Business - Level 3
Summary
This course is an exciting programme developing the skills, experience, knowledge and behaviours to support progression to higher education, employment or apprenticeships. BTEC Nationals are widely recognised by industry and higher education as the signature vocational qualification at Level 3.
They provide progression to the workplace either directly or via study at a higher level. Proof comes from government research, which shows that 62% of large companies have recruited employees with BTEC qualifications. What’s more, well over 100,000 BTEC students apply to UK universities every year and their BTEC Nationals are accepted by over 150 UK universities and higher education institutions for relevant degree programmes either on their own or in tandem with other level 3 qualifications.
Alongside your main programme, you will be able to develop your Maths and English skills, both of which are vital in the Business sector, ensuring you have all the relevant qualifications should you aspire to progress to further study. Work experience, and/or placement, will also be a part of your course and, along with the support of the experienced teaching team, you will have a fun-filled, engaging time with us preparing for your journey into your intended career!
Entry Requirements
4 GCSEs grade 4 or above including English at grade 4 and above; alternatively we will accept those learners progressing in their studies with a Level 2 vocational qualification in a relevant subject and English or Maths grade 4 or above (Students will be able to re-sit their GCSE Maths alongside this course)
Additionally, you will also have:
- A successful discussion with a tutor
- The ability to study independently
- A genuine interest in the subject
- Good communication skills
- Hardworking approach towards the industry
Where can this subject lead?
Career progression
Business skills are required in all organisations, so your career choices after this course are endless including sales, marketing, customer service, retail, finance, management. Future careers might include Admin Officer, Customer Service Manager, Retail Manager, Financial Advisor, Event Organiser, or you could even set up and run your own business empire!
Progression from Year 1 – after successfully completing year 1, you will achieve the BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business, equivalent to 1 A’ Level, and could progress onto our Year 2 or leave at this point to undertake further study or employment e.g. apprenticeships.
Progression from Year 2 – after successfully completing year 2, you will achieve the BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Business, now equivalent to 2 A’ Levels, and could progress onto employment, potentially with your work placement provider, or onto a business management degree.
One point of note, completion of a level 3 qualification at B&FC entitles you to a place at our University Centre on a higher-level programme!
Next steps at B&FC
Having successfully completed this programme, you will be ideally placed to progress onto our Foundation Degree in Business Management with the option to top up to a full honour’s degree.
Employment Opportunities
Future careers with the BTEC Level 3 Diploma might include Admin Officer, Customer Service Manager, Retail Manager, Financial Advisor, Event Organiser, or you could even set up and run your own business empire!
Should you progress into Higher Education and undertake a Business-related degree, the opportunities open to you are even greater with roles at management level, in both operational or support services.
Key information
Qualification obtained
BTEC National Diploma in BusinessFees and funding
Courses for learners who are 16-18 years old at the start of their course and resident in the UK are fully funded. You may also be entitled to further financial help to support your studies depending on your personal circumstances. For more details of these, please visit our page on Finance Support for School Leavers.
If you are not a UK resident, we will confirm whether funding is available when we process your application. If not, you may be liable for course fees.
Extra costs and equipment
All students are expected to provide their own stationery.
An extracurricular calendar, including field trips, will be made available at the start of the academic year and discussed in sessions with your tutors. These may, in some cases, incur a cost, details of which will be made available to you at the start of the course.
What will I learn?
The qualification gives learners the knowledge, understanding and skills that underpin the business sector that will prepare them for further study or training. This includes the opportunity for learners to choose two units from a selection of options to supplement the mandatory units which reflect the key topics in business:
- Marketing
- Business environments
- International business
- Management
- Finance
The BTEC National offers learners opportunities during the teaching and learning phase to develop key employability skills. Employability skills, in this qualification and context, refers to skills in the following three main categories:
- Cognitive and problem-solving skills: use critical thinking, approach non-routine problems applying expert and creative solutions, use systems and technology
- Interpersonal skills: communicating, working collaboratively, negotiating and influencing
- Intrapersonal skills: self-management, adaptability and resilience, self-monitoring and development, self-presentation.
The qualification also provides a vocational context in which learners can develop the knowledge and skills required for degree progression, including:
- Effective writing
- Analytical skills
- Creative development
- Preparation for assessment methods used in degrees
Essential skills: English and Maths
All school leavers at B&FC are encouraged to continue developing their English and Maths skills as higher ability in both these subjects is linked to long-term career success and increased earning potential - irrespective of how well you performed at GCSE. If, however, you achieved a GCSE Grade 3 in Maths, you will have the opportunity to work towards re-sitting this to enhance your paper-based qualifications.
This won’t delay your career journey because you will be undertaking this programme of study at the same time as your chosen subject.
Industry placement, field trips and guest speakers
Guest speakers are an integral part of the course as we want you to be able to relate to the sector you are planning on working in and hearing about job roles, opportunities and experiences of others will help you to build on your understanding of your career and what lies ahead.
Work experience and/or placement, which will be arranged by the College, is a mandatory element of your course you will be required to complete a minimum number of hours. Details of these, together with information about field trips, will be provided at the start of your course.
How will I learn?
This is a full-time course involving 3 days a week in college with the remaining 2 days a week designated for placement and/or work experience in industry.
At Blackpool and The Fylde College, we recognise that all students learn differently and for some it may be a return to the classroom following a break from formal learning. Our tutors work with you to ensure that their teaching methods support the way that you like to learn.
You will work collaboratively with your peers in group work, presentations and within practical sessions. There will be dedicated individual/self-study time on your programme which needs to be supported by your own study out of the College learning environments. E-learning is also a key element of all our courses and will involve you using our Canvas platform for independent study and learning.
Within the curriculum we also use a range of on-line apps to support, enhance and motivate learning. Your tutors will be support you with new technologies used in the classroom.
Expert tutors
All tutors involved in the delivery of courses and apprenticeships within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver.
Our recruitment process ensures that tutors delivering a given programme are suitably qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and a familiarity with professional practice. The aim of this is to enrich students’ learning experience, giving them an insight into what working in the industry is really like.
How will I be assessed?
To successfully complete this qualification, you will undertake and complete 3 mandatory units and 1 optional unit in year 1 and a further 4 units in year 2, again 3 will be mandatory and 1 optional.
This qualification is assessed through a range of methods including externally assessed tasks (including a written exam and controlled assessments) and internally assessed assignments/coursework, all of which are completed via a range of approaches, as mentioned above.
The 6 mandatory units are:
- Unit 1: Developing working relationships (internally assessed)
- Unit 2: Developing a marketing campaign (externally assessed)
- Unit 3: Personal and business finance (externally assessed)
- Unit 4: Managing an event (internally assessed)
- Unit 5: International business (externally assessed)
- Unit 6: Principles of management (externally assessed)
The 2 optional units will be selected a range of units including:
- Unit 8: Recruitment and selection process
- Unit 14: Investigating customer service
- Unit 22: Market research
- Unit 23: The English legal system
- Unit 24: Employment Law
- Unit 27: Work experience in business