Business Studies

Business Studies gives students a practical understanding of how businesses start, grow, and succeed. The course explores marketing, operations, finance, and human resources, using real-world case studies to develop commercial awareness and decision-making skills.

Students learn to interpret data, evaluate options, and communicate recommendations clearly skills that are highly valued in today's global economy.

Theme 1: Investigating Small Businesses

• Enterprise and entrepreneurship
• Business aims and objectives
• Stakeholders and external influences
• Marketing: market research, segmentation, and the marketing mix
• Finance basics: sources of finance, break-even, cash flow

Theme 2: Investigating Large Businesses

• Growth strategies and globalisation
• Operations: production methods, quality assurance, supply chain
• Human resources: recruitment, training, motivation, organisational structures
• Advanced finance: income statements, balance sheets, ratio analysis
• Strategic decision-making and risk management

Skills Developed

• Analytical thinking and problem-solving
• Data interpretation and financial calculations
• Communication and presentation skills
• Understanding of economic and business environments

• Paper 1: Investigating Small Businesses — 1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks, 50%
• Paper 2: Investigating Large Businesses — 1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks, 50%

Both papers use real or realistic business case studies and include short-answer, data-response, and extended writing questions.

• Builds essential skills for careers in business, finance, and management
• Encourages entrepreneurial thinking and commercial awareness
• Provides a strong foundation for further study in business-related fields

• A-level Business Studies or Economics
• BTEC Level 3 Business for applied learning
• University courses in Business, Management, Marketing, Finance, and related disciplines