Business

The course at the Kilwinning Campus will be short full-time, running from August to January.

Every type of business and organisation needs people with administration and IT skills to help it run efficiently. This ranges from small specialist firms to large national companies and government organisations like local councils or the NHS. There are also many different roles available, including administrative and supervisory management - so if you invest in some good admin and IT skills now, you could have a great future ahead! If you’ve got aspirations for a career in business, administration or IT, then this course is a great place to start. Successful completion also includes a National Progression Award in Office Skills and Services.?

For entry to this course you’ll need:

• a real interest in working in business, admin or IT
• four National 4s, ideally including English or Maths OR a relevant NQ qualification at Level 4
• an interview with us

If you don’t have formal qualifications, but have life experience, then we’ll also consider you for a place, so please call us for a chat.

This course will prepare you for working in a modern office, giving you skills and confidence to make you immediately effective and become a valuable member of the team. It will also introduce you to the ‘bigger picture’ and what’s involved in running a business.

• You’ll develop your IT skills and knowledge of software such as Microsoft Word and Excel, so you can efficiently carry out a whole range of IT tasks - from creating a spreadsheet or managing a database, to mail merging hundreds of letters.
• You’ll learn skills needed for the day-to-day running of an office, and develop your ‘front of office’ skills to run a friendly and efficient reception desk. On the business side.
• You’ll learn how businesses work and explore some of the key aspects in running a successful business.
• You’ll learn about the importance of marketing and discover what’s involved in event organising.
• You’ll also look at basic economics and business law. Along the way, you’ll practise preparing and making presentations.

When you successfully complete this course, you’ll have the choice of:

• Moving onto a Level 6 course such as NC Administration or NC Business with Accounts Seeking to start your career in a customer service or admin support role in any type of organisation.
• Possible jobs include PA, secretary or admin assistant.

• Meta Skills: you will develop the meta skills of Focusing and Feelings.
• Transferrable Skills: you will develop your ICT and Digital Skills.
• Technical Skills: you will develop your self-confidence and ability to work with others.
• As well as developing key skills, such as word processing and basic finance operating, you’ll develop a range of transferable such as written and oral communication skills, and organisation, planning, and time management. We’ll also help you develop your skills for employment, such as working as part of a team and creating a CV to get you noticed.

Throughout the course you will meet with guest speakers from universities, various companies and third sector organisations as well as ex-students who have studied the course and gone on to further study. There are also opportunities to access Bridge to Business/Young Enterprise Scotland. Some the employers we work with include East, North, and South Ayrshire Councils, NHS Arran and Ayrshire, Spirit, Prestwick Airport, KA Leisure, and many more.