NPA Business Skills SCQF level 6

This National Progression Award (NPA) develops knowledge and understanding of the features and characteristics of small, medium and large organisations, and the issues facing businesses today. It will help develop learners' oral, written and evaluation abilities, and core skills such as problem solving and planning, and working with others. It will develop learners' ICT skills and enable them to be more confident in the use of software packages for administrative and business purposes.

The NPA covers areas such as understanding business, management of people and finance, working with various IT software packages (such as spreadsheets, databases, word processing and presenting information), and contemporary business issues.

The qualification is available through schools and colleges — usually via a school-college partnership.

Qualification structure

Group Award Specification (304 KB)

Group Award code: GR3P 46 (30 SCQF credit points)

SCQF level: 6

The NPA in Business Skills at SCQF level 6 consists of five mandatory units (30 SCQF credit points).

The mandatory units are as follows:

Code Unit title SQA credit SCQF credit points SCQF level
J229 76 Understanding Business 1 6 6
J22A 76 Management of People and Finance 1 6 6
HE9E 46 Contemporary Business Issues 1 6 6
And either:
F1FE 12 PC Passport: Working with IT Software — Word Processing and Presenting Information 1 6 6
F1FJ 12 PC Passport: Working with IT Software — Spreadsheet and Database 1 6 6
or:
HA6L 46 Web Apps: Spreadsheets 1 1 6
HA6M 46 Web Apps: Word Processing 1 1 6

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Apprenticeship

This National Progression Award is a mandatory component in the Foundation Apprenticeship in Business Skills.

How to assess

Assessment will be a combination of practical and knowledge assessments under closed- and open-book assessment conditions. See the assessment and evidence requirements for each unit.

Assessment and/or e-assessment support packs are available for this qualification.

Qualification Verification Summary Report

Deliver this qualification

Why study this qualification

The NPA in Business Skills is designed for a wide range of learners, including:

  • learners who are at school or have just left school
  • adults returning to education
  • individuals who are currently in employment and wish to obtain a formal qualification
  • those who are looking to access HN programmes
  • learners who want to study at a pace and style that they determine
  • employees who want to develop their careers
  • individuals who are seeking national recognition of their achievements
  • employers who wish their employees to take part in short continuing professional development courses

 

You will be introduced to features and characteristics of large organisations and small and medium enterprises. You will develop an understanding of aspects of the internal and external environment in which organisations operate and the effect these can have on decision making and profitability. You will also develop an understanding of contemporary business issues and the decisions and challenges facing businesses.

You will be introduced to the complex functions of word processing, presentation, spreadsheet and database application software.

Access

Entry is at the discretion of the school, college or training provider. However, if you are thinking of entering the level 6 award it is recommended that you should first have completed some training at level 5.

Employment and progression

You could use this level 6 award to progress to:

  • SCQF/QCF level 7
  • an HNC/HND in Business or a related area
  • a PDA in Information Technology in Business
  • a PDA in Office Administration
  • a PDA in Office Management and Information Technology
  • an SVQ in Business and Administration at SVQ level 3
  • employment in the Business sector

Qualification structure

Group Award Specification (304 KB)

Group Award code: GR3P 46 (30 SCQF credit points)

SCQF level: 6

The NPA in Business Skills at SCQF level 6 consists of five mandatory units (30 SCQF credit points).

The mandatory units are as follows:

Code Unit title SQA credit SCQF credit points SCQF level
J229 76 Understanding Business 1 6 6
J22A 76 Management of People and Finance 1 6 6
HE9E 46 Contemporary Business Issues 1 6 6
And either:
F1FE 12 PC Passport: Working with IT Software — Word Processing and Presenting Information 1 6 6
F1FJ 12 PC Passport: Working with IT Software — Spreadsheet and Database 1 6 6
or:
HA6L 46 Web Apps: Spreadsheets 1 1 6
HA6M 46 Web Apps: Word Processing 1 1 6

Unit search