Business Education
Business Management develops enterprise skills and attributes by providing opportunities to study a range of business and organisational contexts. Pupils see the ways in which society relies on businesses and other organisations to satisfy its needs, and an understanding of how to use business information to interpret and report on overall business performance.
BGE
Pupils learn about various aspects of the Business course in S1 and S2, using our Kettles Coffee unit to understand the basic functions in an organisation and our Big Brands unit to investigate the environment that businesses work in.
S3
In S3 pupils will develop their understanding of:
- Business Ethics and Globalisation (Global Trade, Stages of Production, Supply Chain, (Un)Ethical Trading, Sustainability, Fairtrade)
- Scottish Enterprise (Role of Business in Society, Goods and Services, Sectors of Industry, Factors of Production, Enterprise, Entrepreneurs)
- Business Start-Up (Business Identity, Types of Businesses, Business Plan, Sources of Finance, Sources of Advice, Cash Budgets, Trading Profit and Loss)
- Marketing (Customer Care, Marketing Mix [Product, Price, Place, Promotion], Market Research)
- Human Resources (Recruitment and Selection, Training, Motivating)
- Operations (Methods of Production, Quality Control)
- External Influences (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, Competitors)
The skills and knowledge gained in S3 are essential to be successful when moving into S4 and beginning the National 4/5 journey. Everything taught in S3 is revisited and looked at in more depth when in S4, as can be seen when you look through what is taught in each unit.
Pupils also get opportunities to participate in enterprise style challenges throughout the year such as the Tunnocks Challenge.
S4
In S4 pupils will continue to develop their knowledge of the following topics:
- Understanding Business (The Role of Business in Society, Customer Satisfaction, Types of Businesses, Business Objectives, External Factors, Internal Factors, Stakeholders)
- Management of Marketing (Customers, Market Research, Product, Price, Place, Promotion)
- Management of Operations (Suppliers, Inventory Management, Methods of Production, Quality, Ethical and Environmental Production)
- Management of People (Recruitment and Selection, Training, Retaining and Motivating Staff, Legislation)
- Management of Finance (Sources of Finance, Break-Even, Cash Budgets, Income Statement)
Pupils will also complete an Added Value Unit (National 4) or Assignment (National 5) which involves choosing an aspect of business that we have learned about and investigating an organisation of their choice in relation to that topic.
Higher Business Management
The course highlights the different ways in which large organisations operate. Pupils learn to understand and make use of business information to interpret and report on overall business performance, in a range of contexts. Using current business theory and practice, the course reflects the integrated nature of large organisations, their functions and decision-making processes.
Pupils will develop an understanding of:
- the ways in which society relies on organisations and how external influences can affect them
- a range of methods that businesses and other organisations use to meet customer needs
- enterprising skills and attributes
- how to analyse and interpret business information and communicate it in a clear and concise way
In Higher Business we study the following topics:
- Understanding Business (The Role of Business in Society, Customer Satisfaction, Types of Businesses, Business Objectives, External Factors, Internal Factors, Stakeholders, Structure, Decision-Making)
- Management of Marketing (Customers, Market Research, Product, Price, Place, Promotion, People, Process, Physical Evidence, Technology in Marketing)
- Management of Operations (Suppliers, Inventory Management, Methods of Production, Quality, Ethical and Environmental Production, Technology in Operations)
- Management of People (Recruitment and Selection, Training, Retaining and Motivating Staff, Legislation, Employee Relations, Technology in HR)
- Management of Finance (Sources of Finance, Break-Even, Cash Budgets, Income Statement, Financial Statements, Ratios, Technology in Finance)
Higher pupils are also required to complete an Assignment which involves choosing an aspect of business that we have learned about and investigating an organisation of their choice in relation to that topic. This is worth 25% of the course and is externally marked by the SQA.
Outside the classroom
Pupils have opportunities to get involved in Business outside the classroom through Business trips to the Highland Show, Business Ambassadors and the opportunity to participate in Young Enterprise in S6.
Some useful links:
National 4 Business – https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z8xsr82
National 5 Business – https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zd6fcdm
Higher Business – https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zw26n39
Tutor2U – https://www.tutor2u.net/business
Business News – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business
Business Simulation Game – https://www.simcompanies.com/
Enterprise Skills Game – https://idea.org.uk/