BTEC First Certificate and Diploma in Business

Features

♦ BTEC First Certificate equivalent to 2 GCSEs grades A*-C
♦ BTEC First Diploma equivalent to 4 GCSEs grades A*-C

Advantages

♦ Learners who are employed in business organisations will be able to develop their underpinning knowledge and skills
♦ Provide opportunities for learners to develop a range of skills and techniques, personal qualities and attitudes essential for successful performance in working life
♦ Motivates learners via applied learning and assessment
♦ BTEC qualifications are recognised by employers and education institutions
♦ Provides a good progression route to more advanced qualifications eg BTEC Nationals
♦ Esteem of working in a sector of choice

Unit Combinations

For the BTEC First Certificate the learner is required to complete the core unit and two specialist units from the list provided for a combined total of 180 guided learning hours (GLH) to complete the qualification.

For the BTEC First Diploma the learner is required to complete the three core units and three specialist units from the list provided for a combined total of 360 guided learning hours (GLH) to complete the qualification.

Edexcel Specification

• Specification (BF017259)

Student Progression

BTEC First Diplomas and Certificates offer direct progression on to BTEC National programmes. On completion of a BTEC National, students can progress to a BTEC Higher National or BTEC Foundation Degree programme. These programmes can be studied at Scarborough Sixth Form College and Yorkshire Coast College amongst other institutions

A BTEC First also prepares students for employment in their chosen career.

Structure

Units

Core Units

Unit 1: Exploring Business Purposes (60 GLH*)
Begins to develop learners’ knowledge and understanding of the importance of businesses and how they operate.
Unit 2: Developing Customer Relations (60 GLH)
Will develop and broaden the learner’s understanding of customer service in different businesses.
Unit 3: Investigating Financial Control (60 GLH)
Looks at the financial aspects of running a business, starting with an investigation into the types of costs that different businesses will incur.

Specialist Units

Unit 4: Business Communication (60 GLH)
Will develop learners’ ability to use communication skills effectively in the context of a workplace setting.
Unit 5: People in Organisations (60 GLH)
Learners are introduced to the importance of the roles people have and to the contribution individuals and groups make to the effectiveness of organisations.
Unit 6: Providing Business and Administration Support (60 GLH)
Introduces learners to the overarching purpose of providing business support, irrespective of the size of the organisation concerned.
Unit 7: Personal Selling (60 GLH)
Develops learners’ understanding of the role and importance of personal selling activities for customers, employees and businesses.
Unit 8: Business Online (60 GLH)
Learners will be introduced to some of the types of online business activity, ranging from websites as merely ‘passive brochure ware’ to those offering interactive product customisation and online buying.
Unit 9: Exploring Business Enterprise (60 GLH)
Helps learners to understand their own strengths and weaknesses, which will have a clear impact on both their ability to prepare for business and actually run the business itself.
Unit 10: Starting a Small Business (60 GLH)
Learners will be able to consider their ability to run the business, including the skills they already have that will support the business idea and what new personal development they may have to undertake in order for the venture to be successful.