Level 2 Business students put project management skills into practice

As part of the BTEC Level 2 Certificate in Business, our students complete a Project Management unit, giving them valuable insight into how projects are planned, managed, and evaluated in the workplace. The unit helps students develop essential business skills, including setting objectives, writing project briefs, creating SMART targets, using Gantt charts, monitoring KPIs, and evaluating project outcomes. It also provides a strong foundation for progression onto the Level 3 Business course, where project management forms an important part of the curriculum.

To bring these skills to life, students are tasked with planning and delivering their own live business project. Working in teams, they take responsibility for every stage of the process, from initial planning and risk assessments through to event delivery and evaluation. This year's projects included a Public Services Skills Development Event at our Abingdon campus and an RSPCA fundraising and awareness event at our Witney campus.

At Abingdon, Business students organised a Skills Development Event for Level 1 and Level 2 Public Services learners. Designed and delivered entirely by the students, the event aimed to identify and develop key skills required within the Public Services sector through a series of interactive team challenges. Students were responsible for developing activities, organising resources, allocating responsibilities, and completing risk assessments before carrying out a final event run-through.

On the day, Public Services students took part in a range of challenges focused on communication, teamwork, leadership and problem-solving skills. Activities included a memory-based Jenga challenge, an interactive Imposter game, and a riddle-solving activity, with teams rotating between tasks and earning points throughout the event. Business students managed the activities, coordinated transitions between rooms and collected participant feedback as part of the evaluation stage.

Fiona Erikson, Business Lecturer, explained:

"One of the biggest benefits of this project is that students aren't just learning about project management in theory - they're putting it into practice. They've had to set objectives, allocate responsibilities, measure success, and work as a team, developing valuable skills they'll use in both further study and the workplace."

At Witney Campus, students chose to organise an RSPCA fundraising and awareness event, combining project management skills with a social enterprise focus. As a group, they voted to support the charity and developed their own fundraising ideas, including dog treat bags, cat treat bags, a tombola, and a "Pin the Tail on the Dog" activity.

Students were responsible for managing a budget, allocating tasks, organising resources, completing risk assessments, and promoting the event through social media and leaflet distribution across Witney town centre. Following weeks of planning, they operated a fundraising stand outside the Courthouse Building, engaging with members of the public while raising awareness of animal welfare issues.

Reflecting on the experience, student Liam highlighted the impact the project had on his confidence and communication skills:

"One of the biggest things I've developed through this project has been my communication skills. We spent a lot of time speaking to members of the public, encouraging people to get involved, and collecting donations. It was definitely outside my comfort zone at first, but people were really supportive and happy to engage with us."

The project also gave students valuable insight into the realities of managing a live event. From budgeting and planning to problem-solving on the day, students were required to adapt to unexpected challenges and work together to ensure the event's success.

Student Evie said:

"This project showed us how much work goes into planning and delivering an event. You have to think about everything in detail, from setting prices and managing resources to making sure activities run smoothly on the day. We also faced challenges, such as our card machine failing, so we had to think on our feet and find solutions."

Through planning and delivering their own live events, students gained valuable experience of what it takes to manage a successful project. From communication and teamwork to leadership and problem-solving, the project allowed them to develop practical skills that will support their progression onto further study and future careers in business.

Interested in a career in business? Our Business courses combine practical projects with industry-relevant learning, helping students develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to progress to higher-level study, apprenticeships, or employment.