Business - National 4
SCQF Framework
SCQF Level: 4
SCQF Credit Points: 24
Skills Framework
Delivering Centre
Vale of Leven Academy
Purpose and Aims
Business plays an important role in society. We all rely on businesses and entrepreneurs to create wealth, prosperity, jobs and choices.
The purpose of the Course is to develop learners’ understanding of the way in which businesses operate in the current dynamic, changing, competitive and economic environments, and to encourage enterprising attitudes.
The Course aims to enable learners to develop:
- knowledge and understanding of business concepts in a range of contexts
- awareness of the processes and procedures businesses use to ensure customers’ needs are met
- enterprising skills, and adopt enterprising attributes, by participating in practical activities in realistic business situations
- financial awareness through a business context
- an insight into the impact of the economy on businesses and our daily lives, thus gaining economic awareness
Recommended Entry
It would be beneficial if candidates have attained the skills and knowledge required by the following or by equivalent experience and/or qualifications:
- National 3 Business Course
Progression
This Course or its Units may provide progression to:
- other qualifications in Business or related areas
- further study, employment and/or training
Career Options
Further Information
Course Content
The Course consists of three mandatory Units including the Added Value Unit.
Business in Action
In this Unit, learners will carry out activities that will give them an appreciation of how and why businesses develop and operate in today’s society. Learners will develop skills and knowledge and understanding relating to the role of business and entrepreneurship within society, and of the actions taken by business to meet customers’ needs. Learners will discover how businesses are organised by exploring the functional activities, such as marketing, finance, operations and human resources, and applying their understanding of these areas to support business planning and decision making.
Influences on Business
In this Unit, learners will carry out activities that will give them an appreciation of the impact that a range of internal and external influences has on business decision making. Learners will investigate stakeholders’ influence on businesses and will acquire skills and knowledge and understanding relating to the financial, economic, competitive and social environment in which businesses have to operate. This will provide learners with a growing understanding of how these influences can affect business survival and success.
Added Value Unit: Business Assignment
In this Unit, learners will draw on and apply the skills, knowledge and understanding they have gained from across the other Units of the Course. This will be demonstrated by an assignment. The criteria for the assignment will be sufficiently flexible and open to allow for a degree of personalisation and choice as to the aspect of business to be investigated and how the findings may be presented.
Course Assessment Structure
To achieve the National 4 Administration and IT Course, learners must pass all of the required Units, including the Added Value Unit.
National 4 Courses are not graded. They will be assessed on a pass/fail basis within the school.