business proposal. They develop a brand identity and investigate how best to promote their product and then plan, practise and finally deliver their pitch. Afterwards they review both their performance and their business proposal. This will help develop their analysis and self-evaluative skills as well as those relating to self-presentation.
Why study this course?
The Cambridge Nationals in Enterprise and Marketing will offer opportunities to develop business skills demanded by employers in the UK today. They will enhance the learner’s readiness for the world of work by developing transferable skills, such as planning, research and analysis, working with others and effective communication. It is designed with both practical and theoretical elements, which will prepare students for further study of qualifications in enterprise, marketing or business.
What does this course lead on to?
By developing applied knowledge and practical skills in setting up and running a successful business enterprise, this course will help give you the opportunity to progress on to a Level 3 Business course, such as BTEC Nationals, a T Level in Digital Business, or an apprenticeship before starting university or work. Careers in Business could take you anywhere – from working in top city offices to launching your own business and being an entrepreneur.
No matter what you progress on to, the transferable skills you’ll learn from Enterprise and Marketing will prepare you for your future. Developing the ability to communicate confidently will make you stand out from the crowd.
Term 1:
During term 1 students lessons are divided up into coursework and exam preparation lessons. Two units are taught alongside each other throughout the term. The exam unit looks at running a start-up business effectively whereas the coursework unit requires students to create a brand and to plan and prepare a professional business pitch.
Enquiry Questions:
Coursework:
- Can you pitch a planned presentation of a product design to a specific audience?
- What factors need to be considered when starting up a business?
- What makes a product or service financially viable?
Exam:
Why are different functional areas / activities needed to support a business start-up?
Term 2:
Term 2 is solely focused on exam preparation. During this term students learn the main activities that are needed to support a start-up business and what the key factors are to consider. Pupils will understand how and why customer segmentation is used and how to target a customer market. They will also develop an understanding of how to attract and retain customers, the techniques to use when developing products and how to investigate what makes a product viable.
Enquiry Questions:
- What does Product Development involve?
- How does a business attract and retain customers?
- How does a business understand its target market?
Term 3:
Students sit their Enterprise and Marketing GCSE exam in January of term 3. This unit is externally assessed through an OCR set and marked 1 hour 30 minutes exam. A range of different types of questions will be used, including multiple-choice, short/medium answer questions and extended response analysis and evaluation questions.
After the exam students return their focus to completing their final unit of coursework based on a business proposal.
Enquiry Questions:
Can I review the strengths and weaknesses of a business proposal and pitch?
Term 4:
For the remainder of the academic school year students spend time revisiting and consolidating knowledge of the OCR Enterprise and Marketing specification which they have studied for their GCSE course.
Enquiry Questions:
Can I comprehensively discuss the key factors which influence a new business start-up?
Sixth Form
BTEC Level 3 National Diploma / Extended Certificate in Business
Students will develop practical skills and theoretical understanding of the world of business and complete projects investigating topics such as preparing a marketing campaign, managing an event and business finance. During the course students will develop through their group work, IT and presentation skills. Students who study Business will gain an insight into the short, medium and long term running of small to global businesses. Critical thinking of real life examples gives students the skills to understand how businesses operate and compete in various industries.
Students will study a range of key areas in Business. These are topics such as Exploring Business, where students will learn about the purposes of different businesses, their structure, the effect of the external environment, and how they need to be dynamic and innovative to survive. Other units covered are Marketing, Finance and Recruitment in the business world. If studying for the Diploma in business, other areas of study include Business Management, Event Planning, Globalisation in Business and Customer Services. By the time you have completed the course you will have a good knowledge of the wide world of business and a practical skill set that will prepare you for the next stage in your business career.
This course is all about preparing you for employment and/or entry to university. Future careers include accounting, banking, insurance, human resources, marketing and sales. Business is a broad subject that can mix with a combination of any other vocational or academic courses.
Year 12
Terms 1
Students are introduced to a range of different units of study at the beginning of Year 12.
Students studying for the Extended Certificate will complete Units 1 and 3
Students studying for the National Diploma will complete units 1,2,3 & 4
Unit 1 - Exploring Business: this unit begins by introducing students to the role of innovation and enterprise in a business. Students have the opportunity to research and investigate a range of enterprising businesses of their choice.
Unit 2 - Developing a Marketing Campaign: Students learn about the role of marketing within a business and its importance for success.
