Rationale for the Edexcel BTEC Level 1/Level 2 First Award

in Business

The Edexcel BTEC Level 1/Level 2 First Award in Business has been developed in the

business sector to:

● encourage personal development of knowledge and skills relevant to the business

world through practical participation in a range of vocational business activities

● give learners a wider understanding and appreciation of the broad range of

business specialisms through selection of optional specialist units

● encourage learners to develop their people, communication, planning and teamworking

skills by having the opportunity to select from optional units available in

the qualification structure

● provide education and training for employees in the business sector

● give opportunities for business employees to achieve a nationally recognised

level 1 or level 2 vocationally-specific qualification

● give full-time learners the opportunity to enter employment in the business sector

or to progress to other vocational qualifications, such as the Edexcel BTEC Level 3

Nationals in Business

● give learners the opportunity to develop a range of skills and techniques, personal

skills and attributes essential for successful performance in working life.

The Edexcel BTEC Level 1/Level 2 First Award in Business has been designed to

provide an engaging and stimulating introduction to the world of business. The

qualification builds on learning from Key Stage 3 for those who may wish to explore

a vocational route throughout Key Stage 4. It also provides a good introduction to

business for learners in post-16 education, as well as bringing together learning at

levels 1 and 2 to ensure that every learner taking the qualification completes it with

a level of understanding and skill on which to build at a later date.

The core units cover the essential knowledge and skills required in the business

sector. The optional specialist units, covering branding and promotion, customer

service, sales, retail business, recruitment and career development, and business

support, provide your centre with the opportunity to develop assignments and

activities to meet the needs of both local employers and learners.

In addition to this, the qualification provides opportunities for learners to develop

the communication skills needed for working in the business sector, as they progress

through the course. This can be achieved through presentations and in discussions

where they have the opportunity to express their opinions.

The Edexcel BTEC Level 1/Level 2 First Award in Business could provide a starting

point of a route into employment in many of the diverse areas of business, including

roles in specialist areas such as marketing, finance, customer service or human

resources in large businesses, or a more generic role in a small, local business.

In the two core units, learners will have the opportunity to develop the key

enterprise and financial skills and knowledge necessary to enable them to understand

how businesses recognise opportunities, and build on them to succeed. Learners will

understand how a business makes and manages its money, and plans for the future.