05 Mar 2018
Key Facts
Qualification purpose
Prepare for further learning or training and/or develop knowledge and/or skills in a subject area
Qualification Grading Type
Pass
Assessment Methods
Why choose this qualification?
These qualifications are intended to provide learners with a broad introduction to the business and administration sector, equipping learners with underpinning knowledge and skills specific to the sector alongside a range of transferable employability skills. They are designed to support progression to further learning and ultimately to work in business and administration or other related sectors.
The Skills for Business and Administration qualifications form part of our Suite of Skills qualifications that cover a number of sectors and are available at Entry 3, Level 1 and Level 2. The employability skills units are common across the suite, enabling easy transfer of credits between qualifications and supporting opportunities for cross-faculty working.
The qualifications have been developed with the support of a number of further education colleges, training providers and adult and community learning providers. They have been designed to be consistent with the principles for study programmes for 16-19 year olds but are also relevant, particularly in the case of the smaller qualifications, for adults including the unemployed. These qualifications are also suitable for pre 16 learners.
Changes to our “Skills for…” qualifications
The recent review of our Vocational qualifications has resulted in changes to qualifications in the Business and Administration sector that will come in to effect as of the 1st August 2020. Please refer to the new Skills for Business and Administration qualification specification or unit spreadsheet for further details.
Rules of Combination
Learners must achieve 25 credits. They must complete the two mandatory units from Group M (Mandatory Units), totalling 6 credits. In addition, they must complete a minimum of 14 credits from Group O1 (Optional Units: Business and Administration) and 5 further credits from either Group O1 or Group O2 (Optional Units: Employability). At least 17 credits must be at level 2 or above.
Learners cannot include more than one unit with the same or similar title. For full details see list of barred units which can be found in the qualification specification
Units
Learners must complete the two mandatory units from Group M (Mandatory Units), totalling 6 credits.
Effective Communication in the Workplace
Understanding Business Organisations
Learners must complete a minimum of 14 credits from this group.
Budgeting and Managing Money
Business Communication
Business Documentation
Creating Business Documents
Creating Business Web-pages
Exploring Entrepreneurship
Exploring and Presenting Enterprise Ideas
Introduction to Self-Employment
Promoting Products and Services
Running an Enterprise Activity
Running an Event
Solve Business Problems
Supporting Business Meetings
Supporting Sustainability in an Office Environment
The Marketing Environment
The Role of an Administrator
Understanding Business Meeting Techniques
Understanding Business Meeting Techniques
Understanding Finance in a Business Context
Understanding Legislation and Regulations in a Customer Service Context
Understanding Online Business Activities
Using ICT in the Workplace
Using Online Systems to Develop Customer Loyalty
Working as an Administrator
Working in Business Teams
Working in an Office
Working with Customers
Working with Office Equipment and Systems
Working with People in Organisations
Learners may complete up to 5 credits from this group.
Applying for a Job
Assessing own Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills
Career Planning
Effective Communication in the Workplace
Effectiveness at Work
Health and Safety in the Workplace
Interview Skills
Leadership Skills
Learning from Work Placement
Preparing for Work Placement
Preparing for an Interview
Searching for a Job
Setting and Meeting Targets at Work
Skills for Creative Thinkers
Skills for Effective Participants
Skills for Independent Enquirers
Skills for Reflective Learners
Skills for Self Managers
Skills for Team Workers
Solving Work-Related Problems
Time Management
Using Numeracy Skills in the Workplace
Working in a Team
Working with Colleagues
What is the purpose of this qualification?
This qualification provides a range of introductory skills, as well as core knowledge, relevant to business and administration, alongside generic employability skills which are needed both in the business and administration sector and across other sectors. It is of specific relevance to:
• Young people interested in a career in the business and administration sector but not yet sure of the precise area of the industry in which they would like to work and who intend, but are not yet ready, to access level 3 qualifications or an advanced apprenticeship
• Young people and adults, usually with prior attainment at level 1 and below, including those who have had a significant break from or disjointed experience of education, who wish to work in the business and administration sector but need a broad grounding in the subject and an opportunity to develop more general workplace skills before identifying the most suitable job roles and applying for work.
What skills, knowledge, or understanding does this qualification develop?
Mandatory units include:
• Working in Business and Administration
• Effective Communication in the Workplace
Optional units include knowledge and skills relevant to different job roles in the sector (such as marketing, finances, customer relations) alongside generic employability skills (such as leadership skills and setting and meeting targets at work).
How is this qualification different from other, similar qualifications?
This qualification is part of a suite which includes an Award, Certificate, Extended Certificate and Diploma. Learners should take the Extended Certificate if, before progressing to employment (with further training where possible), to a level 3 Apprenticeship or to a Level 3 qualification, they need a more extended introduction to the sector, including the opportunity to build up a range of skills and knowledge relevant to a number of potential job roles in the sector, as well as more generic workplace skills.
Which sector does this qualification support?
This qualification could lead to a number of roles in business and administration such as administrative assistant, customer service agent, clerk.
How will this qualification support the learner’s independence?
Learners can progress to a Level 3 certificate or diploma in Business and Administration in any of the available pathways for example Customer Service or Medical Administration, including Technical level qualifications, or to an advanced Apprenticeship in Business and Administration in any of the available pathways.
Progression & Entry Requirements
Learners do not need any prior qualifications or a specific level of attainment to take this qualification although they will benefit from having English and Maths skills at level 1. It is available to learners aged 16+.Funding information
Learning Aims Search
The Hub provides a Learning Aims Search which you can use to check the funding status of any qualification or unit.
View this qualification on the ESFA’s Hub website
We have done our best to collate and summarise the key information, and wherever possible we alert our providers to changes in funding policy.
This funding information is provided in good faith and it is always advisable to check directly with the funding agencies before committing to delivery.
The following support materials will help you to deliver this qualification.
Special Considerations and Reasonable Adjustment Forms
- Indicative content is provided for units within this qualification. This can be found via the Structure and Unit Details tab, or recognised Centres can login to Prism.
Offer our Qualifications
If you would like to teach our qualifications to your learners, submit an enquiry to discuss the best options.
Related Qualifications
- Gateway Qualifications Level 2 Diploma In Skills for Business and Administration
- Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Diploma in Business Administration
- Gateway Qualifications Level 2 Diploma In Preparing for Further Study in Business
- Gateway Qualifications Level 1 Certificate in Skills for Business and Administration