Open College Network Northern Ireland · RQF Level 1

OCN NI Level 1 Diploma in Business Administration

You don’t just earn this. You learn to use it, one-to-one, on your own real work.

LevelRQF Level 1
Total credits37
Guided learning333 hours
Units in this qualification24

Awarded by Open College Network Northern Ireland · on the Ofqual register

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What you’ll learn

What each unit actually teaches you to do

Open College Network Northern Ireland (OCN NI) is a Nationally Recognised Awarding organisation which offer high quality flexible, credit based qualifications

These are the units Open College Network Northern Ireland registers against this qualification. It is a catalogue, not a syllabus. Which of them you take depends on the combination the qualification requires, and that is set by the awarding body rather than by us. Every unit here is regulated, and every one you earn is yours to keep.

Accessing the InternetReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

You'll learn to connect to the internet and use browser software to navigate web pages and search for information. The unit also covers online communication and emphasises the importance of internet safety and security.

What you'll be able to do

Connect to the internet using appropriate hardware and software.
Use browser software to navigate web pages effectively.
Use browser tools to search for information from the internet, employing appropriate search strategies.
Use browser software to communicate information online, adhering to online etiquette.
Understand the importance of safety and security measures when accessing and using the internet.

Arrange Business Travel and AccommodationReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

It teaches you to make business travel arrangements in line with organisational policies. You'll produce accurate travel documentation and clarify arrangements with relevant parties to ensure all travel requirements are met.

What you'll be able to do

Make business travel arrangements in accordance with organisational policies and procedures.
Produce business travel documentation accurately and efficiently.
Clarify travel arrangements with relevant parties prior to the business travel, ensuring all requirements are met.

Arrange MeetingsReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

You'll learn to support meetings effectively, including producing agendas and minutes, keeping accurate records, and carrying out pre-meeting preparations. The unit also covers the importance of confidentiality and distributing meeting documentation.

What you'll be able to do

Support meetings effectively within a business environment
Produce accurate and relevant documentation required for meetings
Keep accurate pre-meeting records, including attendance and apologies
Carry out pre-meeting checks and preparations to ensure the meeting runs smoothly
Understand the need for confidentiality regarding meeting content and attendees
Distribute documentation following meetings to relevant individuals promptly

Developing Computer SkillsReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

This unit provides learners with foundational knowledge of computer components and software functions. You'll perform basic IT tasks including creating, saving, and editing documents, using email, and browsing the internet.

What you'll be able to do

Understand the basic components of computers and the functions of different types of software.
Perform basic IT tasks, such as creating, saving, and editing documents, using email, and browsing the internet.

Diversity within SocietyReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

This unit provides knowledge of diversity and its various dimensions within society. You'll identify diverse groups and practices, understand the importance of respecting diversity, and recognise the contributions of different groups to society.

What you'll be able to do

Know what is meant by the term diversity, including its various dimensions and manifestations.
Be aware of a range of diverse groups and practices within society, such as those related to ethnicity, religion, gender, and disability.
Understand the importance of respecting diversity and promoting inclusivity in all aspects of society.
Recognise the contributions of diverse groups to society, including their cultural, economic, and social impact.

Equal OpportunitiesReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

This unit provides knowledge of diversity, discrimination, and equal opportunities legislation. You'll understand different forms of discrimination and the importance of promoting a fair and inclusive workplace.

What you'll be able to do

Understand the concept of diversity and its importance in the workplace
Understand different forms of discrimination and their negative impact
Understand the importance of equal opportunities legislation and its implications for organisations

Filing SkillsReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

You'll develop knowledge and skills for effective filing practices, including understanding data protection requirements and various filing classification systems. The unit covers pre-sorting documents, using indexes, cross-referencing, and locating files accurately.

What you'll be able to do

Know the basic requirements of the Data Protection Act and their implications for filing systems.
Understand the four main filing classification systems, including alphabetical, numerical, subject, and geographical.
Know the importance of pre-sorting documents to ensure efficient filing processes.
Understand how to file documents accurately and consistently using different filing classification systems.
Use an index effectively to locate filed documents quickly.
Understand procedures for cross-referencing documents to maintain file integrity and accessibility.
Understand the importance of returning files promptly to their designated locations after use.

Handling Business MailReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

It teaches you to handle business mail efficiently and securely, following organisational procedures and legal requirements. You'll manage incoming and outgoing mail, including sorting, distributing, recording, and preparing items for dispatch.

What you'll be able to do

Know why it is important for a business to handle mail efficiently and securely, in accordance with organisational procedures and legal requirements.
Deal with incoming mail, following established procedures for sorting, distributing, and recording mail items.
Deal with outgoing mail, preparing items for dispatch, selecting appropriate postage methods, and maintaining records.

