The Diploma in Business, Administration and Finance (BAF) has been designed by employers for employers to ensure young people gain the generic skills and personal attributes employers' value in their workforce.

Employers have long felt that school and college leaver recruits lack the fundamental knowledge and skills to work and progress into the business world. The Diploma uniquely combines essential skills and knowledge, hands on experience and employer-based learning, to prepare young people for work or further study. The BAF Diploma will be taught in selected schools and colleges from September 2009.

To achieve the Diploma in Business, Administration and Finance, learners will have to demonstrate they have functional skills in English, maths and ICT, along with transferable skills such as the ability to communicate and work in teams. Young people will gain the skills, knowledge and experience needed to progress into employment or higher education.

Initially, we consulted with several hundred employers using questionnaires, telephone interviews, and meeting forums to determine the skills and knowledge employers need in young people, so they are better prepared for the world of work, now and in the future, see the downloads section on this website to view the research documents.

The data gathered was used to identify the skills, knowledge and understanding criteria that are central to the principal learning of the BAF Diploma content.

It is not too late to get involved and there are a variety of ways you as employers can contribute to the delivery of the Diploma and the benefits are numerous. To register your interest in helping to bring learning to life for either the Diploma in Business, Administration and Finance or any of the 17 Diplomas please either complete our contact us form or visit the Employers Pages of the DCSF website.

A detailed information booklet on the Diploma in Business, Administration and Finance is available in the download section of this website. You must first register to download from this site.