TWO Year BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (QCF)

This qualification gives learners the opportunity to plan, set up and run their own business through a structured programme of learning.  They learn about business finance, how to set up a supply chain, how to communicate with customers, monitor the performance of the business plan for future expansion.  During he course, learners have the opportunity to work closely with a business, interact with employers and gain experience dealing with real business issues.

The 120 credit BTEC Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship has been developed to:

• provide the opportunity for learners to achieve a nationally recognised Level 3 vocationally specific qualification
• give learners the opportunity to gain a nationally recognised vocationally specific qualification which requires them to start and run their own business
• give learners the opportunity to progress to higher education vocational qualifications such as the Level 5 BTEC Higher Nationals in Business or an honours degree
• give learners the opportunity to develop a range of skills and techniques, personal skills and attitudes essential for successful performance in working life.

Rationale of the BTEC Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship

The BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship addresses the need for enterprise in tertiary education identified by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) in ‘Enterprise: Unlocking the UK’s Talent’ (March 2008). 

The BTEC qualification has been developed in partnership with the National Enterprise Academy (NEA), in consultation with entrepreneurs and business people, experienced teachers and learners. The design principles have been to develop a qualification that:

• requires learners to start up and run a fully functioning legal business to develop their entrepreneurial skills
• requires learners to focus on their own self development through the start-up process
• ensures that learners interact with entrepreneurs and business people throughout the course of their study to enable them to learn from experienced professionals.

The specification is designed for learners who wish to know how to start up a business or social enterprise. Therefore, the mandatory units of the qualification reflect the essential aspects of starting and running a business. Selected optional units provide for specialisms in areas that will augment learners’ understanding of enterprise. The BTEC qualification has been designed to enable learners to start up a social enterprise instead of a profit-making business.

Learners are required to start up and run a business during the course of this qualification.

Rules for combination of the BTEC Diploma

1. Qualification credit value: a minimum of 120 credits
2. Minimum credit to be achieved at, or above, the level of the qualification: 90 credits
3. Mandatory unit credit: 85 credits
4. Optional unit credit: 35

Course Content

Assessment and grading

In BTEC Nationals all units are internally assessed.

All assessment for BTEC Nationals is criterion referenced, based on the achievement of specified learning outcomes. Each unit within the qualification has specified assessment and grading criteria which are to be used for grading purposes. A summative unit grade can be awarded at pass, merit or distinction:

• to achieve a ‘pass’ a learner must have satisfied all the pass assessment criteria
• to achieve a ‘merit’ a learner must additionally have satisfied all the merit grading criteria
• to achieve a ‘distinction’ a learner must additionally have satisfied all the distinction grading criteria.

Learners who complete the unit but who do not meet all the pass criteria are graded ‘unclassified’.

Grading domains

The grading criteria are developed in relation to grading domains which are exemplified by a number of indicative characteristics at the level of the qualification.

There are four BTEC National grading domains:

• application of knowledge and understanding
• development of practical and technical skills
• personal development for occupational roles
• application of generic skills.

More information on merit and distinction indicative characteristics is available at www.edexcel.com

Entry Requirements

Students must have:

a) 5 GCSEs, including Maths or an equivalent qualifications
b) For speakers of other languages, an IELTS at 5.5 or higher

More mature learners may present a more varied profile of achievement that is likely
to include experience of paid and/or unpaid employment.

Course Commencement & Duration

September, January and July
Duration: TWO YEARS 

Tuition Fee

£ 3,500

Progression

Students may progress onto BTEC Level 5 (HND) or university