Unit 3 - Personal and Business Finance: Students are given the opportunity to learn and explore how to best manage their personal finances and gain an understanding of the role of money and how the personal finance sector operates.
Unit 4 - Managing an Event: Students study the roles and responsibilities an event organiser is involved in.
Enquiry Questions:
UNIT 1 EXPLORING BUSINESS:
What is the role of innovation and enterprise in the running of a successful business?
UNIT 2 DEVELOPING A MARKETING CAMPAIGN:
- What is the role of marketing within a business?
- How do internal and external factors impact the marketing activities of a business?
-What is the purpose of market research and how can it be collected effectively?
UNIT 3 PERSONAL & BUSINESS FINANCE:
- What are the roles and functions of money?
-How do people effectively manage their personal finances?
-How does the personal finance sector operate?
UNIT 4 MANAGING AN EVENT:
What is the role of an event’s organiser?
Term 2:
Unit 1 - Exploring Business requires students to conduct research on different organisations and identify who their stakeholders are.
Unit 2 - Developing a Marketing Campaign: Students are introduced to the marketing mix and given the opportunity to create their own marketing mix for a product or service of their choice.
Unit 3 - Personal and Business Finance: Students learn about different types of accounts and how to calculate and analyse a businesses break-even point.
Unit 4 - Managing an Event: Students explore factors which must be considered when planning an event and ensuring all plans are feasible.
Enquiry Questions:
UNIT 1 EXPLORING BUSINESS:
What are the features of differing organisations and who are their stakeholders?
UNIT 2 DEVELOPING A MARKETING CAMPAIGN:
How does a business plan for and run a successful marketing campaign?
How does the marketing mix influence the development of a marketing campaign?
Why is it important to budget and have a set timescale when planning a marketing campaign?
UNIT 3 PERSONAL & BUSINESS FINANCE:
What is the purpose of accounting and what types of income and expenditure are there?
How do businesses select and obtain finance?
How do businesses calculate and analyse breakeven forecasts?
UNIT 4 MANAGING AN EVENT:
How can an event’s organiser ensure that an event they plan is feasible?
Term 3:
Unit 1 Exploring Business: Students look at how businesses are structured and the benefits and drawbacks of different structures within a range of businesses.
Unit 3 Personal and Business Finance: A focus on how to manage the cashflow within the business and how to calculate accounts accurately to monitor the business success.
Unit 4 Managing an Event: Study focuses on the requirements needed to run different types of events and the planning required in ensuring events are successful.
Enquiry Questions:
UNIT 1 EXPLORING BUSINESS:
How do two contrasting organisations structure themselves to operate efficiently and meet the needs of various stakeholder groups?
UNIT 3 PERSONAL & BUSINESS FINANCE:
How do businesses forecast and manage cashflow?
How do businesses complete and analyse profit (Statement of Comprehensive Income)?
How do businesses complete and analyse their Statement of Financial Position?
UNIT 4 MANAGING AN EVENT:
What is required to create a successful business or social enterprise events plan?
Term 4:
Unit 1 Exploring Business: Exploring both internal and external factors which impact the successful operation of a chosen business.
Unit 3 Personal and Business Finance: Completing financial calculations accurately and learning the skills to analyse and evaluate different financial scenarios.
Unit 4 Managing an Event: Students learn about the specific requirements necessary for a manager in order to run a successful enterprising event.
Enquiry Questions:
UNIT 1 EXPLORING BUSINESS:
How does the internal, external and competitive environment impact on the successful operation of one organisation?
UNIT 3 PERSONAL & BUSINESS FINANCE :
How do businesses calculate ratios and analyse their data to inform business strategy?
UNIT 4 MANAGING AN EVENT:
What tasks and duties are required to run and manage a successful business or social enterprise event?
Term 5:
Unit 1 Exploring Business: Understanding how a business’s performance and effectiveness can be analysed using a range of different situational analysis tools.
Unit 3 Personal and Business Finance: Exploring exam preparation skills.
Unit 4: How to evaluate effectively the overall performance of a managed event.
Enquiry Questions:
UNIT 1 EXPLORING BUSINESS:
What do situational analysis tools tell us about one business's performance?
UNIT 3 PERSONAL & BUSINESS FINANCE:
How can we prepare effectively for the exam?
UNIT 4 MANAGING AN EVENT:
What methods can be used to evaluate and reflect on the success of a business or social enterprise event in order to improve for the future?
Term 6:
Unit 1 Exploring Business: Students analyse how situational tools can be used to monitor business peformance.
