Quick facts
| Qualification type | Level 2 Diploma |
| Duration | 1 year |
| Study times | You will be expected to be in college for a minimum of 3 days per week, from 9:15 to 4:00. Your timetable will be confirmed at induction |
| Entry requirements | Four GCSEs Grade 3 or above, including maths or English. You will be invited to an interview and if you show aptitude, enthusiasm and commitment, you may be considered with lower grades. |
| Campus | West Suffolk College Sixth Form Campus, Bury St Edmunds |
| Work placements | Yes |
Is it for me?
The Business Extended Certificate Level 2 will inspire you to pursue a career in business, giving you a broad knowledge of business topics. While you're here, we will give you advice and guidance about the many careers in business, and the attributes you'll need to be successful.
This qualification will give you a strong foundation, providing you with a pathway for further study, supporting your progression to a more specialised Level 3 Business course. You'll have the chance to study two additional qualifications, the Level 3 Emergency First Aid in the Workplace and the Certificate in World Host Customer Services.
You'll have the opportunity to develop and apply many personal skills while studying this course, including ownership; resilience; confidence and ambition.
This course is sponsored by Javelin, an award-winning clothing boutique in Bury St Edmunds. Javelin will provide you with a visual merchandising masterclass and work experience.
What you'll learn
- Introduction to marketing
- Finance for business
- Promoting a brand
- Introducing law and consumer rights
- Visual merchandising in retail businesses
- Enterprise in the business world
- Working in business teams
- Procurement and supply
Work experience placements
Work experience is a big part of this course you'll need to undertake 50 hours mandatory work experience where you can enhance existing skills, as well as further developing transferable skills in a business context. In addition, you can take part in an industry work placement one day a week. These are yearlong placements which work around the course timetable, giving learners the opportunity to gain a more in-depth experience which can be linked to existing part-time employment.
Assessment
You'll be assessed continuously throughout the course. A variety of assessment methods are used which can also be adapted to your individual learning needs.
Further study
- Business Accountancy and Finance Diploma Level 3
- Business Extended Diploma Level 3
- T Level in Business Management and Administration
Example careers
- Marketing
- Finance, Accountancy and Banking
- Customer Service
- Human Resources
- Business Management
- Business Consultancy
- Sales
- Operations
- Public Relations
- Communications
- Business Analyst
- Insurance
- Project Management
- Office Management
- Economics
- Market Research
Days & times
Starting September 2025