Business

The Tech Award gives learners the opportunity to develop sector-specific applied knowledge and understanding through realistic vocational contexts. Learners will have the opportunity to develop applied knowledge and skills in the following areas:

• Knowledge that underpins an effective use of skills, such as the activities, skills and characteristics of enterprises and entrepreneurs, and the internal and external factors that can affect the success of an enterprise; in addition, the process of developing a business plan and using and applying marketing and finance knowledge. 
• Development of key skills that prove aptitude in planning an enterprise idea, including market research, planning, carrying out financial transactions, communication and problem solving. 
• Attitudes and ways of working that are considered most important for enterprise, including monitoring and reflecting on the performance of an enterprise idea and own use of skills.

This Tech Award complements the learning in GCSE programmes such as Computer Science and Design and Technology by requiring learners to apply their knowledge in practical ways, through activities that will enable them to develop their ideas, for example, researching an idea for a small enterprise. 

Study of the qualification as part of Key Stage 4 learning will help learners to make more informed choices for further learning, either generally or in this sector. The choices that learners can make post-16 will depend on their overall level of attainment and their performance in the qualification. Learners who generally achieve at Level 2 across their Key Stage 4 learning might consider progression to:

• A Levels as preparation for entry to higher education in a range of subjects.

• Study of a vocational qualification at Level 3, such as a BTEC National in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, which prepares learners to enter employment or apprenticeships, or to move on to higher education by studying a degree in the business sector.

Learners who generally achieve at Level 1 across their Key Stage 4 learning might consider progression to:

• Study at Level 2 post-16 in a range of technical routes designed to lead to work, employment, apprenticeships or further study at Level 3. Learners who perform well in this qualification compared to their overall performance, should strongly consider this progression route as it can lead to employment in the enterprise sector.

• Study business enterprise post-16 through a Technical Certificate designed to lead to work, progression to employment via apprenticeships or further study at Level 3.