COURSE OUTLINE

MANDATORY UNITS 

Unit 1: The Business Environment

• Know the range of different businesses and their ownership.

• Understand how businesses are organized to achieve their purposes.

• Know the impact of the economic environment on businesses.

• Know how political, legal and social factors impact on business.

Unit 2: Business Resources

• Know how human resources are managed.

• Know the purpose of managing physical and technological resources.

• Know how to access sources of finance.

• Be able to interpret financial statements.

Unit 3: Introduction to Marketing

• Know the role of marketing in organizations.

• Be able to use marketing research and marketing planning.

• Understand how and why customer groups are targeted.

• Be able to develop a coherent marketing mix.

Unit 4: Business Communication

• Understand different types of business information.

• Be able to present business information effectively.

• Understand the issues and constraints in relation to the use of business information in organizations.

• Know how to communicate business information using appropriate methods.

 ACCOUNTING PATHWAY 

Unit 5: Business Accounting

• Understand the purpose of accounting and the categorization of business income and expenditure.

• Be able to prepare a cash flow forecast.

• Be able to prepare profit and loss accounts and balance sheets.

• Be able to review business performance using simple ratio analysis.

Unit 6: Financial Accounting

• Know the impact of accounting legislation and concepts on organizations accounting policies and procedures.

• Understand the impact of the regulatory framework on a limited company’s accounting policies and procedures.

• Be able to make appropriate adjustments to accounting information.

• Understand a cash flow statement for a limited company.

Unit 7: Management Accounting

• Understand how production costs are determined and used to calculate prices.

• Be able to use break-even analysis.

• Be able to use appropriate statistical information to review and predict business performance.

• Be able to use budgetary techniques.

Unit 8: Accounting Systems

• Know the use of financial documents in recording business transactions.

• Be able to record and monitor financial information in accounting systems.

• Be able to extract a trial balance from accounting records.

• Be able to prepare a trading and profit and loss account and balance sheet.

 MARKETING PATHWAY 

Unit 9: Creative Product Promotion

• Know the constituents of the promotional mix.

• Understand the role of promotion within the marketing mix.

• Understand the role of advertising agencies and the media.

• Be able to create a simple promotional campaign.

Unit 10: Market Research in Business

• Understand the main types of market research used to make marketing decisions.

• Be able to plan research.

• Be able to carry out research.

• Be able to interpret research findings.

Unit 11: Relationship Marketing

• Understand the development and application of relationship marketing.

• Know the different methods of attracting and keeping customers.

• Be able to investigate quality issues.

• Understand the role of customer relationship management (CRM) systems.

Unit 12: Internet Marketing in Business

• Know what role internet marketing has within a modern marketing context.

• Understand the benefits of internet marketing to customers.

• Understand the opportunities offered to businesses by internet marketing.

• Understand the challenges faced by businesses using internet marketing.

 HUMAN RESOURCE PATHWAY 

Unit 13: Recruitment and Selection in Business

• Know the processes involved in recruitment planning.

• Understand the implications of the regulatory framework for the process of recruitment and selection.

• Be able to prepare documentation involved in the selection and recruitment process.

• Be able to participate in a selection interview.

Unit 14: Aspects of Employment Law

• Understand the different types of employment contract and the impact of employment legislation.

• Know the rights and responsibilities of employees and employers.

• Understand the various perspectives in employee relations.

• Know how and when contracts of employment are terminated.

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Unit 15: Development Planning for a Career in Business

• Know how to access career-related information.

• Be able to develop a personal career development plan.

• Be able to develop a range of transferable business skills at the appropriate level.

• Understand methods of professional development and training.

Unit 16: Human Resource Management in Business

• Know the factors that are involved in human resource planning in organizations.

• Know how organizations motivate employees.

• Understand how to gain committed employee cooperation.

• Understand the importance of managing employee performance at work.

 MANAGEMENT PATHWAY 

Unit 17: Training in the Business Workplace

• Understand why organizations need to train their workforce.

• Know the ways organizations identify their training needs.

• Be able to plan and deliver a training program.

• Be able to assess the effectiveness of a training program.

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Unit 18: Managing a Business Event

• Understand the role of an event organizer.

• Be able to plan a business event.

• Be able to run a business event.

• Be able to follow up after a business event.

Unit 19: Developing Teams in Business

• Know the importance of teams.

• Understand team development.

• Understand leadership attributes and skills.

• Be able to work effectively in a team.

Unit 20: Managing Physical Resources in a Business Environment

• Understand the key features of physical resources.

• Understand the role of the resources manager.

• Understand the legal requirements for managing physical resources.

• Be able to monitor the quality and effectiveness of physical resources.

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 ADMINISTRATION PATHWAY 

Unit 25: Supporting Business Activities

• Know the purpose of supporting organizational activities.

• Understand the support role in the structure of organizations.

• Know the requirements for reviewing support services.

• Be able to plan work and carry out a support role.​

Unit 26: Managing Business Information

• Understand the importance of information to organizations.

• Know how organizations use business information.

• Be able to maintain an information system.

• Be able to produce information to support decision making in organizations.

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Unit 27: Understanding Health and Safety in the Business Workplace

• Understand how health and safety legislation and regulations affect a business working environment.

• Know the requirements for healthy, safe and productive working conditions.

• Understand the role and responsibilities of key personnel.

• Be able to assess and manage risk.

Unit 28: Business Project Management

• Understand the purpose, aims and objectives of a project.

• Be able to prepare a project plan.

• Be able to run a project.

• Be able to report project outcomes.

 RETAIL PATHWAY 

Unit 29: Understanding Retailing

• Know the structure of the retail industry.

• Understand the role of retailing in the distribution of goods and services.

• Understand the sales and service functions in retailing.

• Know how the retail sector responds to internal and external change.

Unit 30: Visual Merchandising in Retail

• Know the visual merchandising and display techniques used in different retail outlets.

• Know how space is used for merchandising and displaying goods.

• Understand the psychology used in visual merchandising to influence customers to purchase goods.

• Be able to plan and assemble a safe visual merchandising display for a range of goods.

Unit 31: Fashion Retailing

• Understand how different retail outlets define their target market for fashion merchandise.

• Know the impact of fashion trends on retail services and products.

• Understand how fashion retailers develop an image and product range that meets the needs of their target market.

• Know how fashion retailers cater for mass and niche markets.