As a business administrator or budding manager, you’ll have a highly transferable set of knowledge and skills that can be applied in all sectors.
A qualification in Business Skills could lead to jobs such as:
- administrative assistant
- purchasing manager
- management consultant
- company secretary
- human resources officer
- local government officer
- receptionist
- project manager
The Foundation Apprenticeship is rooted in the highly respected profession of business administration. You’ll learn about other management and business priorities, such as digital marketing, procurement, supply chain management and enterprise.
What's the qualification?
You’ll gain a Foundation Apprenticeship in Business Skills, which is the same level of learning as an SQA Higher (SCQF level 6).
This includes:
- a National Progression Award (NPA) in Business Skills at SCQF level 6
- a Contemporary Business Issues unit
- core units of an SVQ in Business and Administration at SCQF level 6
What will I learn?
Your NPA in Business Skills will cover the following topics:
- Understanding Business
- Management of People and Finance
- PC Passport: Working with IT Software – Word Processing and Presenting Information
- PC Passport: Working with IT Software – Spreadsheet and Database
- Contemporary Business Issues
You’ll complete the units of your SVQ in Business and Administration mainly in the workplace, as part of your placement. You’ll learn how to:
- plan, manage and improve your own performance in a business environment
- communicate in a business environment
- support other people to work in a business environment
- design and produce documents in a business environment
Your Foundation Apprenticeship will also help you to develop core skills valued by employers, particularly:
- communication
- problem-solving
- working with others
- time management
These transferable skills are necessary and highly desirable for working in a range of related jobs.
Where could it take me?
Your Foundation Apprenticeship gives you lots of options, including:
- Modern Apprenticeship: On completing your Foundation Apprenticeship, you’ll have achieved core units of the Modern Apprenticeship in Business Administration.
- further education: Continue your studies at college, with an SVQ 4 in Business & Administration or another cross-sector area such as Management, business related HNCs and HNDs. Your workplace experience will support your college application.
- university: Scottish universities recognise Foundation Apprenticeships as equivalent to SQA Highers. You’ll already have quality experience in the industry – this will make your UCAS stand out from the crowd. This apprenticeship also provides you with 42 UCAS tariff points. Find out more about tariff points on the UCAS website.
- straight to a job: Use your qualification and work experience to find a job in business. Your Foundation Apprenticeship in Business Skills will also give you a good insight into other business-related subjects, such as digital marketing, procurement, supply chain management and enterprise.
How will it work?
You'll complete your Foundation Apprenticeship alongside your other school subjects. You'll spend time working on projects supported by a learning provider, like a college, as well as an employer. It'll give you an industry recognised qualification which will look great on your CV.
How to apply
If you're staying on at school, you can apply for a Foundation Apprenticeship.
You can use the search tool to find out if this subject is available at your school. Then just fill out the form to let us know you're interested, and we'll get back to you with more information.