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BUSINESS EDUCATION

Technological Products

Staff Members

  • J. Hitchman – Principal Teacher Business Education 

  • G. Cunningham – Business Education Teacher 

  • R. Winter – Business Education Teacher  

Introduction

Studying Business Education at Belmont Academy will provide students with the understanding of key business concepts, practices, and skills that can prepare them for further study or a career in the field of business. This includes development of IT skills to create professional business documentation and well as developing subject specialisation in different areas of business.  

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All organisations require business expertise in order to function effectively. There are lots of further and higher education establishments which offer business-related courses, and all business qualifications will be of interest to prospective employers. There is really no limit to the type of job which uses the skills you learn in Business! 

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Some key skills that students working in the department can gain while studying Business in the Broad General Education and National Qualifications  in S1-6 include: 
 

  • ICT Skills 

  • Literacy Skills 

  • Numeracy Skills 

  • Problem Solving Skills 

  • Teamworking 

  • Enterprise and Employability Skills 

  • Leadership Skills 

  • Financial Awareness 

  • Communication Skills 

  • Organisational Skills 

  • Searching and Retrieving Information 

S2 Business

Students will gain a range of practical skills in the use of business software packages including Word Processing, Spreadsheets and Databases. 

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Entrepreneurship: Students will learn about what it takes to start and run a business, including business planning, identifying market opportunities, managing finances, and developing a marketing strategy. 

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Ethics and Social Responsibility: Students will learn about ethical considerations in business, such as corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and fair trade. 

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Cash Budgeting – Students will learn how to plan ahead by developing budgeting skills in both personal and business budgeting, looking at the importance of budgeting, and how to use IT to record and monitor spending. 

S3 Admin & IT

This is a very practical, skills-based subject, and learners will be making full use of computers during lessons. During this course learners will become very efficient at file management, improve their organisational and planning skills and learn how to prioritise. Topics are integrated to allow learners the experience of using administrative skills within a range of scenarios. The key areas of learning are as follows: 

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IT Solutions for Administrators 

This unit aims to develop learners’ practical IT skills, functions and formatting within Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Databases and Desk Top Publishing, in a range of contexts. These will be used to create and edit business documents, enabling learners to develop their skills in IT, problem solving and organising and managing information.

 

Administrative Practices 

Using a range of software, learners will develop knowledge of good customer care and its benefits to a range of organisations; the responsibilities of the employer and employee with regards to health and safety legislation and the roles and duties of an Administrative Assistant.  

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Communication in Admin 

Learners will develop an understanding of what constitutes a reliable source of information and an ability to identify and use the most appropriate methods for gathering information. Understanding the many potential barriers to effective communication also features in this unit, as well as learning how to communicate with appropriate context, audience and purpose in mind. Learners will develop skills in e-mail, e-diary, presentation software and internet research. 

S3 Business

The course introduces learners to the vibrant, competitive and economic environment of industry and commerce. Skills developed will support learners in becoming more confident, particularly regarding their own future education and place in the world of work. A wide range of skills are developed during this course: 

  • Enterprise and employability skills 

  • Interpreting and drawing conclusions from business information 

  • Communication and ICT skills 

  • Researching, presenting and analysing information 

 

Pupils will have the opportunity to research real life businesses and use the case study method to improve their analytical, literacy, and team working skills.  

The S3 Business course teaches the following topics: 

  • Sectors of Industry 

  • Stakeholders 

  • Functional Activities -Marketing, Finance, Operation and Human Resources  

  • Internal and External Factors 

  • Technology in Business 

N4 - Higher Business Management 

The Business Management course introduces learners to the vibrant, competitive and economic environment of industry and commerce. Skills developed will support learners in becoming more confident, particularly regarding their own future education and place in the world of work. A wide range of skills are learned during this course: 

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  • Enterprise and employability skills 

  • Interpreting and drawing conclusions from business information 

  • Communication and ICT skills 

  • Researching, presenting and analysing information 

 

Pupils will have the opportunity to research real life business situations and use the case study method to improve their analytical, literacy, and team working skills. The key areas of learning are as follows: 

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  • Understanding Business This unit explores the role of business and enterprise, objectives of small/medium-sized business organisations, structures of business, the internal and external factors affecting operations, stakeholders, decision-making and success/ survival of a business. 

  • Management of People and Finance – This unit looks at the role of Human Resources within an organisation including recruitment, selection, training, motivation, legislation and employee relations. It also includes sources of finance, final accounts, ratio analysis job costing and budgeting. 

  • Management of Marketing and Operations This unit studies processes and procedures that organisations use in order to maintain quality and competitiveness against rival businesses. Topic areas include the principles of marketing including market research, product development, branding, pricing, and promotion, and within Operations, learners will look at inventory, choice of supplier, methods of production, and methods to ensure quality. 

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These courses are assessed via an Assignment and a Final Exam. 

