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Subjects in Business & Finance

Analytics
Banking
Business Management
Consultancy
Finance
IFRS
Logistics
Supply Chain Management

Benefits of Studying Business & Finance

If you want a career that’s varied and stimulating, studying business and finance is a great option. Key benefits of gaining an accredited qualification include:

High demand

Many businesses are currently struggling to fill key vacancies, so there’s high demand for candidates with a business or finance qualification. Demand is likely to increase following Brexit.

Diverse career options

When it comes to career options there’s plenty of choice, as business and finance specialists work with a wide range of businesses, from energy companies to personal finance providers.

Transferable skills

The communication, project management, critical thinking and decision making skill set you’ll develop by studying business will boost your employability, whichever industry or sector you choose to work in.

Practical experience

Some business courses include placements that give you hands-on experience and the chance to network with employers. These can last from a couple of weeks to a whole year. 

Business FAQ

What is a business analyst?

Business analysts help businesses and organisations to manage change and plan for the future. Once they’ve identified a need for change, they use data modelling to analyse their findings and come up with recommendations. These generally involve introducing new software and information systems.

As well as understanding information technology, you’ll need great communication skills to become a business analyst. This is because you’ll be introducing your ideas to senior managers, external stakeholders and employees. You’ll also have to produce written documents to support your suggestions.

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Career Paths

Business and finance offers a broad choice of career paths in a range of areas including:

General Business Management

Marketing

Strategy Planning

E-commerce

Accounting

Consulting

Top 5 Roles

Glassdoor’s current list of the 25 best jobs in the UK features a number of business-related jobs. Here are the top five roles based on median salary, job openings and job satisfaction:

  • Operations Manager
  • Business Analyst

Career Prospects

£47,0
Average Business Salary

UK Business Growth

2012 → 2018

0,7 million
businesses in the UK

Business Qualifications

0.46%
of all degrees are in Business & Administration
  • 9.8% of business graduates pursue postgraduate degrees
  • 82.2% of these graduates obtain a master’s degree

Levels of Courses

Level 2

Completion of this lowest level will develop your practical skills and ensure that you can apply business theory to real-life situations.

Level 3

Completing this A level equivalent stage will enable you to study a level 4 qualification or apply for a business related degree.

Level 4 • Certificate

As well as broadening your knowledge and improving your job prospects, completion of this level will enable you to advance to diploma level study or join the second year of a degree course.

Level 5 • Diploma

These qualifications will fast-track you to the final year of an undergraduate business degree course. Alternatively, you could move on to a level six extended diploma.

Level 6 • Bachelor’s

Completion of this level will help you to progress to a senior role. You could also advance to the first year of a postgraduate course or a level 7 extended diploma.

Level 7 • Master’s

If you complete this level, you’ll be rewarded with a postgraduate diploma or a master’s degree. You’ll also be able to access strategic business roles.

Level 8 • Postgraduate Diploma

Completing this advanced postgraduate level will develop the professional and management skills you’ll need to lead to take on strategic management and leadership roles.

How to Start Your Career in Business

  • Decide on your area of interest

    Business is a broad term that includes an incredible range of career options, from HR to logistics. We recommend taking your time to explore the different specialist areas, as many of them require specific business skills and qualifications.

  • Research and apply for courses

    While it is possible to work your way up from an entry-level post, gaining a business-related qualification will fast-track your career and give you access to a wider range of jobs. There are plenty of study options if you need a degree, including three-year university degrees, online business degrees and degree apprenticeships.

  • Look for jobs that suit your skills

    Once you’ve gained your qualifications, it’s time to look for a job that will use your knowledge and develop your skills. If you have a degree, it’s worth investigating whether you could apply for any graduate schemes on offer.

Ways to Study Business & Finance

Online

Study business and finance online and       you’ll complete the uploaded course             material at your own speed and in a                setting of your choice.     

In-Class

If you like learning as part of a group you might prefer this option, as you’ll be taught by a professional teacher in a traditional classroom setting.

Blended

Blended learning offers the combined benefits of online and in-class studying. The number of contact hours varies from provider to provider.

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Skills for Business & Finance Careers

Critical thinking
Communication
Resilience
Multitasking
Organisation

While you’ll need plenty of hard skills to have a successful career in business or finance, soft skills like emotional intelligence and the ability to communicate well are also important. This is because businesses are run by people, with people and for people.

Project/time management

Decision-making

Computer literacy

Presentation skills

Negotiation skills

What Daily Tasks Do Business Careers Involve?

Your daily responsibilities will depend on your role and the industry you’re working in. However, common business related tasks include:

  • Generating leads
  • Meeting with clients
  • Negotiating pricing
  • Attending conferences and events
  • Helping to plan sales campaigns
  • Identifying business requirements

When it comes to career prospects, gaining a business qualification could pave the way to a challenging and fulfilling job. So whether you’re you want to work for a FTSE 100 company or a small high street business, why not take that first step by checking out our impressive range of courses?

What are you waiting for? Get started on your journey today.

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