Applied Business

Why Choose this course?

This qualification will provide learners with the opportunity to develop an understanding of the business environment and to focus on a specific aspect of business through applied learning. This qualification will provide learners with the opportunity to develop an understanding of the business environment and to focus on a specific aspect of business through applied learning.

Prospects

This qualification provides a broad understanding of business knowledge and skills to support progress to higher education and is suitable for learning alongside other Level 3 qualifications, ie A levels and/or other Level 3 vocational qualifications (such as accounting, sociology, psychology, languages, Media, retail etc).

This qualification can also prepare you to take up employment in business and entrepreneurship, either directly after achieving the qualification or via higher education at university or college.

Studying this qualification will enable you to develop the fundamental knowledge and skills recognised as most important by higher education and employers. The qualification also offers you an opportunity to develop transferrable skills, such as teamwork, research and communication as part of their applied learning.

Course Content

Unit 1 - The Business Environment - Examination
This unit will give learners an understanding of the wider external contexts in which businesses operate and of internal business functions and their interdependencies. The unit will allow them to appreciate how legal, financial, ethical and resource constraints can affect business behaviour and the influence that different stakeholders can have and how businesses must respond.

Unit 2 - Working in Business - Examination
This unit will give learners an understanding of the type of critical skills needed when working in business, such as organisation, prioritisation and effective communication. The unit will allow them to learn how to use different business documents and about organisational protocols that most businesses would expect employees to follow.

Unit 4 - Customers and Communication - Coursework
This unit will allow learners to appreciate how vital customers are to the success of a business. It will give them an understanding of how important it is for businesses to know their customers and what influences customer behaviour. In this unit, they will understand how to communicate with customers.

Unit 5 - Marketing and Market Research - Coursework
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.

Unit 16 - Principles of Project Management - Coursework
In this unit you will learn about the stages of project management, and the type of skills a project manager should have. 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.

Course Opportunities/ Activities

Throughout the year there is several opportunities and activities which complement the studies. There is several trips which will include visits to further and higher education institutions. There will be activities help which are relevant to elements of the course such as; trips to Merlin Entertainment locations across the UK.

Support and Challenge

Throughout the year students are supported on all elements of the course delivery. The support will ensure students are fully up to date on the portfolio task and fully prepared for external exam challenges. Students in all lessons will develop their contextual understanding, to further conceptualise their learning.

Student Comment

I would encourage you to pick Applied General Business because it explores many different aspects of business. The knowledge that I have gained is valuable and the course also helps to develop your creativity. Another benefit of this course is that it helps you with your other subjects in terms of your analytical skills.