Courses - Business & Law - BTEC National Award in Business

BTEC - National Award in Business

Entry Requirements:

(A TWO YEAR COURSE, EQUIVALENT TO ONE A LEVEL)

Entry Requirements:

To study on this course you will need to possess one or a combination of the following qualifications amounting to 33 points:
1. Four or five GCSE passes and sufficient other grades to achieve 33 points;
2. A Pass or above from your GNVQ Intermediate/BTEC First;
3. A Part Award with sufficient GCSEs amounting to 33 points.

About the Subject :

BTEC National Award in Business is a new and exciting opportunity to study the methods and models that explain how the nation’s companies make all that money. The approach taken is to allow students to discover for themselves with staff and other students, the best practice and the worst mistakes made and then follow through projects that encourage students to explore how well they would cope in analysing a business situation and trying to make recommendations to the firm.
BTEC assignments will be undertaken both individually and in groups and will attempt to give students the chance to develop both team and communication skills. Students will work using ICT techniques and software to write reports, organise presentations and create websites. There is a strong emphasis on learning sound research skills and students will need to identify a range of sources, checking their validity, as they prepare and present their work. Planning and meeting deadlines are vital.

Course Content:

The BTEC National award will explain the basic and key areas of business activity. Students will learn about the way companies organise themselves; how to lead and manage people successfully; how best to sell your products and charge far more than they are worth and the successful methods of communicating with staff and customers. All of this will complement your other subjects and probably leave you wishing you had chosen a lot more business courses.

Special features of the course:

Students will also have the opportunity to take part in work experience helping to develop a clear understanding of how different types of businesses run and adding to their CVs for future career and university applications. There has also been the opportunity to participate in a residential to a major European city to gain a better understanding of the way companies operate abroad and, of course, to have a nice time!

Summary of Assessment:

The course will be assessed through assignments set and marked by the staff at the College, but approved by the exam board Edexcel. There are no examinations and the course therefore best suits students who prefer coursework and building the credit for their final grade steadily throughout the course.

Progression:

Students can choose to direct their future choices, either opting for university or proceeding directly to employment in a career relevant to their chosen pathway.

Chester Zoo Visit:

The BTEC National Business students visited Chester Zoo in June 2008 to look at the success of the marketing department in raising visitor numbers and segmenting the visitor market. Of particular interest were the focus on grandparents as a lead into the lucrative family segment and the difficulties of selling the attraction to teenagers.

Morgan Visit:

Students were delighted to visit the largest British owned motor manufacturing company turning out 8-9 cars a week but all hand made and really beautiful. A stark contrast in both methods and fortunes to Jaguar; Morgan are profitable with an 18 month waiting list.

Barcelona Visit:

A group of Business Studies, Economics and Accounting students enjoyed a one-week residential to Barcelona in February. Relevant business visits included Barcelona Stock Exchange, Torres wineries and the Anis del Mono Distillery. During their free time in Spain’s second largest city, the students took the chance to visit famous sites such as the Nou Camp Stadium, La Sagrada Familia and Las Ramblas as well as time spent shopping and relaxing at the beach. No wonder it’s always a successful and popular trip!