Skip to content ↓

BTEC Enterprise

Subject Leader: ICT/Enterprise - Mr A. Marsh


The Enterprise Curriculum is a vocational course in Key Stage 4 which is designed to enable students to develop their technical skills, such as market research skills, planning, promotional and financial skills using realistic work scenarios, and personal skills, (such as monitoring own performance, time management and problem solving) through a practical and skills-based approach to learning and assessment.

All students have the opportunity to develop sector-specific knowledge and skills in a practical learning environment. The main focus is on the knowledge, understanding and skills required to research, plan, pitch and review an enterprise idea which includes: 

  • development of key skills which prove aptitude in planning an enterprise activity, including market research, planning, carrying out financial transactions, communication and problem solving
  • knowledge that underpins effective use of skills, such as the features and characteristics of enterprises and entrepreneurs, and the internal and external factors that can affect the performance of an enterprise 
  • attitudes and ways of working that are considered most important for enterprise, including monitoring and reflecting on performance of an enterprise idea and own use of skills. 

Students are taught Component 1: Exploring Enterprises content in Year 10 where they then  are given the assignment brief to complete from Pearson. Students are encouraged to research and make contact with local enterprises to gain real life research and understand how local small enterprises run and make a profit for Component 1, they are encouraged to select a business that interests them and where they can make contact with the owner.

Students then move on to the content for Component 2: Planning for and Pitching an Enterprise in preparation for the assignment brief in Year 11. Students are encouraged to select an enterprise which interests them where they have prior knowledge of the product or service. Students are then given the assignment brief from Pearson and work independently to complete the assignment brief within the given deadline. 

Theory for Component 3 is interleaved with ILT’s and theory lessons throughout Year 10 and Year 11 and links are discussed to previous learning in Component 1 & 2. Once both assignments are completed we focus in lesson on Component 3 in preparation for the exam, which has been interleaved throughout Year 10 & 11 with ILT’s on Google Classroom. 

Learners who generally achieve at Level 2 across their Key Stage 4 learning might consider progression to: 

  • A Levels as preparation for entry into higher education in a range of subjects 
  • Study of a vocational qualification at Level 3, such as a BTEC National in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, which prepares them to enter employment or apprenticeships, or to move on to higher education by studying a degree in the business sector. 

Learners who generally achieve at Level 1 across their Key Stage 4 learning might consider progression to: 

  • Study at Level 2, post-16 in a range of technical routes designed to lead to work, to progression to employment, apprenticeships or to further study at Level 3. 

Students who excel in Enterprise have the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills to different contexts, work independently and are encouraged to take part in extra curricular activities for Enterprise such as competitions and research further into enterprises. 

Students are encouraged to develop employability skills by developing confidence and team working skills by entering competitions, having visiting speakers for inspiration, developing presentation skills during the pitch project, planning and organising their own time for the assignment deadlines and using technology for their enterprise documentation.  

The Enterprise curriculum has links with the following subject areas: 

  • BTEC’s due to the assignment briefs and time management
  • Art and Textiles for Promotion
  • English - Report writing skills
  • Geography for Business locations
  • ICT for developing coursework, presentation skills, enterprise documentation and research skills
  • Maths with all the finance skills - percentages, calculators and formulas 
  • Technology with the project cycle and following project planning techniques

We develop students’ Cultural Capital whilst studying Enterprise by entering competitions, visiting JLC for a Business trip with Year 12/13 students and external visitors for inspiration.

Students are encouraged to engage in wider reading relevant to Enterprise such as news articles, business developments, GCSE Pod, Seneca, Google Classrooms content / website, BTEC Revision guides.