Introduction

Our Industry guides give you the lowdown on what the Bradford District has to offer. They're here to help you figure out what qualifications and training opportunities are available nearby and to give you the scoop on career options in specific industries.

If you're not sure about what careers are out there, these guides are perfect for exploring and getting to know each sector better. They're your go-to for understanding the different paths you can take into a career, whether it's through Apprenticeships, Traineeships, starting out early in your career, going to college or university, or learning on the job.


In Bradford District, there are 15 industry sectors to explore - you can find them all on the Career Options page. Each guide will tell you specific ways to plan for an occupation, as well as suggesting educational and vocational opportunities.

Woman and a man both in workwear having a conversation

Build a Career in the Business Management Industry

The number of private sector businesses in the UK at the start of 2021 was 5.6 million. 5.5 million businesses were small with less than 50 employees, 35,600 businesses were medium-sized (50-249 employees), while 7,700 businesses were large.

Working within Business Management can mean engaging within or across a wide range of industry sectors. This means that there are a large selection of employment opportunities to choose from within the following pathways:

- Administrative Support
- Business Information Management
- General Management
- Human Resources Management
- Operations Management

As Business Management covers a wide variety of industry sectors and career opportunities, the skills required can also differ. There are, however, some core skills that apply to all Business Management roles, and if any of these apply to you, then perhaps a career in the Business Management industry is the right one for you:

- Organisation
- Determination
- Problem solving
- Information technology
- Communication
- The ability to lead a team
- Customer service

If you have entrepreneurial qualities, you could quite possibly end up running your own business.

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Qualification Information

Some of the skills and knowledge you will gain from your GCSE studies will be particularly useful for a career in Business.  We can't list every one, but some examples are below:

English Language

  • Reading comprehension
  • Argumentation and persuasion
  • Critical thinking and reasoning
  • Editing and proofreading
  • Understanding audience
  • Presentation skills

English Literature

  • Empathy and emotional intelligence
  • Understanding diverse perspectives
  • Critical analysis
  • Cultural awareness

Maths

  • Number and arithmetic
  • ICT and data handling
  • Decimals and percentages
  • Advanced problem solving

Science

  • Data interpretation and analysis
  • Research and development skills
  • Communication and complex concepts

Business

  • Basic economic concepts
  • Marketing
  • Finance
  • Human resource management

PSHE

  • Career education and employability skills
  • Workplace readiness and business etiquette
  • Digital literacy
  • Global awareness and cultural competence

Citizenship

  • Social responsibility
  • Democracy and business
  • Media, communication and business
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15 Career Choices in Business Management

The below jobs are a sample of 15 occupations that can be found in the Business Management sector in Bradford District and beyond.  Click on the job title for more information:

  • Admin Assistant - give support to businesses by organising meetings, typing documents and updating computer records
  • Business Adviser - give advice and support to new business start-ups and help established businesses to grow
  • Business Development Manager - build relationships with customers, suppliers and partners. They help businesses grow and improve
  • Civil Service Admin Officer - work in government departments, carrying out policies and running services for the public
  • Data Entry Clerk - type information into databases and systems and create letters, reports and other documents
  • Franchise Owner - are self-employed people who buy a licence to operate a business under an established company's brand
  • Health Records Clerk - keep medical records up to date
  • Human Resources (HR) Officer - hire, develop and look after employees in a company
  • Medical Secretary - provide office support in hospitals, GP surgeries, private clinics and universities
  • Office Manager - oversee the day-to-day running of an office or department
  • Personal Assistant - carry out support tasks for individuals and managers including administration, diary management and event planning
  • Receptionist - are the first point of contact for visitors to an organisation
  • Reprographic Assistant - use copiers, scanners and printers to make documents, brochures, leaflets and pictures
  • School Business Manager - oversee the efficient day-to-day running of a school and support the headteacher and leadership team
  • Telephonist (or Switchboard Operator) - answer and connect calls and take messages
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Skills Statements

Our skills statements are like golden nuggets crafted by industry pros. They pinpoint the essential skills required in specific sectors or careers. These statements are your secret weapon to understanding what employers really want and figuring out how to shine brighter than the rest. They'll give you the inside scoop on the skills that will make you stand out from the crowd.

Follow this link to find the Skills Statements for:

Entrepreneurship & Self-Employment

View Skills Statements

Digital Badges

Digital badges are a great way to gain recognition for skills and learning which doesn't have a qualification attached to it.  If you are a learner aged 13+ please sign up to our Navigatr platform to access the digital badges we offer.

This is quick, easy and free to do. Follow the link below to create your own Navigator account and earn your first digital badge by reading the information and completing quiz at the bottom of the page:

https://www.navigatr.org/what-are-digital-badges-2

To see some of the badges available for Bradford District click on the link below for more information:

Find out more

Business management roles can be found in all Industry and sectors. Business Management provides you with an all rounded skill to be able to succeed in establishing your own business or working for someone. There are many employment opportunities in this sector ranging from Human Resources, Operational, Marketing, Finance and much more.

I would like to find out more about…

Every business sector needs an efficiency expert, such as administrative support professionals, to ensure that things run smoothly. Administrative support professionals, or administrative assistants and secretaries, are responsible for performing routine clerical and administrative office duties. This includes maintaining proper records through filing systems while adhering to confidentiality guidelines. Typical administrative support duties will vary slightly depending on the industry they work in and the size of the company they are hired by. However, most administrative support staff can expect to answer telephones and either taking messages or transferring the call to the correct employee. Be responsible for the mailing system (ensure outgoing mail is sent and incoming mail gets received by the correct person). Scheduling appointments and updating event calendars. Arranging staff meetings and sending out invitations. Preparing and editing memos, invoices and documents.

Information management professionals are in demand to contribute to high performing teams to maximize the value of information management solutions with a goal of reducing costs while increasing process integrity and efficiency. Information Management the collection, storage, management and maintenance of data and other types of information. It involves the gathering, dissemination, archiving and destruction of information in all its forms. Information management covers the procedures and guidelines organisations adopt to manage and communicate information among different individuals, departments and stakeholders.

An individual in a GM role is a generalist who is familiar with all areas of the business and can coordinate processes and operations across the organization. A general manager usually must speak the languages of finance and accounting, operations, sales, marketing, human resources, research and development. To be successful in this role, you will need to develop Strategic planning skills to ensure the development and implementation of a clear strategic plan for an organisation or business unit. Financial planning skills: to look at the future of the business and making key investments and investment recommendations. Interpersonal skills to be able to support the development of a healthy internal culture that retains key employees and encourage their professional development. 

Human resources (HR) is the division of a business that is charged with finding, screening, recruiting, and training job applicants. It also administers employee-benefit programs. An HR department is an essential component of any business, regardless of an organisation's size. It is tasked with maximising employee productivity and protecting the company from any issues that may arise within the workforce.HR responsibilities include compensation and benefits, recruitment, firing, and keeping up to date with any laws that may affect the company and its employees.

In operations management, the possibilities and career paths are varied and many. You can be an engineer working in the operations arm of a technical company, or a food services expert overseeing the functioning of a restaurant. It includes management practices that help an organisation achieve its goals with regard to production and inventory, as well as those practices involved in planning capacity requirements for meeting demand. The goal is to provide goods at a cost-effective price while satisfying customers’ needs for quality products. Operations managers also need to ensure compliance with laws and regulations (e.g., environmental standards).

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