business studies Applied Business Studies - AS/A2
Exam Board: AQA
What makes a business successful? How can I grow and develop my business idea? What skills do I need to succeed in the business world? What are the social and ethical issues relevant to business?
Is Applied Business Studies for you? You must have achieved at least 5 GCSEs at grade C or above, including a minimum of grade C in English Language. Your numeracy and communication skills will be assessed within the first week of the course to determine which Business course is right for you. You want to study a career-related course alongside traditional academic subjects.
You want to develop the personal skills you will need to be successful in business. You prefer a mix of practical and theoretical approaches to learning, including group work and presentations. You want to develop a broad understanding of business principles using case studies and research of real businesses. You may wish to consider studying AS/A2 Maths, AS Use of Maths or AS/A2 Statistics alongside this subject to help you develop the necessary mathematical skills required to study business.
What will I learn? AS Year Financial Planning and Monitoring You will study finance and learn how to calculate costs, revenues and profits as well as draw cash flow forecasts, budgets and other accounts.
Investigating Business You will explore how businesses operate, how they meet the needs of customers and how marketing influences business success.
How will I be assessed?
People in Business
The Applied Business course is assessed through both coursework (66%) and examination (33%).
You will examine the roles and responsibilities of people in business. You will examine recruitment, training and development opportunities available to individuals and why motivation is vital to retaining staff.
A2 Year Managing People You will learn how managers look after their staff, how they motivate a workforce and how power and authority can be delegated.
You will have the opportunity to visit large businesses, such as Alton Towers, as well as local businesses within Wirral. Visiting businesses will help you to discover how the topics and issues you will learn about in the classroom are relevant to the real world. The College has lots of exciting enrichment and C.V building opportunities including the chance to earn the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award, learn a new skill, learn a language, join a club, take up or develop a sport or take on a new challenge. See the College Prospectus for further information about what is on offer.
Where does it lead?
Business Planning You will have the opportunity to develop your own plans for a new business of your choice.
Marketing Strategy You will examine how businesses market new and existing products. You will develop a marketing strategy for a business and decide how best to advertise and promote the product.
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What activities can I get involved in?
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In terms of further study, Business Studies is highly regarded by the majority of Universities as an excellent foundation for Degree level study as it will help you develop your analytical and evaluative skills. Business Studies has been one of the fastest growing University subjects and is certainly one of the largest. Some students study a general business course, whilst others choose to specialise in a specific area of business, like marketing or accountancy. This course will also give you a good grounding in business skills which may someday help you manage your own business.
tel: 0151 652 5575 email: enrol@bsfc.ac.uk
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