NCFE Level 3 Skills for Business suite

Vocational qualifications are either work-related qualifications designed to enable students to gain the skills required to perform a particular job, or qualifications that may be taken as part of a wider study programme or an apprenticeship.

Schools and colleges may offer qualifications that are not included in the DfE performance tables, if approved for teaching to 16-19 year olds by the Secretary of State for Education in England under Section 96, where this is in the best interests of individual students.

These qualifications provide students with a structured and challenging individualised learning programme that supports their development and progression in line with their future career plans.

They are the substantial qualification component of the study programme and are suitable for students aged 16 and above and provide transferable skills, knowledge and understanding that can be applied in any business setting.

The units are aligned to National Occupational Standards for business and represent the core attributes required by employers in a range of business settings.

Students can progress into further study to build upon these skills or to focus on a more specific vocational pathway.

These qualifications aim to provide students with:

• an understanding of the essential skills required to work successfully in a business environment
• the skills required to solve problems in a business environment
• an understanding of business culture and responsibilities
• the ability to successfully communicate and work with others in a business environment
• the opportunity to develop the skills required to manage and improve their own performance in a business environment