Business Applied
“A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts.”
Richard Branson
The Applied Business course is ideal for those students who enjoy coursework and wish to take a subject which is more in touch with the real world. Unlike the traditional ‘A’ Level, the course is made up of only 30% exam; the rest is coursework. The course gives students the chance to fully research a real business and then apply this knowledge to their own business idea. It is a great way to understand the practicalities of setting up a company and gives the students the opportunity to utilise their entrepreneurial skills.
AS in Year 12 - Know how a business really works
The business we investigate and analyse in Year 12 is Denbies Vineyard in Surrey, owner of the title of International Wine of the Year and the place where the Lego house was built. Highlight of the course is the visit to Denbies: this includes a tour of the vineyard and a talk by the General Manager on why Denbies has been so successful in attracting thousands of visitors.
AS in Year 13 – Create your own business
In Year 13, students take the knowledge they have gained and apply it to a business proposal of their own. This gives them the chance to engage fully with their entrepreneurial skills. Students have to create a business plan, providing details of how they will finance the business, the choice of property, how they will market it and the profit they expect to make. The choice of business can vary, from coffee shops to bars and restaurants and even cycle shops.