Open Awards Level 2 Certificate in Skills for Business (RQF)

What you'll be able to do

• Understand accounting principles, the reasons for keeping accounts, and the documents involved in financial transactions.
• Understand how a trial balance and adjustments are used to prepare a trading and profit and loss account and a balance sheet.
• Use a trial balance to prepare management accounts for limited companies.
• Understand the roles of internal and external audits in ensuring financial accuracy and compliance.
• Explain how an organisation should manage its fixed and working capital and the implications of failing to do so effectively.
• Using ratios, analyse the financial statements of a given organisation and evaluate their reliability as a key indicator of performance.

What you'll be able to do

• Assess the capability of a business to export goods or services.
• Undertake a SWOT analysis to determine the potential of a business to export.
• Review the usefulness of external sources of advice and guidance for businesses considering exporting.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the skills needed to successfully run a business.
• Understand the time commitment involved in starting and running a business.
• Evaluate his/her own ability to start and run a business.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand what is meant by self employment and its implications
• Understand the risks involved in self employment
• Understand the skills, knowledge and abilities needed for starting and running own enterprise

What you'll be able to do

• Understand fundamental marketing principles and their application in business.
• Understand the purpose and importance of conducting market research.
• Produce market research materials suitable for business ventures.
• Analyse businesses operating within a specific marketplace.
• Understand how to effectively price products and/or services.
• Apply brand values to businesses to enhance their market position.

What you'll be able to do

• Prepare ledger accounts.
• Prepare control accounts.
• Correct errors in business accounts.
• Differentiate between capital and revenue expenditure.
• Record depreciation.
• Make year end adjustments in business accounts.
• Prepare and complete a trial balance.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how a customer’s or client’s interactions with employees influence their opinion of the organisation as a whole
• Understand why organisations normally have protocols for dealing with customers
• Interact positively with customers in line with given protocols

What you'll be able to do

• Create appropriate structures and styles for websites, considering factors such as usability, accessibility, and visual appeal.
• Use website software tools to prepare and format content for websites, ensuring it is accurate, engaging, and optimised for search engines.
• Publish websites to a web server, ensuring they are accessible to users and function correctly.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand acceptable boundaries to behaviour in the workplace, including professional conduct.
• Recognise and respond appropriately to different behaviours in the workplace.
• Give and respond to constructive criticism in a professional manner.
• Understand how conflict can be dealt with constructively in the workplace to maintain positive relationships.

What you'll be able to do

• Support sustainability within a business environment
• Understand diversity within a business environment
• Maintain security and confidentiality in a business environment

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the sources of finance available to a business
• Understand financial capital investment appraisal
• Apply cost-benefit analysis to investment decisions

What you'll be able to do

• Understand a range of coaching techniques and how they are used to improve performance.
• Plan a coaching programme to meet specified needs.
• Deliver a coaching programme.
• Review a coaching programme.

What you'll be able to do

• Write a formal letter.
• Communicate effectively on the telephone.
• Take part in a meeting.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the roles and responsibilities associated with working effectively in a group.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with others in a group situation.
• Co-operate with others when working towards shared goals in a group situation.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the importance of positive verbal and non-verbal interaction in the workplace for effective communication and collaboration.
• Demonstrate positive verbal and non-verbal interaction skills in workplace scenarios.
• Produce positive and professional written communications in the workplace, tailored to the intended audience and purpose.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the legal, regulatory and ethical requirements relevant to a sales or marketing role.
• Comply with organisational policies and procedures related to legal, regulatory and ethical requirements when performing a sales or marketing role.

What you'll be able to do

• Enter accounting data accurately at the beginning of an accounting period using a computerised accounting system.
• Record customer transactions accurately and efficiently within a computerised accounting system.
• Record supplier transactions accurately and efficiently within a computerised accounting system.
• Record and reconcile bank and cash transactions using a computerised accounting system.
• Use journals to enter accounting transactions within a computerised accounting system.
• Produce a range of reports from a computerised accounting system.
• Maintain the safety and security of data held within the computerised accounting system, adhering to relevant regulations and best practices.