Manage Diary SystemsReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

You'll gain knowledge and skills to manage diary systems effectively in an administrative environment. The unit covers different diary types, setting up new entries accurately, managing changes, and understanding the advantages and disadvantages of electronic and paper-based systems.

What you'll be able to do

Be aware of the different types of diary systems used in an administrative environment, including electronic and paper-based systems.
Accurately set up new diary entries, including appointments, meetings, and tasks, ensuring all relevant information is recorded.
Understand how to manage changes to diary entries, including rescheduling, cancellations, and amendments, maintaining accurate and up-to-date records.

Office Administrator SkillsReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

This unit introduces the role and responsibilities of an office administrator. You'll practise basic administrative tasks such as filing, photocopying, and data entry, while recognising the importance of good self-presentation and time management.

What you'll be able to do

Understand the role of an office administrator within an organisation.
Carry out a range of basic administrative tasks, such as filing, photocopying, and data entry.
Be aware of the importance of good self-presentation and time management in an office environment.

Oral Presentation Skills in PracticeReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

This unit develops learners' skills in preparing, planning, and delivering oral presentations. You'll select suitable topics, structure content, use visual aids effectively, deliver presentations confidently, and give and receive constructive feedback.

What you'll be able to do

Prepare for, plan, and deliver a clear and concise oral presentation on a chosen topic.
Give constructive feedback to others on their oral presentations and receive feedback on own presentation, reflecting on areas for improvement.

Producing Business DocumentsReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

You'll understand different types of business documents and the importance of appropriate communication styles. The unit covers producing routine documents such as letters, emails, and memos, using suitable formatting and language for the intended audience and purpose.

What you'll be able to do

Know that there are different types of business documents, including letters, emails, reports, and memos.
Know why it is important to use the right communication style in business documents, considering the audience and purpose.
Produce routine business documents, such as letters, emails, and memos, using appropriate formatting and language.

Skills for Working in Business and AdministrationReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

You'll understand the role of an office administrator and develop skills to perform routine administrative tasks. The unit also covers professional self-presentation, effective work organisation, and the importance of information confidentiality.

What you'll be able to do

Understand the role of an office administrator, including their responsibilities, duties, and contribution to the organisation.
Carry out routine administrative tasks, such as filing, photocopying, and data entry, accurately and efficiently.
Present oneself in a positive manner, demonstrating appropriate communication skills, personal appearance, and professional behaviour.
Organise own work effectively, prioritising tasks, managing time, and meeting deadlines.
Know the importance of information confidentiality, adhering to data protection regulations and organisational policies.

Skills in Customer ServiceReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

You'll explore the principles of customer service, understanding how to meet customer needs and expectations. The unit covers the benefits of good customer service to organisations and the consequences of poor service, emphasising positive verbal and non-verbal interactions.

What you'll be able to do

Understand the principles of customer service, including meeting customer needs and expectations.
Understand the benefits to an organisation of good customer service, such as increased customer loyalty and positive reputation.
Understand the possible consequences of poor customer service, such as customer complaints and loss of business.
Understand the value of first impressions in customer service interactions.
Understand positive verbal and non-verbal interaction with customers, including active listening and clear communication.
Understand how to deal with customer complaints effectively and professionally.

Teamwork Skills in PracticeReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

This unit focuses on teamwork skills, including understanding team roles and responsibilities and contributing to team and individual goals. You'll develop active listening skills, respect communication rights, and review team performance.

What you'll be able to do

Understand the different roles and responsibilities of individuals within a team.
Contribute to the setting of team goals and own individual goals within the team context.
Be aware of others' rights to communicate their views and opinions within a team.
Recognise the importance of co-operation and collaboration within a team to achieve common objectives.
Review team performance, identifying areas for improvement and celebrating successes.

Telephone SkillsReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

You'll learn to use a telephone system in an office environment, including making and receiving calls professionally. The unit emphasises appropriate call handling to maintain positive organisational communication.

What you'll be able to do

Use a telephone system effectively in an office environment
Make and receive telephone calls in a professional manner
Recognise the importance of handling calls appropriately to maintain a positive image of the organisation

Understanding Business MeetingsReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

You'll gain an understanding of the function, planning, and execution of business meetings. The unit covers different meeting techniques, managing difficult issues, and evaluating meetings to support business objectives effectively.

