SVQs in Business and Administration

SVQs in Business and Administration

Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) in Business and Administration are designed to equip those working in business and administration with the skills and knowledge they need to demonstrate competence in their job role.

The SVQ at SCQF level 4 is about following routine procedures in an office, supporting work procedures and understanding how to communicate in a business environment.

Level 5 involves a greater range of activities with some degree of complexity and limited autonomy. Mandatory units cover undertaking allocated work, communicating and managing own performance in a business environment. There is a wide range of optional units including document production, supporting events, meetings and diaries, customer service, IT and various specialist administrative functions.

At SCQF level 6, candidates have a broad range of activities with significant complexity, responsibility and autonomy, often in a supervisory or team-leading role. Mandatory units cover managing workload, communicating and planning, and improving own performance in a business environment. There is again a wide range of optional units including work responsibilities, document production and design, managing events, customer service, managing business resources, and managing information and data.

SCQF level 8 candidates will normally be managers with responsibility for staff and/or financial or other resources. Mandatory units involve managing and being accountable for own performance, and managing work and communication in a business environment. Optional units include business support services, project management, managing business resources, innovation and change, managing Information and data, customer service and communication.

These qualifications are available through employers, colleges and training providers.

2019 Business and Administration Network Events

Registration for this year's Network Events is open now - see the Network Events section of this page.

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Why deliver this qualification

Successful candidates gain an internationally-recognised qualification which demonstrates that they have the skills, knowledge and behaviours required to carry out their role successfully.  Employers benefit from competent and motivated staff.

SVQs are assessed in the workplace. This minimises the time candidates require outside the workplace to complete the qualification.

Who does this qualification suit

SVQs in Business and Administration are designed for people at various levels within business organisations and are therefore appropriate to many job roles, from junior administrators through to office managers.

Access

Entry is at the discretion of the centre. This is a work-based qualification, so candidates should be in a job role which allows them to provide the required evidence in a working environment.

No prior qualifications are required to undertake this qualification, although experience in and/or knowledge of the subject would be an advantage, particularly at SCQF levels 6 and 8.

Progression

There is some overlap of units between the different levels of SVQ Business and Administration — helping candidates to progress to higher-level SVQs as their job role develops or changes.

The level 5 and 6 SVQs could provide progression to:

  • an HNC/HND in Administration and IT, Business or other related area
  • a PDA in a Business related subject

The level 8 SVQ could provide progression to a degree programme with a Higher Education institution.

Approval

Centres with devolved authority for approval should use their own internal approval process.

Centres without devolved authority must come forward for approval and should contact SQA’s Business Development Team for guidance.

Assessors and verifiers must be able to meet SQA’s general requirements for technical/occupational competence as outlined in the Systems and Qualification Approval Guide.

 

How to assess

Assessment is through performance in the workplace. Most assessment will be based on performance evidence, ie observation (in person, video recordings) and work products generated by the candidate (word-processed documents, letters, spreadsheets, travel/accommodation bookings, receipts, e-mail correspondence, database reports, graphic elements, etc). The specific evidence produced will depend on the choice of optional units.

Holistic assessment is encouraged — gathering evidence towards more than one unit in the same assessment occasion.

For general information on how to assess this qualification, please refer to the document Guidance on how to assess SVQs. For detailed guidance on how to assess this particular SVQ, please refer to the Assessment Guidance.

The Assessment Strategy sets out the criteria that must be met for assessment and requirements for assessors and internal verifiers.

Where can you take this course?

Qualification content and delivery tools

Current

Information about the qualification(s)

Qualification Structure

The SVQ in Business and Administration at SCQF level 4 consists of two mandatory units and four optional units.

The SVQ in Business and Administration at SCQF level 5 consists of three mandatory units and five optional units.

The SVQ in Business and Administration at SCQF level 6 consists of three mandatory units and five optional units.

The SVQ in Business and Administration at SCQF level 8 consists of three mandatory units and five optional units.