What you'll be able to do

• Access, enter, and edit accounting information accurately within a computerised accounting software system.
• Select and use appropriate tools and techniques within the software to process various business transactions efficiently.
• Produce accurate and informative accounting documents and summary reports to meet specified requirements and deadlines.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the various factors that can contribute to conflict situations.
• Understand the different responses to conflict, including assertive, passive, and aggressive behaviours.
• Understand how different communication styles can affect a conflict situation, both positively and negatively.
• Understand what conflict resolution entails, including strategies and techniques for resolving disputes.
• Understand the role of a third party in resolving conflict, including mediation and facilitation.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand potential markets for new business ventures.
• Understand different methods of selling products and/or services.
• Understand how to fund specific business ventures, including different funding options.
• Choose suitable names for new business ventures.

What you'll be able to do

• Build a website for the business.
• Know customer expectations for the online experience.
• Understand the range of online options suitable for the business.
• Plan a successful launch online.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand basic concepts of critical analysis, including identifying assumptions, evaluating evidence, and forming reasoned judgements.
• Understand the application of critical analysis to concepts, ideas and opinions, including evaluating different perspectives and arguments.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the benefits to an organisation of providing good customer service, including increased customer loyalty and positive reputation.
• Understand the possible consequences of poor customer service, such as loss of customers and damage to the organisation's image.
• Understand the value of giving customers a positive first impression of an organisation through appearance, behaviour and communication.
• Understand the importance of positive verbal and non-verbal interaction with customers to build rapport and address their needs effectively.

What you'll be able to do

• Identify a viable product or service to market and sell
• Plan an enterprise activity
• Run an enterprise activity
• Evaluate an enterprise activity

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the key characteristics of an effective leader.
• Understand the skills involved in being an effective leader.
• Develop the relationship of leader and team member.
• Demonstrate the ability to lead.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand that meetings can have different purposes, such as information sharing, decision-making, or problem-solving.
• Understand established meeting conventions and processes, including agendas, minutes, and roles of participants.
• Participate effectively in a meeting, including contributing ideas, listening actively, and respecting diverse viewpoints.

What you'll be able to do

• Develop a business plan.

What you'll be able to do

• Develop a viable business idea, considering market demand, competition, and potential profitability.
• Prepare a comprehensive business case or plan to support the development and implementation of a new product or service.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the key skills and characteristics involved in being an effective leader within a team.
• Understand the relationship and responsibilities between a team leader and individual team members.
• Use effective team leader skills to motivate and guide a team.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the fundamental nature of franchising, including its legal and financial implications for the franchisee.
• Assess the suitability of potential franchise opportunities by evaluating factors such as brand recognition, profitability, and support systems.

What you'll be able to do

• Estimate the income and expenditure of a business
• Estimate profit and loss for a business
• Know the financial information that needs to be recorded for a business
• Understand the basic principles of cashflow
• Identify potential sources of finance for a business

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the practices, legislation, regulation and codes of practice that relate to generating and qualifying sales leads.
• Understand the process of generating and qualifying sales leads.
• Prospect for customers.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand and describe the health and safety requirements specific to own workplace surroundings.
• Explain the main elements of Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations.
• Describe how to prevent common accidents at work by identifying potential hazards and implementing appropriate safety measures.
• Respond appropriately to first aid incidents, following established procedures.
• Demonstrate resuscitation techniques and the correct procedure for placing a casualty in the recovery position.
• Demonstrate the correct techniques for safely handling and moving inanimate loads to prevent injury.

What you'll be able to do

• Know how a client defines themselves, their mission, and their target audience.
• Define the client's brand model, strategy, and value proposition for the business.
• Support brand development using appropriate brand and design tools and techniques.
• Review and refine the brand value through market research and stakeholder engagement activities.

What you'll be able to do

• Plan the resources required by business ventures when starting up, including financial, human, and physical resources.
• Understand the cost of items and resources that businesses require on an ongoing basis, including utilities, rent, and supplies.
• Select suitable locations for businesses, taking into account factors such as accessibility, cost, and market potential.

