BTEC National Business

Transition Pack for

BTEC National

Business

Get ready for Level 3 Business! A guide to help you get ready for Level 3

Business, including everything from topic guides to days out and online learning resources.

BTEC National Business

Who’s business is it anyway?

From Victoria Beckham to Julian Dunkerton CEO of

SuperDry, entrepreneurs are making their mark in the world

around us. With its unique vocational focus the BTEC

National in Business will equip you with the tools to start a

career in Business or become the next great British

entrepreneur.

Use this guide to prepare you and start to take control of

your future with our Level 3 BTEC Business course.

BTEC National Business

Books

Don’t be intimidated by the more than 600

pages in this entertaining autobiography. In

Losing My Virginity, Branson, founder of the

Virgin Group, shares how his early experiences

shaped his later business ventures. When he

met with “experts” who advised he not enter an

already crowded field, Branson followed his gut,

with his trademark slogan, “Oh, screw it. Let’s

do it.” Part memoir, part business guide for

entrepreneurs, Branson’s belief that customer

service reigns supreme is a theme throughout

his businesses, from airlines to mobile and

beyond.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey is the founder three

times over: Founder of Harpo

Productions, the Oprah Winfrey

Network (OWN) and founder of the

Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy

for Girls.

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

What began in Steve Jobs’ parents’ garage in the

1970s laid the groundwork for revolutionary

innovation in technology. From personal

computers to animated films, how we listen to

and purchase music, use our phones and even

read books, Jobs left his indelible print on how

we communicate, entertain and live.

BTEC National Business

TV & Movies

Wall Street

A young and impatient stockbroker is

willing to do anything to get to the

top, including trading on illegal inside

information taken through a ruthless

and greedy corporate raider who

takes the youth under his wing

House of Cards

Frank Underwood's dealings are

instructive for any current or aspiring

business leader, as they show the

importance of treating your

subordinates with respect (which

Frank doesn't) and bouncing back

from setbacks (which Frank does).

Undercover Boss

This is a revealing look into how big company

CEOs rarely know what’s really going on with

their business. They flounder when faced with

their employee’s simplest tasks. “Undercover

Boss” always ends up being a great testament to

the opportunity that exists in disrupting the big

boys.

BTEC National Business

TED Talks - search the term

above the video

Arianna Huffington “SLEEP”

Sheryl Sandberg - Why we

have too few women leaders

Roselinde Torres - What it

takes to be a great leader

Tim Leberecht - 3 ways to

lose control of your brand

BTEC National Business

Research, reading and note making are essential skills for BTEC Level 3 Business. You are going to practice producing ‘Cornell Notes’ to summarise some of the TED talks you have listened to. Choose two of the talks, and complete notes in the following format for them:

1. Divide your page into three sections like this

2. Write the name, date and topic at the top of the page

3. Use the large box to make notes. Leave a space between separate idea. Abbreviate where possible.

4. Review and identify the key points in the left hand box

5. Write a summary of the main ideas in the bottom space

Images taken from http://coe.jmu.edu/learningtoolbox/cornellnotes.html

Research

BTEC National Business

Business maths

Calculating

Current Ratios

Calculating

percentage

changes:

Exchange

rates:

BTEC National Business

Sample of formulae and key data

Depreciation:

Historic Value- residential value

Expected life

Gross Profit Margin =

Gross profit x100

revenue

Mark up =

Gross profit x100

Cost of sales

Inventory Turnover =

Average inventory x 365

Cost of sales

BTEC National Business

Business Topics

Year 1

• Exploring Business

• Exploring the features of businesses and what makes them successful

• the competitive environment and the markets in which businesses operate

• The impact on stakeholders of functional decisions and their response to such decisions

• The use of non-quantitative and quantitative data in decision making (including the

calculations such as ratios and percentages).

Year 2

• Personal and Business Finance

• The study of finance and its impact on businesses, students should consider:

• The importance of managing personal finance

• Role of money

• The purpose of accounting

• The importance of breakeven, and use in businesses

BTEC National Business

Places to visit

BANK OF ENGLAND

The Bank of England, formally the

Governor and Company of the Bank of

England, is the central bank of the United

Kingdom and the model on which most

modern central banks have been based.

The London Metal Exchange (LME)

The London Metal Exchange is the

futures exchange with the world's largest

market in options and futures contracts

on base and other metals

Coca Cola Education Centre

The Education Centre is a purpose-built

facility attached to the factory and here

we host educational visits for schools,

colleges, and universities, providing

opportunities for students to make

connections between classroom work

and real life business practices.

Chelsea Business of Football

Provides an exciting insight into match

day and non-match day operations at the

club focusing on merchandise, marketing,

finance and staffing. Students complete a

workbook during the visit with answers

provided by an experienced guide

BTEC National Business

Barcelona Business Trip

The biennial Business trip to Barcelona is now well established and continues to prove

popular. Sign up early to avoid disappointment.

BTEC National Business

Online resources

Tutor2U

http://www.tutor2u.net/business/bl

og

BBC Business

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/busine

ss

Bee Business Bee

http://www.beebusinessbee.co.uk/

How it’s Made on Quest TV

http://www.questtv.co.uk/how-its-

made-on-quest/

The financial Times

http://www.ft.com/global-

economy/uk

City Index

http://www.cityindex.co.uk/

BTEC National Business

Do this now

1. Bookmark this site (click this hyperlink if you're not sure

how).

2. Buy the school recommended textbook, available on Amazon.

3. Buy the school stationery pack - you will need a calculator

although this does not need to be scientific.

4. Subscribe to Philip Allan Business Review. You can do this

either online or a traditional magazine. This is ESSENTIAL

reading.

5. Bookmark the BBC Business News pages - you should try to

read this a few times a week at least to stay on top of current

affairs.

6. Follow @bbckamal to stay up to date on the latest business

news from the BBC's Business News Editor.

7. Follow @tutor2ubusiness and bookmark their site.

8. Follow some of the accounts here.

9. Follow these business leaders on Instagram:

Kevin Systrom (Instagram CEO)

Sheryl Sandberg (Facebook COO)

Richard Branson

Michael Acton Smith (Moshi Monsters creator)

Jack Dorsey (Twitter founder)

More here

BTEC National Business

Summer activity: Task 1

Your task is to create a blog or scrapbook about a business of your choice.

Use Pinterest to find lots of ideas and information along with

http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/.

Try to find out as much as you can about the following:

1. What is their main line of business?

2. Roughly how many people do they employ and in what positions/roles?

3. How do they market themselves?

4. Who are their main competitors?

5. What is their market share?

6. Who are they owned by?

7. What is their legal structure?

8. Product/service range and prices?

9. Location/areas of operation?

10. Share value (if applicable)?

11. Recent news stories (most important element to come back with)

You will need to track this business over the next two years and provide

regular updates as to the activities of the business as reported in the news.

When you see a relevant news story have a look to see if this has impacted

the share value and record this in your blog.

Task 2 Write a report on your business with a minimum of 500 words (1 side

of A4 font size 12)

Task 3 Using your report from Task 2 you must then create a presentation in

which you summarise your findings. This could be on PowerPoint or another

programme should you wish. You are not to merely copy across the report!

You will present this to your class in the first 2 weeks back. Issues to consider

could include challenges they face, legal structures, growth rates, whether

they export and so on. Both pieces of work must be complete by your first

lesson with me. This will be your first work at A-Level standard. It is vital that

you create a good first impression and set your high own standards for you to

carry through the course.