What you'll be able to do

Know the function of meetings within a business context.
Understand different meeting techniques, such as brainstorming or structured discussions.
Understand how to plan a meeting, including setting an agenda and inviting participants.
Understand how to run a meeting effectively, including managing time and facilitating discussion.
Understand how to deal with difficult issues in meetings, such as disagreements or disruptive behaviour.
Understand how to evaluate a meeting to identify areas for improvement.

Using Effective Communication Skills in the WorkplaceReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

This unit covers the different forms of effective communication in the workplace, including verbal, written, and non-verbal methods. You'll understand the importance of clear communication to support colleagues and manage conflict effectively.

What you'll be able to do

Understand different forms of effective communication in the workplace, including verbal, written, and non-verbal communication.
Understand the importance of communicating effectively with others in the workplace to ensure clarity and understanding.
Use communication to support the work of others, such as providing feedback or sharing information.
Understand how to deal with conflict in the workplace using appropriate communication techniques.

Using EmailReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

You'll gain an understanding of email systems and their functions. The unit develops skills to compose, send, receive, and organise emails, including handling attachments, to facilitate effective electronic communication.

What you'll be able to do

Understand how to use email systems for effective communication.
Use email to send, receive, and manage electronic messages effectively.

Using Office Machines - Faxes, Photocopiers and PrintersReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

This unit provides learners with practical skills to operate common office machines such as faxes, photocopiers, scanners, and printers. You'll send and receive faxes, perform copying, scanning, and printing tasks, and identify and resolve common machine problems.

What you'll be able to do

Send faxes using appropriate procedures.
Receive and distribute faxes to the correct recipients.
Recognise and resolve common problems with the fax machine, such as paper jams or transmission errors.
Prepare the photocopier, scanner and/or printer for use, including loading paper and checking ink/toner levels.
Perform photocopying, scanning and/or printing tasks according to instructions.
Recognise and resolve common problems with the photocopier or printer, such as paper jams or poor print quality.

Using Presentation SoftwareReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

This unit equips learners with skills to capture, edit, and format information for presentation slides. You'll prepare slides that are organised, visually appealing, and clear to enhance the effectiveness of presentations.

What you'll be able to do

Capture information accurately for inclusion in presentation slides
Edit and format slides to enhance visual appeal and clarity
Prepare slides effectively for presentation, ensuring they are organised and easy to understand

Using Spreadsheet SoftwareReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

It teaches you to use spreadsheet software for data entry, organisation, calculation, and analysis. You'll apply formulas and tools to perform calculations and present information clearly using charts and graphs.

What you'll be able to do

Use a spreadsheet to enter, edit, and organise data.
Use spreadsheet formulas and tools to perform calculations and analyse data.
Present spreadsheet information in a clear and understandable format, using charts and graphs.

Using Word Processing SoftwareReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

You'll learn to create, edit, and format word processing documents. The unit covers entering and organising information using tables and lists, and presenting documents with appropriate styles and layouts.

What you'll be able to do

Enter, edit and combine text and other information within a word processing document, using appropriate tools and techniques.
Organise information within word processing documents, using features such as tables, lists, and headings to structure content effectively.
Format and present documents, applying appropriate styles, layouts, and printing options to achieve a professional appearance.

Welcoming VisitorsReal unit · Open College Network Northern Ireland

You'll develop the ability to welcome visitors professionally and positively. The unit covers greeting, assisting, and escorting visitors, and explains how a positive first impression influences the organisation's reputation.

What you'll be able to do

Welcome visitors in a positive and professional way
Know why it is important for an organisation to make visitors welcome, considering their first impression and overall experience

The honest bit

You’ve started things before

Most courses were built for a room full of people who aren’t you. A cohort moves on whether or not your week allowed it, and by the third week the thing you’re behind on becomes the reason you stop opening it.

There’s no cohort here, and no timetable to fall behind. Before anything starts, Zavmo asks when you’re sharpest and how long you can realistically sit down for, then builds the sessions around those answers. A bad fortnight changes your pace. It doesn’t put you behind.

And you only pay once you start learning. Searching and planning are free, and you can cancel any time — so the cost of finding out is an afternoon, not a year.

Your passport

Every credit is a stamp you keep

Level 1 credits are regulated. They don’t vanish when a subscription ends or a website closes. They travel to any employer, and Zavmo keeps the map of what you’ve earned and what’s next.

Accessing the InternetArrange Business Travel and AccommodationArrange MeetingsDeveloping Computer SkillsDiversity within SocietyEqual OpportunitiesFiling SkillsHandling Business Mail

Each stamp is a real unit registered against this qualification.

Who’d teach you this

The Evidence Evaluator

Assessor

Helps you show what you can actually do, gathering the evidence that proves it as you learn.

