Course Content
Component 1: Exploring Business
In this introductory unit, learners study the purposes of different businesses, their structure, the effect of the external environment, and how they need to be dynamic and innovative to survive.
Component 2: Developing a Marketing Campaign
Learners will gain skills relating to, and an understanding of, how a marketing campaign is developed. You will explore different stages of the process that a business goes through when developing its campaign and develop your own campaign for a given product/service.
Component 3: Personal and Business Finance
Learners study the purpose and importance of personal and business finance. They will develop the skills and knowledge needed to understand, analyse and prepare financial information.
Component 4: Recruitment and Selection Process
Learners explore how the recruitment process is carried out in a business. The unit gives learners the opportunity to participate in selection interviews and review their performance.
| Component | Assessment | Duration | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1: Exploring Business | Assignment | N/A | 25% |
| 2: Developing a Marketing Campaign | Set task | 1h 30m | 25% |
| 3: Personal and Business Finance | Written exam | 1h | 16.6% |
| 4: Recruitment and Selection Process | Assignment | N/A | 16.6% |
Year 12
Half Term 1 (Sept-Nov)
Half Term 2 (Nov – Dec)
Half Term 3 (Jan – Feb)
Half Term 4 (Feb – March)
Half Term 5 (April – May)
Half Term 6 (May – July)
Half Term 1 (Sept-Nov)
Focus and Topic
- BTEC Business unit 1
Core Knowledge
- Compare and contrast two organisations in different sector and industries. Students are required to compare the key features, look for reasons behind their success, look at the effectiveness of communication between employees, and compare how well they communicate with stakeholders
Core Skills
- Understanding the key features of a business
- Understanding the structure of an organisation
Assessment
- Coursework- unit 1 assignment 1
Half Term 2 (Nov – Dec)
Focus and Topic
- BTEC Business unit 1 and unit 3
Core Knowledge
- Investigate how businesses need to consider their internal and external environment and the impact that this is likely to have on them in a positive and negative way.
- Focuses on the financial environment, requiring you to understand different types of bank accounts, payment methods, and the role of financial institutions like the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Core Skills
- Understanding how the internal and external environment affects business Understanding of different market structures and how they affect businesses
Assessment
- Coursework- unit 1 assignment 2
- mock exam questions
Half Term 3 (Jan – Feb)
Focus and Topic
- BTEC Business unit 1 and unit 3
Core Knowledge
- You must master the purpose of financial statements, including the Statement of Comprehensive Income (Profit and Loss) and the Statement of Financial Position (Balance Sheet).
Core Skills
- learn to construct Cash Flow Forecasts and perform Break-even Analysis to predict financial outcomes and support strategic decision-making
Assessment
- Coursework- unit 1 assignment 3
- mock exam questions
Half Term 4 (Feb – March)
Focus and Topic
- BTEC Business unit 3
Core Knowledge
- Understand ratio analysis and how businesses make use of this to interpret accounts
Core Skills
- You will interpret financial data from different business scenarios and draw conclusions from this
Assessment
- mock exam questions
Half Term 5 (April – May)
Focus and Topic
- BTEC Business unit 3
Core Knowledge
- You need to understand sources of finance, such as venture capital, bank loans, and crowdfunding, and know when it is appropriate for a business to use each.
Core Skills
- Evaluate financial data, moving beyond simple calculations to provide written recommendations on how a business can improve its financial health
Assessment
- mock exam questions
Half Term 6 (May – July)
Focus and Topic
- BTEC Business unit 3
Core Knowledge
- External exam revision skills
Core Skills
- External exam revision skills
Assessment
- External exam- unit 3
Year 13
Half Term 1 (Sept-Nov)
Half Term 2 (Nov – Dec)
Half Term 3 (Jan – Feb)
Half Term 4 (Feb – March)
Half Term 5 (April – May)
Half Term 6 (May – July)
Half Term 1 (Sept-Nov)
Focus and Topic
- BTEC Business unit 2
Core Knowledge
- strategic principles used to reach a target audience.
- You must understand market research methods, distinguishing between primary and secondary data and knowing how to use quantitative and qualitative insights to identify gaps in the market.
Core Skills
- Strategic planning and the ability to interpret market data to create a cohesive campaign.
- You will develop the skill of conducting a SWOT and PESTLE analysis to evaluate the internal and external factors affecting a business’s success.
- You must also master budgeting and rationale writing, where you justify your choice of media (such as social media, TV, or print) based on costs and reach.
Assessment
- Mock exam in preparation for unit 2
Half Term 2 (Nov – Dec)
Focus and Topic
- BTEC Business unit 2
Core Knowledge
- A key area of knowledge is market segmentation, where you learn to categorize consumers by geographic, demographic, psychographic, and behavioral factors.
- Additionally, you need to understand the Product Life Cycle
Core Skills
- Practice creative communication, learning how to design a campaign message that aligns with the brand’s identity and resonates with the intended target market.
Assessment
- Mock exam in preparation for unit 2
Half Term 3 (Jan – Feb)
Focus and Topic
- BTEC Business unit 8
Core Knowledge
- The role of marketing and the types of market that a business might operate in. Students should investigate the impact of market segmentation and the power of branding.
Core Skills
- Introduction to the principles of marketing that underpin the creation of a rationale for a marketing campaign
Assessment
- External exam- unit 2
Half Term 4 (Feb – March)
Focus and Topic
- BTEC Business unit 8
Core Knowledge
- The structural and legal frameworks that govern how businesses find and hire staff. You must understand the entire recruitment cycle, beginning with a job analysis to determine if a vacancy actually exists, followed by the creation of essential documents
Core Skills
- The core skills in this unit are highly practical and designed to mirror real-world Human Resources operations.
- You will develop the ability to draft professional documentation, such as job advertisements that attract the right demographic and shortlisting grids used to objectively filter candidates
Assessment
- Coursework- unit 8 assignment 1
Half Term 5 (April – May)
Focus and Topic
- BTEC Business unit 8
Core Knowledge
- Understanding that recruitment processes must be fair, transparent, and free from discrimination regarding protected characteristics.
- You also explore various recruitment methods, weighing the cost-effectiveness of internal promotions against the fresh perspectives brought in by external advertising through digital platforms or agencies.
Core Skills
- A major component involves interpersonal communication, where you practice both sides of the interview process: as an interviewer, you learn to use structured questioning and active listening; as a candidate, you refine your “employability” by tailoring CVs and performing in mock interviews.
- Finally, you gain analytical skills by evaluating the effectiveness of the process, ensuring that the selected candidate meets the business’s strategic needs while remaining compliant with employment law
Assessment
- Coursework- unit 8 assignment 2
Half Term 6 (May – July)
Course Complete
Key Info
- Start Date: September 2026
- Awarding Body: Edexcel
- Study Mode: Full Time
- Course Length: 2 Years
Entry Requirements
TBC
Complementary Subjects
TBC
Career Opportunities
A BTEC Level 3 in Business can lead to a number of opportunities, including a similar course at university, an apprenticeship, employment in an organisation or even the opportunity to run your own business. There are a wide range of progression opportunities available to you when you complete the course.
Areas of study, an apprenticeship or employment could include; Business Studies, Business Management, Event Management, Retail, Sales, Finance and Accounting; Business Law; Marketing and Advertising; Administration; Human Resources.