What you'll be able to do

• Obtain information for images.
• Insert information for images.
• Combine information for images.
• Use imaging software tools to create images.
• Use imaging software tools to manipulate images.
• Use imaging software tools to edit images.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the importance of business plans in achieving organisational objectives
• Produce business plans that are fit for purpose
• Understand the process of monitoring business plans to ensure they remain effective

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how developing your skills and knowledge can positively impact your business performance.
• Understand how to identify and implement strategies to improve your business skills and knowledge.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how to assess the benefits of improving your business skills and knowledge.
• Understand how to develop a plan for improving your business skills and knowledge.
• Understand how to monitor a plan for improving your business skills and knowledge.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how to effectively integrate new team members into the existing team structure, considering factors such as team dynamics and individual needs.
• Coach individuals within the team to improve their performance and develop their skills, using appropriate coaching techniques.

What you'll be able to do

• Identify a market for a product or service
• Conduct financial planning
• Plan human resources when building a business
• Produce a business plan

What you'll be able to do

• Review existing working practices within a business environment.
• Assess the feasibility of a new idea within a business context.
• Communicate innovative ideas effectively to others within a business setting.

What you'll be able to do

• Identify personal skills and qualities relevant to effective interpersonal communication
• Know about the causes and effects of stress in self and others
• Know about different types of criticism and how to respond constructively
• Know about the impact of body language on communication
• Respond to different behaviours in interpersonal situations

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the objectives of the human resources function in the workplace.
• Understand the importance of effective recruitment processes.
• Understand the tools used for effective planning and management of a workforce.
• Understand the importance of equal opportunities and valuing diversity in the workplace.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the skills, qualities and values needed by an effective leader
• Understand how to motivate participants
• Understand how to manage participant behaviour

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the role of marketing within a business

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the role and responsibilities of managers within a business organisation.
• Understand the importance of effective leadership to the success of a business.
• Know about different leadership and management styles that can be used in a business context.
• Demonstrate practical leadership and management skills in a business environment.

What you'll be able to do

• Maintain personal performance in a professional context
• Develop personal performance to meet professional goals
• Develop personal performance through training and development opportunities

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the nature of cash and the purpose of a cash budget.
• Understand how to monitor and control cashflows within a business.
• Understand the relationship between cashflow and credit customers.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the roles and responsibilities associated with managing a budget within an organisation.
• Develop a budget plan for a specific activity or project, taking into account all relevant costs and income.
• Effectively manage a budget, monitoring expenditure and taking corrective action when necessary.

What you'll be able to do

• Plan a project, including defining objectives, scope, resources, and timelines.
• Monitor the progress of a project against the project plan, identifying and addressing any deviations.
• Review a project upon completion, evaluating its success, identifying lessons learned, and documenting outcomes.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the fundamental principles of marketing and its importance for business success
• Understand the process of product development and the crucial role of market research in identifying customer needs and preferences
• Understand the role of the marketing mix (product, price, place, promotion) and how to effectively manage each element
• Manage and implement marketing strategies to achieve specific business goals, considering target audiences and market trends

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the role of marketing research in organisations
• Know about primary and secondary information sources
• Use techniques for analysing marketing research information
• Present marketing research information

What you'll be able to do

• Assess the market for a product or service
• Promote a product or service
• Sell a product or service

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the stages of the 'mentoring' relationship
• Understand a range of techniques to make mentees feel comfortable and at ease
• Understand the boundaries of a mentoring relationship
• Understand when and to who referrals should be made

What you'll be able to do

• Distinguish between negotiation and debate
• Describe different tactics people use to stall or halt the decision making process
• Recognise constructive and destructive behaviour in times of conflict
• Use strategies for negotiation effectively
• Describe the differing roles in negotiation situations
• Describe the application of the stages of successful negotiation

What you'll be able to do

• Understand different sources of funding available for business ventures
• Understand how to organise financial documents effectively
• Produce personal expenditure budgets accurately
• Estimate cashflow forecasts for business ventures
• Estimate profit for business ventures
• Summarise the financial position of business ventures

What you'll be able to do

• Prepare for a presentation, including identifying the audience, purpose, and key messages.
• Deliver a presentation effectively, using appropriate techniques and visual aids.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how to book travel for other people, taking into account their needs and preferences.
• Understand how to make travel arrangements for other people, including transportation, accommodation, and other necessary services.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the role of digital marketing within an organisation
• Understand the use of search engine optimisation (SEO) techniques
• Understand the requirements of marketing research using the internet
• Understand the uses of digital marketing devices and messages
• Understand how to use digital technology for marketing purposes

