Business

There’s a strong argument to say that in the future everyone will need to have a business education. Whatever you become in life—a lawyer, an engineer or an artist—you will need to understand how business works. These professionals need to manage a budget, supervise teams and meet legal requirements.

The aim of the Eduqas Business A-level course is to introduce students to the subject and give them the skills necessary to begin to analyse the behaviour of businesses. They will develop an ability to apply concepts and theories through a critical consideration of the wider business environment. The emphasis will be on using real world resources such as newspapers, companies’ annual reports and the internet to support the theoretical discipline of the subject and make it relevant.

Students will be expected to organise and present ideas in a logical way drawing conclusions from the evidence that is used. Students will develop problem-solving skills and they will learn to interpret statistics and data from a variety of sources. The second year of the course will develop the analytical nature of the subject and deepen students’ understanding of Business through investigating global organisations.

The Eduqas A-level Business specification provides an introduction to enterprise and the fundamentals of running a business before moving onto the functional areas of the business including finance, marketing, production and human resources all in the context of the external factors that influence business decisions.

The course also consists of looking in at business decision-making and strategy, managing change and a study of globalisation and its impact on business and commerce.

I really enjoy A-level Business. It is really exciting to learn about aspects of the business world which I’d have never known about before. The variety of topics always keeps it interesting and is an amazing tool for knowledge I may need in the future.

Tilly, year 13

Business links well with geography, history, languages, psychology mathematics and English but can also be taken with other subjects, as it does not necessarily require the support of another discipline. It is a popular choice at A-level.

Business and management courses in higher education are highly regarded by employers whilst there are an increasing range of degree apprenticeships available in business related fields with well-known organisations. Many institutions offer a combination of subjects, which enable students to choose the path that best suits their particular talents. There are several routes to achieving a business or management degree including marketing, accounting and finance, operations management and international business management. Many students combine a language with business to allow them to work overseas after graduation.

Today’s organisations value the subject knowledge and transferable skills which business students have to offer. A business qualification could lead to a career in management consultancy, accountancy or banking, marketing, advertising or public relations or human resources and recruitment. Taking part in the Tycoon Programme and GSA ‘Girls Are Investors’ Stock Market Challenge provide you with a clearer understanding of the business world.

I have found A-level business very interesting as it has given me insight into the world we live in and the businesses we use everyday. I have been very supported in my business journey and have transferable skills that could help me in many different areas in the future.

Holly, Year 13