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 course is delivered in partnership with the Open University and aims to provide a progression route to a full bachelor’s degree in Rural Business Management from the FD in Rural Business Management offered at University Centre Kingston Maurward. The course is also open to other students looking to progress from HND and Foundation degree programmes nationally, in farm management, business management and other suitable programmes to Level 5. The Top Up degree develops business skills at Level 6 that also incorporates skills specific to business need in rural contexts e.g. agriculture, equine, tourism and strategic goals for business development and change that fit the demands of the diversity in agribusinesses. The programme will provide graduates with a range of skills to work effectively in the rural business sector. This could be in developing strategy for existing businesses, applying entrepreneurial skills in business concepts or start ups and acting in an advisory capacity to other businesses. The programme aims to develop skills in three key areas to create graduates with confident and professional business skills alongside analytical skills to strategize business planning:

• Leadership and professional skills

• Entrepreneurship and Enterprise

• Business consultancy and Project management