Meet all twelve tutors

Where this connects

Where these credits take you

A qualification is never a dead end here. See the jobs its credits open, the national occupational standards its units map to, and the future skills they quietly build.

Where this can lead

Office Coordinator

Your career here is what you make it. We'll give you the tools, the training, and the opportunities, but your drive and curiosity will be the biggest factors in where you end up. This role is a fantastic foundation for a long and rewarding career in Realestate Facilities Management.

See the whole journey →

Opens the roleOffice CoordinatorOne of the jobs this qualification is a route into · 1 near-identical record folded inSee the role →Future FluencyAll ten future skillsSee how every unit is contextualised by the tenExplore →

Showing 1 roles, drawn from 2 job records mapped to this qualification.

Skills it covers

What the job actually needs. These are the standards the units are built against, in the words employers and awarding bodies already use for the work itself.

Arrange and conduct meetings with customers and othersSupport the development and effectiveness of work teams

How you’ll actually learn this

One-to-one, on your own real work

A qualification is usually something done to you: sit the class, sit the exam, hope it sticks. Here it’s the opposite. You learn it one-to-one with a companion, on your own real work, and you keep going until you can use it, not just recall it.

One-to-one, on your real workNo lectures, no past-papers. Every unit is practised on the actual tasks your job throws at you, a tutor beside you, not a video in front of you.

Taught to the top, not the testMost courses stop at remembering. Your companion keeps climbing: analysing, judging, creating. That’s the part a machine can’t do for you.

Credits you keep, a map that continuesEvery unit is regulated and yours for good. The day you finish, Zavmo already knows the next role your new credits open.

Accessing the InternetLevel 1

Applied to your work in any of these jobs

Which job do you mean?

Office Coordinator

Learners will develop skills to connect to the internet and use browser software to navigate web pages and search for information. The unit also covers online communication and emphasises the importance of internet safety and security.

How the thinking builds

Remember
Understand
Apply
Analyse
Evaluate
Create

An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

Your PlanIllustration

Built for OCN NI Level 1 Diploma in Business Administration

24 units in this credential, in the order it lists them, awarded by Open College Network Northern Ireland.

Accessing the Internet
Arrange Business Travel and Accommodation
Arrange Meetings
Developing Computer Skills
Diversity within Society
Equal Opportunities

and 18 more in the full unit list below.

These are the real units of this credential, in its own order. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

One to one, not one to many

No two people run this the same way

A course is written once and handed to everyone. This is assembled around you, and keeps changing as it learns you. Five things it reads, and what each one changes.

Your actual work Every unit is taught against a live piece of your own work, not a worked example from a textbook.
What you already know The first conversation finds your starting point, so you skip what you can already do and spend the time on what you cannot.
The conditions you learn under Not a learning-styles quiz. The evidence does not support those. The dimensions the research does back, read once and used to shape the plan.
How far you got last time It picks up mid-thought. The tutor knows what you said, what you struggled with, and what it asked you to try.
Which tutor suits the moment Twelve of them, each for a different kind of thinking. The one who walks you through a first idea is not the one who stress-tests it.

See how you learn, free. Eight questions, no sign-up. A directional taster; the diagnostic inside Zavmo goes deeper and keeps adapting.

Why it sticks

Most courses stop at remembering

There’s a well-known ladder of how deeply you learn something, called Bloom’s Taxonomy. Most courses get you up the first two rungs: you remember some facts, you pass a test, you forget it. Real skill lives at the top. Judging, deciding, creating. And this isn’t a generic ladder: every rung has a named Zavmo tutor who walks you up it.

6CreateThe Creative Catalyst
5EvaluateThe Evidence Evaluator
4AnalyseThe Analyst
3ApplyThe Coach
2UnderstandThe Connector
1RememberThe Builder

Where most courses leave you Where Zavmo takes you

Why this matters: AI can already remember and understand for you. What it can’t do is take your real problem and judge the right call. So the only learning worth paying for is the learning that takes you to the top. That’s exactly what a tutor doing it with you, on your real work, is for.

The value

Why the companion is worth £70 a month

You’re not paying for the units. They’re regulated, and the same wherever you earn them. You’re paying for the one thing that decides whether you actually get there: a companion that makes them stick, on your real work.

That is one-to-one on this qualification, every day, on the work you already do, for £70 a month. Your first module is free, so you can see the teaching before you pay for any of it. Billed monthly, cancel any time and billing stops.

Earned on your own work, taught to the top.

Everything you just read, learned one-to-one on the job you already do. Your first module is free, so you can see the teaching before you pay for any of it.

Build my plan, free

No card. See how this qualification maps onto your role and meet the tutors who’d teach it, free. The learning begins when you subscribe. It’s £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.