What's Business Skills like?
A Foundation Apprenticeship in Business Skills gives you practical and useful knowledge and experience. You can use business skills in lots of other sectors.
This qualification could lead to jobs such as:
- administrative assistant
- purchasing manager
- management consultant
- company secretary
- human resources officer
- local government officer
- receptionist
- project manager
You’ll learn about other management and business priorities, such as:
- digital marketing
- procurement
- supply chain management
- enterprise
What's the qualification?
You’ll gain a Foundation Apprenticeship in Business Skills. That's the same level of learning as an SQA Higher, at 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 performance
- communicate
- support other people to work in a business environment
- design and produce documents
Your Foundation Apprenticeship will also help you develop meta-skills. Employers value these skills, which include:
- communication
- problem-solving
- working with others
- time management
You'll need these transferable skills for working in a range of other related jobs.
Where could it take me?
Your Foundation Apprenticeship gives you lots of options, including:
- Modern Apprenticeship: When you complete 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 study another cross-sector area such as management or business HNCs or HNDs. Your workplace experience will support your college application.
- university: Scottish universities recognise Foundation Apprenticeships as equal to SQA Highers. You’ll already have good 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
- enterprise
How will it work?
You'll do the Foundation Apprenticeship alongside your other school subjects. You'll work on projects with an employer and a learning provider, such as a college. It'll give you an industry-recognised qualification that's great for your CV.
Read our brilliant info on the Business Skills Foundation Apprenticeship to see how it all works!
How can I apply?
If you're staying on at school, you can apply for a Foundation Apprenticeship.
Use the search tool to find out if this subject is available at your school. Then fill out the form that comes next, to let us know you're interested. We'll get back to you with more information.