Helston Community College

Business Extended Certificate

Is this course for me?
If you have a keen interest in developing the skills required to be successful in Business in the 21st century, this course is for you. This Level 3 Business course is practical and uses a combination of assessment styles to give you confidence that you can apply your knowledge to succeed in the workplace. It is designed to equip you with the knowledge, understanding, skills, techniques, attributes and personal qualities essential for successful performance in the Business sector. This is a two year course which will provide a strong academic background whilst allowing you to develop skills that will prepare you for both the world of work and the demands of Higher Education courses.

What qualifications do I need?
Students will need 4 grade 4s or equivalent GCSE qualifications, including grade 4 in both English and maths.

What does the course involve?
You will be involved in a range of practical activities, including group and paired work, individual research, preparing and giving presentations and discussing case studies. You will have the opportunity to interact with visiting speakers and to experience external visits to local and national businesses. Throughout the course you will gain knowledge and understanding of how businesses operate, while developing the practical, technical and personal skills required in the Business environment.

The Edexcel Level 3 Extended Certificate
(equivalent to 1 A Level) consists of 3 mandatory units plus 1 optional unit.

You will study the following three mandatory units:

Exploring Business
Developing a Marketing Campaign
Personal and Business Finance

You will also study one unit from the following options:

Recruitment and Selection Process
Investigating Customer Service
Market Research
The English Legal System
Work Experience in Business

How will my work be assessed?
This Level 3 Business course is practical and uses a combination of assessment styles over the 2 years, including:

Practical reports
Portfolio of work
Presentations
1 x Controlled Task (externally set and marked)
1 x written exam (externally set and marked)

There will be several opportunities for organised college trips as part of the course.

How will my work be assessed?
Upon successful completion, this qualification can lead you to apply for a degree course in various disciplines at University. You can also use the skills and knowledge acquired during this course to embark upon a career in the Business sector. Business qualifications can lead straight into employment in a variety of roles from junior I middle management upwards and some entrepreneurial students may set up and run their own businesses.