N5 Economics

Do you have good reasoning skills, good literacy skills and are interested in political/economic, topical and global events? The National 5 Economics course encourages candidates to be confident and successful in their economic choices, helping them make a greater contribution to society. It deepens their understanding of economic situations, issues, and the market economy. Economics is about choice and its impact. It relates to many aspects of our lives, from the decisions we make as individuals or families, to the structures created by governments and firms. Studying economics gives candidates an appreciation of how markets and governments work, and how economic decisions affect our lives. Candidates develop the ability to think logically and to consider the reasons for, and the effects of, economic situations.

Pathway to Higher Economics or any other Business subject.

Higher Economics

Economics is part of our everyday lives and study of this course will give learners an appreciation of how markets and governments work as well as the importance of international trade to our economy.  

A main feature of the course is the development of problem-solving, decision making, literacy & numeracy and IT skills, all of which are essential in enhancing employment opportunities. The course will enable learners to understand and make use of economic information to explain the actions of individuals, businesses and governments.  

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By studying Economics, students will have the opportunity to participate in different group/individual and team-building activities. Using a variety of resources e.g. worksheets, newspapers, videos, TV programmes, textbooks and mini projects, learners will explore the economic problems faced by individuals, businesses and governments. Learners will also use IT to evaluate real life economic situations and make informed judgements.  

The course comprises 3 units:  

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  • Economics of the Market – This unit develops an understanding of the fundamental economic problem of allocating scarce resources and deciding what should be produced, how it should be produced and for whom. Learners will examine the factors determining demand and supply and how market equilibrium and prices are determined. This unit also looks at market systems, production and costs. 

  • UK Economic Activity – Here, learners will be looking at the role of the Government in the UK economy, Government objectives and how the Government can use monetary and fiscal policy to achieve their goals. Learners will also examine key economic indicators such as inflation, unemployment, growth and national income to understand how the economy can be influenced and the outcome of decisions made. Learners are required to keep abreast of current affairs. 

  • Global Economic Activity – This unit examines how globalisation and trade impacts on the UK economy, developing and emerging economies. Learners will understand the reasons for giving, and use of, foreign aid, as well as understanding how exchange rates are determined and the impact of exchange rates on the economy, components of the Balance of Payments and the role of Scotland in the UK economy. 

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This course is assessed via an Assignment and a Final Exam.

N4 - Higher Admin & IT

Administration and IT and provides learners with the experience of completing senior administration tasks and engaging practical activities relevant to the world of work.  

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Learners develop the ability to use a range of advanced Microsoft Office applications as well as emerging social and digital technologies. In undertaking this course, students will gain in-depth knowledge of using the following software packages, giving them the digital literacy skills required in today’s workplaces: 

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  • Spreadsheets 

  • Databases 

  • Word Processing 

  • Email 

  • Ediary 

  • Internet applications 

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In addition, learners will gain theoretical knowledge including: 

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  • The importance of sound electronic file management systems to aid efficiency 

  • Skills to determine validity and reliability of information to support effective problem solving, decision making and data integrity 

  • GDPR—legislation governing security of information 

  • Workplace Health and Safety policies and procedures, and good ergonomic practice  

  • The necessity for professional etiquette in communications with customers via digital technologies in order to protect the online reputation of businesses. 

  • Customer care techniques 

  • Time and task management, role of the team and leadership skills and qualities  

 

This course equips learners with knowledge and skills to help them effectively organise and prioritise their work and task management techniques and eliminate time stealers.  

Being able to contribute to the effective functioning of an organisation is a highly-desirable skill. Administration is a growing sector, it cuts across the entire economy and offers wide-ranging employment opportunities. Administration & IT skills also have extensive applications not only in employment but are useful skills to have if learners are going into the college or university pathways no matter what the subject area of study is.   

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These courses are examined via a practical assignment and a final exam. 

NPA Business & IT

The National Progression Award (NPA) in Business with Information Technology at SCQF level 6 provides candidates with the fundamental business and information technology skills that they will need for employment and/or further study. 

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This NPA will develop candidates' problem solving and information technology skills and enable them to be more confident in the use of software application packages for administrative and business purposes. It will also develop an awareness of issues facing organisations today. 

The course involves completing internally assessed units on the following areas. There is no final examination: 

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  • Understanding Business This unit explores the role of business and enterprise, objectives of small/medium-sized business organisations, structures of business, the internal and external factors affecting operations, stakeholders, decision-making and success/ survival of a business. 

  • Management of Marketing and Operations This unit studies processes and procedures that organisations use in order to maintain quality and competitiveness against rival businesses. Topic areas include the principles of marketing including market research, product development, branding, pricing, and promotion, and within Operations, learners will look at inventory, choice of supplier, methods of production, and methods to ensure quality. 

  • Information Technology for Management – Using spreadsheets, databases, word processing and software technology to solve business problems. 

  • Communication in Admin – looking at barriers to communication and skills in using IT to communicate effectively, including email, ediary and presentation.

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