What you'll be able to do

• Understand fundamental marketing theories and concepts.
• Understand the value of marketing to an organisation.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how to prepare for a sales presentation or demonstration
• Understand how to deliver a sales presentation or demonstration
• Understand the role of evaluating sales presentations/demonstrations

What you'll be able to do

• Know sources of information and advice on an industry, occupation, training and career pathway
• Understand the purpose and structure of business organisations
• Understand the role and responsibilities of an administrator within a business organisation

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how to prepare business documents
• Prepare business documents
• Distribute business documents

What you'll be able to do

• Know the benefits of using social media to conduct market research for products and services.
• Know the benefits and risks associated with promoting a product or service through social media platforms.
• Know how different social media applications are used for promotional purposes.
• Create a social networking profile specifically designed for a product or service.
• Use a social network effectively to communicate with others in order to promote a product or service.

What you'll be able to do

• Know the responsibilities of organisations in relation to protection and safeguarding individuals.
• Know the responsibilities of those working for or on behalf of organisations in relation to protection and safeguarding individuals.
• Know about good practice in keeping individuals, customers or clients safe or at reduced risk of harm.
• Know about different forms of abuse, including physical, emotional, and financial abuse, and neglect.
• Respond appropriately to a disclosure or suspicion of abuse, following organisational procedures.
• Know about available information and support resources in relation to abuse.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the key characteristics of effective leadership, including qualities such as communication, motivation, and decision-making.
• Understand the specific skills involved in effective leadership, such as delegation, conflict resolution, and team building.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the characteristics, strengths, and limitations of different types of research methods and their appropriate uses.
• Plan a research project, including defining objectives, selecting appropriate methods, and managing resources.
• Report on a piece of research, including structuring findings, presenting data, and drawing conclusions.
• Evaluate a piece of research, including assessing its validity, reliability, and ethical considerations.

What you'll be able to do

• Carry out market research using appropriate methods
• Analyse and interpret data about a market to inform business decisions

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the concept of resilience and its impact on individuals and their well-being.
• Understand how to develop an individual's resilience through various strategies and techniques.
• Develop and apply resilience skills in practical situations.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand practices used for ensuring organisations are effective, responsible and accountable.
• Understand the methods used to ensure that a governing body meets its responsibilities.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the purpose and importance of sales targets within a business

What you'll be able to do

• Set clear and measurable business goals that are aligned with the overall business objectives

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how businesses operate online.
• Know the issues related to doing business online.
• Know about different website and online platforms available for businesses.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the key features and functions of a governing body, including its legal and ethical responsibilities.
• Understand the key features of effective meetings, including agenda setting, decision-making processes, and record-keeping.

What you'll be able to do

• Differentiate between sales and purchase accounts.
• Produce a profit and loss account that includes adjustments from a given trial balance.
• Calculate net profit from a profit and loss account.
• Produce a Sole Trader's balance sheet.

What you'll be able to do

• Recognise business problems and their causes
• Know techniques for solving business problems
• Plan a solution to a business problem
• Carry out a solution to a business problem
• Review a solution to a business problem

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the importance of values and mission of a not for profit organisation, and how they guide its activities.
• Know how trustees guide the strategic direction of a not for profit organisation, including setting goals and priorities.
• Monitor the vision and strategy of an organisation, including measuring progress and making adjustments.
• Know how trustees can support change management, including communicating the need for change and supporting staff through the process.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the current strategic position, direction and structures of an organisation
• Understand the process of strategic planning
• Understand the characteristics of commonly used voluntary, community and charitable organisational structures

What you'll be able to do

• Prepare effectively for a telesales call, ensuring all necessary information and resources are available.
• Establish a positive rapport with the customer at the beginning of the call.
• Identify the customer's specific needs and requirements through effective questioning and active listening.
• Present relevant products or services to the customer, clearly explaining their features and benefits.
• Deal with sales objections raised by the customer over the phone, providing appropriate and persuasive responses.
• Progress the sale towards a successful conclusion by addressing concerns and offering suitable solutions.
• Close the sale by confirming the customer's order and arranging for payment and delivery.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the role of an administrator within an office environment.
• Carry out a range of administrative tasks effectively.
• Understand key administrative duties and their importance.
• Understand the importance of maintaining confidentiality of information in an administrative role.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the stages and key activities within the sales cycle
• Understand how marketing activities support the progression of customers through the sales cycle
• Understand the relationship between the effective management of the sales cycle and the achievement of sales targets