Enquiry Questions:
UNIT 1 EXPLORING BUSINESS:
What do situational analysis tools tell us about one business' performance?
Year 13
Term 1
Unit 5 International Business: Students will gain an understanding of what international business is and explore how international businesses operate.
Unit 6 - Principles of Management: An introduction into the difference between leaders and managers is explored along with learning about how the HR department supports the management of a company.
Unit 8 - Recruitment in Business: Students explore the reasons why recruitment occurs and the ways in which businesses recruit staff effectively.
Unit 14 - This unit gives students the opportunity to develop their customer service skills. The first task in term 1 requires students to investigate the customer service processes in businesses and evaluate their success.
Enquiry Questions:
UNIT 5 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
- Are you able to explore the international context for business operations?
UNIT 6 PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT
- What are the functions of management and functions of leadership?
- Can you identify different management and leadership styles and relate them to real-life business scenarios?
- Why is it important to effectively manage the Human Resources department within a business?
UNIT 8 RECRUITMENT & SELECTION
- What is recruitment and selection all about?
UNIT 14 INVESTIGATING CUSTOMER SERVICE
- How does effective customer service contribute to business success?
Term 2
Unit 5 International Business: Students study the economic environments of a range of different international businesses.
Unit 6 Principles of management: Students learn about how managers motivate staff, they look at a range of different motivational theories and evaluate each. A focus is also made on the impact change and quality management has in a business.
Unit 8 Recruitment and Selection: Students learn about following the correct recruitment and selection procedures within a business and the importance of employing the right staff to ensure success.
Unit 14 Investigating Customer Services: Students learn about how to effectively meet the needs of customers through the promotion of an effective customer service policy.
Enquiry questions
UNIT 5 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
- Can you develop your understanding of the international economic environment in which businesses operate?
UNIT 6 PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT
- What factors influence management, motivation and performance of the workforce
- How can a manager effectively manage change within a business?
- Why is it important to have quality management procedures in place to run a successful business?
UNIT 8 RECRUITMENT & SELECTION
- How does effective recruitment and selection contribute to business success?
UNIT 14 INVESTIGATING CUSTOMER SERVICE
- What type of customers does a business have and how does a business successfully meet their expectations?
Term 3
Unit 5 International Business: Students look at the external factors that influence international businesses. This encompasses looking at factors such as political, technological, legal and environmental impacts which are outside of the businesses control.
Unit 8 Recruitment and Selection: Students experience creating and completing the common documents such as job descriptions, application forms, etc., for a specific job role.
Unit 14 Investigating Customer Services: Study is focused on learning about the legal factors which play an important part in offering effective customer service.
Enquiry questions
UNIT 5 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
- Are you aware of the external factors that influence international business?
UNIT 8 RECRUITMENT & SELECTION
- What recruitment documents are required within the recruitment and selection process?
UNIT 14 INVESTIGATING CUSTOMER SERVICE
- What customer services legislation and regulations must a business follow to provide effective customer service?
Term 4
Unit 5 International Business: students study how culture throughout different countries impacts and influences trade in international businesses.
Unit 8 Recruitment and Selection: Students learn about fair employment practice and the ethical and legal implications a business has to consider when recruiting staff.
Unit 14 Investigating Customer Services: A focus is made on how businesses use customer service effectively and how it can be improved within the future.
Enquiry questions
UNIT 5 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
- Are you aware of the cultural factors that influence international business?
UNIT 8 RECRUITMENT & SELECTION
- What ethical and legal implications will a business need to consider when recruiting?
UNIT 14 INVESTIGATING CUSTOMER SERVICE
- What methods does a business use to improve customer service and what indicates improved performance?
Term 5
Unit 5 International Business: Students learn in theory how businesses plan and implement the correct procedures required to develop international trade effectively.
Unit 8 Recruitment and Selection: Students take part in role-play scenarios to experience what it is like to be both an interviewer and an interviewee.
Unit 14: Students perform role-play scenarios assessing their own customer service skills in different situations.
Enquiry questions:
UNIT 5 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
- What are the strategic and operational approaches to developing international trade?
UNIT 8 RECRUITMENT & SELECTION
- Can you demonstrate effective recruitment skills, and why is it important that the recruitment process is evaluated by both the employer and employee?
UNIT 14 INVESTIGATING CUSTOMER SERVICE
- Can you demonstrate high levels of customer service skills, and assess your own strengths and weaknesses to set yourself targets for the future?