Business Studies

Here is the Nine O’ Clock News “Prime Minister announces that Britain is to scrap the pound and join the single European currency.” “Five hundred jobs go as Glaxo-SmithKline announces major re-organisation of UK manufacturing sites.” “Sainsbury’s slash prices as supermarket war intensifies.” “Crisis in farming – beef farmers go out of business.”

Four headlines, four stories that could easily hit the news over the next year or so. Have you ever wondered “Why?” The Business and Economics course seeks to provide you with the knowledge and skills required to be able to understand the stories behind the headlines. Throughout the course, references are made to live business situations. The emphasis throughout is on using business and economic ideas to explain business behaviour and what is happening in the real world.

Students are expected to become active learners! You will spend time researching for information on current business problems and sharing your findings with other students in the group. You will be encouraged to participate in debates and discussions, and to base your arguments on sound business or economic concepts. As part of the course you will have to conduct individual research into business topics of your own choice. You will be issued with a course book written specifically to support the course. As part of your learning you are expected to keep up-to-date with background reading and note making.

Subject Content This course covers a wide range of economics and business studies concepts. The approach throughout is applied, and much of the traditional, technical and theoretical approaches to the teaching of the subject have been discarded in an attempt to promote student understanding.

Areas that are studied include motivation, business organisations, the role of government in influencing businesses and managing the economy, supply and demand, the nature of competition, marketing, finance and accounts, how firms measure and seek to improve efficiency, foreign trade and many, many more!

Why do Business and Economics? If you are interested in current affairs this course will give you a far greater understanding of events in the world of business and economics. If you are interested in a career in management, finance, marketing, accountancy, insurance or even want to set up your own business, then this course will be of interest to you.

Entry requirements You do not need to have taken Business Studies at GCSE, but you should have achieved grade Cs at GCSE, preferably in English and Mathematics.