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the concept of resilience and its importance in personal and professional contexts.
• Understand the need for resilience when seeking employment and managing career challenges.
• Produce a personal development plan to develop resilience skills and strategies.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the market, its customers and stakeholders relevant to a specific product or service
• Understand how to promote and sell a product or service effectively
• Understand methods of customer care and after sales service and their importance

What you'll be able to do

• Understand that organisations need to respond to change and new directions in order to remain competitive and effective.
• Understand how change can create new opportunities for organisations and individuals, such as innovation and growth.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the primary financial statements, including the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement, and the linkages between them.
• Understand the importance of cash management to a business and explain why cash flow is different from profit.
• Interpret the financial health of a business using financial ratios.
• Make better financial decisions using budgetary control concepts and contribution analysis.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand different ways of financing a new business venture.
• Understand how finance is managed effectively within a business context.
• Know how cash flow is managed to ensure the financial stability of a business.

What you'll be able to do

• Assess the target market for a specific product or service, considering factors such as market size, demographics, and competition.
• Promote the key features and benefits of a product or service to potential customers, using appropriate marketing techniques.
• Plan for future sales by forecasting demand, managing inventory, and developing sales strategies.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the laws affecting selling
• Understand the ethics of selling

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how to comply with legal and regulatory requirements relevant to an enterprise.
• Understand the law of contract in relation to the provision of goods and services by an enterprise.
• Understand the relevant health, safety and environmental obligations and their implications for the enterprise.
• Prevent and control hazards and risks within the enterprise.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how marketing is planned within an organisation
• Understand how customers can be segmented for marketing purposes
• Understand how to carry out market research effectively
• Understand the elements of the marketing mix

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how sales targets are calculated.
• Understand the use of sales targets.
• Understand how to collect sales-related data.
• Understand how to evaluate sales performance.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the sales cycle.
• Understand the buyer decision-making process.
• Understand how to generate and qualify sales leads.
• Understand how to sell by inbound telephone call.
• Understand how to sell by outbound telephone call.
• Understand the principles of selling face to face.
• Understand how to close a sale.
• Understand how to process sales orders.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the key features of different products and/or services offered by a business.
• Understand the benefits that products and/or services provide to customers.
• Know the characteristics of the target customers that businesses aim to serve.
• Understand methods used to gain new customers and retain existing customers.
• Understand different sales methods that businesses can utilise.
• Understand effective sales techniques for interacting with customers.
• Understand how to identify and overcome possible customer objections during the sales process.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the costs involved in starting an enterprise
• Understand the importance and methods of keeping financial records for an enterprise
• Understand the importance of cashflow and break even analysis for an enterprise

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the legal and regulatory requirements for setting up a new enterprise.
• Understand the legal and regulatory requirements for running an existing enterprise.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the impact of different organisational structures on sales and marketing functions.
• Understand the interface between sales and marketing functions.
• Understand the impact of sales and marketing on product development processes.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand what is involved in using social media platforms for business purposes, including different platforms and their features.
• Understand the importance of security and trust when using social media for business, including data protection and online reputation management.
• Know the usefulness of social media as a business tool for marketing, communication, and customer engagement.

What you'll be able to do

• Identify a viable product or service to market and sell.
• Plan an enterprise activity.
• Calculate the unit costs for an enterprise activity.
• Run an enterprise activity.
• Evaluate an enterprise activity.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the planning requirements for the use of digital and social media in marketing campaigns, including legal and ethical considerations
• Market to target customers using digital and social media platforms effectively

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the accounting or payroll function within an organisation, including its role and responsibilities.
• Demonstrate a range of effective communication skills, including verbal, written, and non-verbal communication.
• Work independently or as part of a team, contributing to achieve common goals.
• Develop skills and knowledge to meet personal and organisational needs, identifying learning opportunities and applying new skills.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the structure and purpose of the organisation selected for their work experience placement
• Understand own role within organisation whilst on work experience placement
• Adhere to workplace standards for personal presentation and behaviour
• Comply with safe working practices demanded by the work environment
• Carry out work tasks as requested