Coppice Performing Arts School

BTEC First Diploma in Business

This is a vocational course during which you will learn about the world of work through a series of projects and assignments that are based on realistic workplace scenarios, activities and demands.

A BTEC First Diploma is equivalent to four GCSE passes at grades A* to C

This popular course is made up of six units, studied over two years, with 6 lessons per week. Three core units provide a general introduction to the business environment, followed by three more specialist units which will allow you to study particular topics in more depth. Students will be expected to base their investigations and problem-solving on a range of well known and interesting business organisations, for example McDonalds, Wolves FC, Marks & Spencer and Orange.

The three core units are:

• Exploring Business Purposes
• Developing Customer Relations
• Investigating Financial Control

The specialist units will be chosen to suit the interests and abilities of the students opting for this subject, but could include:

• Business Communication
• Business Online
• People in Organisations

All units are assessed by coursework, at regular points throughout the course.

The most successful students on this course will be those that are motivated to do well, able to organise their own work and time and are ready to apply themselves to some real-life, business problems.

Having studied Business, you would be able to go on to further study in this subject at Sixth Form, College or through Work-Based Learning. Equally, learners would be able to enter employment in careers such as accounting and finance, administration, customer service, marketing and retail sales.

Business Students Keep It Real

Students in the BTEC Business groups have been busy with coursework that is based on investigating a diverse range of real business organisations. Over the last two years, assignments have focused on national businesses such as Orange, Marks & Spencer, Cadbury Schweppes, McDonalds and Richer Sounds. It’s not just the big names though, as the business groups have spent time looking at Wolves FC, the University of Wolverhampton, new start-up business Weighing Scales Limited and even their own school. A number have worked with staff from the Black Country Chamber & Business Link and Wednesfield-based Albil Engineering on Enterprise activities, involving selling their products at school and in the City Centre on a wet and windy Saturday morning.

An established entrepreneur commented “These BTEC courses are fantastic because students are developing the skills needed to be successful in the workplace .”

Click here to visit the Edexcel website for more information.

---