Industry Summary
From accounting and finance to project management and marketing, a career in Business and Administration is ideal for exploring all facets of the workplace. You’ll be entrusted with taking responsibility for the smooth running of the day-to-day operations of the organisation at all levels and enabling the business to prosper.
Business & Administration
Business Administration is an industry that involves a lot more than you think; it isn’t all about dealing with the paperwork! You’ll be assisting the company in their daily operations to ensure the that the organisation reaches all of their goals; so there could be a lot of responsibility on your shoulders if you’re up to the cut.
Without business administrators, meetings would be missed, information would be impossible to find, and businesses would be less productive. Business administration is ideal if you’re looking for great progression, with management roles often in the pipeline. To achieve your career goals, you’ll just have to show that you’re punctual, have high attention to detail and are responsible!
A career in business administration appeals to so many people because it can encompass almost anything! It is an ideal opportunity if you have a certain organisation you wish to work for, or a department that interests you, with plenty of flexible opportunities for progression in a company. It is also very accommodating when it comes to areas you’d like to focus on – every role varies so much!
If you choose to work in business administration, it is likely that you’ll be hands-on with lots of different projects. This means that a lot of your tasks could change, and you may not know what new responsibilities could come around the corner. Some common responsibilities in business and administration roles include:
- Planning, organizing, and leading duties of your department
- Overseeing staff members
- Assisting in financial aspects of the business
- Handling required reporting and data-entry
- Hiring new employees
- Working as a team leader
What options can I take for a career in business and administration?
Work Experience
Work experience in business administration is highly recommended as the roles can be quite competitive in larger organisations. However, there are also hundreds of opportunities across the UK in smaller companies. It’s a great idea to get work experience if you would like to work in this sector as it will show employers that you are interested in that role, and that you can be punctual, responsible and an effective administrator. It’ll also allow you to judge how well you enjoy the position as a potential future career.
Unsure about what a work placement could involve? You should’ve asked!
Apprenticeships
As an apprentice in business administration, you’ll work alongside experienced professionals while studying towards a qualification – all while being paid! You’ll have the opportunity to learn the ropes from the inside with the support of your manager and mentor and gain precious feedback on how to improve. You’ll also have the chance to apply what academic knowledge you’ve gathered in the workplace and further develop your understanding of the subject and really refine your skills. A business admin apprenticeship could be the dream opportunity for you to start your career!
- Level 3 – Business Administrator
- Level 3 – Leisure Duty Manager
- Level 3 – Team Leader or Supervisor
- Level 4 – Associate Project Manager
- Level 4 – Data Analyst
- Level 5 – HR Consultant
- Level 6 – Chartered Manager
- Level 6 – B2B Sales Professional
Want to know what apprenticeships are all about? We have you covered!
Degree Apprenticeship
If you believe this sector is right for you, a business administration degree apprenticeship is definitely something you should consider, and there’s a number of opportunities out there. A degree apprenticeship combines every option to enter the workplace – not only will you gain the same experience as if you were a ‘normal’ employee, but you’ll also gain a degree whilst you work. This all comes with the benefit of no tuition fees and a paid salary.
- Level 6 – Business Leadership and Management (degree)
Is a degree apprenticeship up your street? We’ll help you know!
University
You may choose to get a degree in business administration to start your career. This is a great option is you’d like to learn all the theoretical knowledge behind an organisation and put it into practise when you get your first job. You’ll also be able to choose the units that you’d rather specialise in and there are opportunities to spend a year in industry too! This is recommended to ensure that you have the work experience desired by many employers. These are some business administration degrees that are available:
- Business Administration BSc (Hons)
- Business Administration BA (Hons)
- Business Administration BBA (Hons)
In business administration, there are also opportunities to complete a combined or joint honours degree where you can study multiple subjects and specialise more broadly:
- Business Administration and Management BA (hons)
- Business Management and Tourism BSc (Hons)
- Business Administration and Marketing BA (Hons)
- Business Administration and HR BA (Hons)
- International Management and Business Administration BA (Hons)
Want to find out what University could offer you? We have your back!
Graduate Jobs
Graduates can generally enter business and administration in one of three ways. The first is through a graduate training scheme; the second, by joining an organisation in an administrative capacity and working your way up; and the last, by training in a specific function (such as human resources, finance, marketing or sales) and then moving into a specialist role. You can often apply to these graduate training schemes during your final or penultimate year at university, but if you already have your degree why not check out some graduate opportunities.
If you don’t want to go into work just yet, why not think about some postgraduate options. There are opportunities to undertake a master’s degree in a range of business and administrational areas, as well as the chance to complete a level 7 degree apprenticeship in Senior Leadership accredited by the Chartered Manager Institute.
Want to know what graduate jobs are all about? We can help!
Other routes
There is nothing stopping you from going straight into a role in business and administration. Although many employers will be looking for people with appropriate qualifications or experience, some employers employ school leavers or people with few or no qualifications to work with them. It is an ideal opportunity if you’re keen to get straight into the workplace, but you should still consider getting qualifications to improve your future career prospects.
