GCSE Business Studies

This course is equal to 1 GCSE. It is a brand new subject and will cover topics not covered in key stage 3. It is suitable for pupils with excellent written English skills. There will be 2 Exams and 1 piece of Controlled Assessment.

Unit 1 Exam – Setting up a Business – this covers 40% of your marks.

Unit 2 Exam – Growing as a Business – this covers 35% of your marks.

The topics you will cover are:

Starting a Business:

• Starting a business enterprise
• Setting business aims and objectives
• Business planning
• Choosing the appropriate legal structure for the business
• Choosing the location of the business
• Expanding a business

Finance

• Finance and support for a small business
• Financial terms and simple calculations
• Using cash flow
• Finance for large businesses
• Profit and loss accounts and balance sheets

Marketing

• Conducting market research and limited budgets
• Using the Marketing Mix – Product
• Using the Marketing Mix - Price
• Using the Marketing Mix – Promotion
• Using the Marketing Mix – Place

People in Business

• Recruiting
• Motivating staff
• Protecting staff through understanding legislation
• Organising organisational charts and management hierarchies
• Recruitment and retention of staff

Operations Management

• Production methods for manufacturing and providing a service
• Customer service
• Production methods for growing businesses
• Recognising challenges of growth
• Maintaining quality assurance in growing businesses

The Business Organisation

• Expanding a business
• Choosing the right legal structure for the business
• Changing the business aims and objectives
• Choosing the best location.

Unit 3 – Controlled Assessment – Investigative a Business- this covers 35% of your marks.

This will involve you investigating an existing company and preparing reports on your findings.