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GCSE Business encompasses two themes.
Theme 1 – Investigating a Small Business
This theme concentrates on the key business concepts, issues and skills involved in starting and running a small business. It provides a framework for students to explore core concepts through the lens of an entrepreneur setting up a business.
Theme 2 – Building a Business
This theme examines how a business develops beyond the start-up phase. It focuses on the key business concepts, issues and decisions used to grow a business, with an emphasis on aspects of marketing, operations, finance and human resources. It also considers the impact of the wider world on the decisions a business makes as it grows.
| Business activity | The role of business enterprise and entrepreneurship Business planning Business ownership Business aims and objectives Stakeholders in business Business growth |
| Marketing | The role of marketing Market research Market segmentation The marketing mix |
| People | The role of human resources Organisational structures and different ways of working Communication in business Recruitment and selection Motivation and retention Training and development Employment law |
| Operations | Production processes Quality of goods and services The sales process and customer service Consumer law Business location Working with suppliers |
| Finance | The role of the finance function Sources of finance Revenue, costs, profit and loss Break-even Cash and cash flow |
| Influences on business | Ethical and environmental considerations The economic climate Globalisation |