Course summary

Weymouth and Kingston Maurward College, brings together two Further and Higher Education colleges to make one strong, responsive and ambitious organisation with the vision, resources and expertise to best support the evolving and growing skills demands in the region and beyond. Located on the stunning Jurassic Coast and the beautiful Dorset countryside, our campuses offer a diverse range of courses, training and CPD that cater to a wide array of interests, career paths and business needs. Across our two campuses we offer full and part-time higher education courses, with Weymouth focussing on vocational courses such as art, media, performing arts, health and social care, sport and public services and Kingston Maurward specialising in land-based courses covering subjects such as agriculture, wildlife, ecology and conservation. Together, we focus on the best interests of students, staff and employers in our local community and beyond, with industry-standard facilities, experienced teaching staff and outstanding support in a diverse, vibrant and welcoming environment. This Foundation Degree course in partnership with the Open University is delivered on the Kingston Maurward campus. The course aims to provide business skills at Level 4 and 5 that also incorporates scope for learners to gains skills specific to business need e.g. agriculture, equine, tourism and strategic goals for business development and change. The programme will provide graduates with a diverse range of skills to effectively administrate and manage rural businesses and enterprises. Farm or rural business management uses good core skills in business management with more technical skills in the agriculture sector to respond to supply and demand. The course links three key thread together for effective rural business management practice: At Level 4 the programme will develop core business skills alongside other key areas such organisation and accounting. To support the more specialist nature of farm or rural enterprise it incorporates understanding of the data requirements to support operational decisions and ensuring farm practice meets legislation and compliance. **Professional Business Skills Planning and Forecasting' Data Management** At Level 5, the programme will develop skills in strategic business planning and continuity, procurement and managing employees. It also allows development in understanding diversification in rural business and planning for change.