What is the purpose of this qualification?
This qualification provides a wide 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. The qualification is of specific relevance to:
• Young people who are aspiring to a career in the business and administration sector but are not yet sure in which precise area, and who intend to access level 3 qualifications or a level 3 apprenticeship but need a fairly extensive learning programme at level 2 before they will be ready to access level 3.
• 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 fairly extensive grounding in the subject and an opportunity to develop more general workplace skills over an extended period.
What skills, knowledge, or understanding does this qualification develop?
Mandatory units are:
• Understanding Business Organisations
• Communication Skills for Work
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 and Diploma. Learners should take the Certificate if, before progressing to employment (with further training where possible), to a level 3 Apprenticeship or to a Level 3 qualification, they need an extended introduction to the sector including the opportunity to build up a range of skills and knowledge, explore a number of potential job roles and career pathways in the sector, and gain a set of more generic workplace skills. The Diploma will be suitable for learners who would benefit from an extended period of time working at level 2, up to 2 years, before they are ready to progress to employment or to a level 3 qualification or apprenticeship.
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.
What are the progression options?
Learners can progress to a Level 3 certificate or diploma in Business and Administration or to a Level 3 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+.