For details of the units making up each SVQ, please refer to the Qualification Structure.

SVQ Business and Administration at SCQF level 4 GK6W 21

SVQ Business and Administration at SCQF level 5 GK6X 22 (21 KB)

SVQ Business and Administration at SCQF level 6 GK6Y 23 (22 KB)

SVQ in Business and Administration at SCQF level 8 Structure GM31 24

Changes to SVQ Business & Administration Levels 1, 2 & 3

SCQF credit rating information for units within SVQs in Business and Administration

National Occupational Standards

Unit information for this qualification is available on our Accredited Qualification Unit Search.

Core Skills signposting

Modern Apprenticeships

This relevant SVQ is a mandatory component in the following Modern and Technical Apprenticeships: 

  • Business and Administration at SCQF Level 5
  • Business and Administration at SCQF Level 6
  • Business and Administration at SCQF Level 8

Details of each Apprenticeship Framework, including the required additional Enhancements is available from Skills Development Scotland.

Information about delivery, assessment, quality assurance and support material

Assessment strategy

Assessor's guidelines

Candidate Guidance and Portfolio

Qualification Verification Summary Reports

Qualification Verification Summary Reports were formerly known as Internal Assessment Reports.

Understanding Standards & Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding Standards

Understanding Standards: Best Practice in Assessment of SVQs in Business and Administration

This material is intended to help assessors make valid, reliable and consistent assessment decisions when assessing SVQs in Business and Administration. It contains examples of evidence and assessment decisions supplemented by notes from External Verifiers explaining why they represent good, fair or poor practice. It also provides guidance on referencing evidence.

FAQs

Network Events

2019

This year's SVQ Business and Administration Network Events will take place on Wednesday, 22nd May at Radisson Blu Hotel in Edinburgh and Thursday, 30th May at Celtic Park, Kerrydale Suite. You can register for the events now. Please contract Caitlin Boyle (caitlin.boyle@sqa.org.uk) if you want to know more about the event.

2018

2017

2016

Lapsing

Information about the qualification(s)

Qualification Structure

These qualifications are now in their lapsing period and will finish on:

SVQ Level 1 Business and Administration at SCQF Level 4 (GA3W 21) - 31.07..2017
SVQ Level 2 Business and Administration at SCQF Level 5 (GA3V 22) - 31.07.2017
SVQ Level 3 Business and Administration at SCQF Level 6 (GA41 23) -  31.07.2019
SVQ Level 4 Business and Administration at SCQF Level 7 (GA3Y 24) - 31.07.2021

Centres should note:

  • The qualification will be deleted from the relevant catalogue
  • The qualification’s content and delivery tools will remain on SQA’s website until their finish dates above at which point they will be removed and archived
  • No new centres may be approved to offer the qualification
  • No candidates can be entered for the qualification
  • Centres should ensure candidates complete the qualification and results are submitted

to SQA before the finish dates above.

National Occupational Standards

Unit information for this qualification is available on our Unit Search.

Information about delivery, assessment, quality assurance and support material

Assessment strategy

Assessment Guidance for all levels of SVQs in Business and Administration levels 1,2,3 and 4 is now available on SQA's secure website.

All centres approved to deliver SVQs in Business and Administration have access to this page through their SQA Co-ordinator. If you experience any difficulties accessing this page, please contact the Business Development and Customer Support Team - mycentre@sqa.org.uk or 0303 333 0330.

Candidate Guidance and Portfolio

Candidate Disclaimer for SVQ Portfolio

SVQ Business and Administration level 1 GA3W 21

SVQ Business and Administration level 2 GA3V 22

SVQ Business and Administration level 3 GA41 23

SVQ Business and Administration level 4 GA3Y 24

Qualification Verification Summary Reports

Qualification Verification Summary Reports were formerly known as Internal Assessment Reports.

2017 SVQ Business and Administration Qualification Verification Summary Report 

Frequently Asked Questions

Standards

Useful Links

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