Business and Administration qualifications and training courses

Last Updated: 03 Apr 2024

From learning to carry out basic administrative tasks to gaining higher level support skills, these qualifications include a wide range of units to meet the needs of learners and employers.

They are also required components of the Level 2 and 3 Apprenticeships in Business and Administration.

Important note
From 1 September 2014, new 5528 hybrid qualifications will replace the 4428 NVQs as the required components in the Level 2 and 3 apprenticeships in Business Administration.

NVQs in Business and Administration are for people who want to work in administrative support roles in public or private sector organisations, or people who want to improve their administrative and supervisory skills.

These flexible qualifications can be tailored to individual learners' and employers' needs - no matter what industry they're in.

Available to deliver in the following:

England
Wales – please check QiW website for available funding
Scotland
Northern Ireland
Ireland
International

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form.

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?

At Level 1 you will learn how to carry out everyday administrative tasks.

Level 2 will help you gain practical know-how in providing routine and more complex administrative support.

At Levels 3 and 4, you can build on your achievements to gain greater technical and managerial skills, as well as supervising others and contributing to the wider strategy of your organisation or department.

To gain an NVQ, you need to show you've got a particular set of skills. You usually work with your training provider to review your current skills and find the best way to gain new ones - perhaps by trying new things at work, or by studying.

NVQs are assessed at work or in a simulated workplace. For each unit, your assessor watches and asks questions as you perform a task, or looks at a portfolio of work that you have built as formal evidence of your learning. Then they confirm you've got the skills to do the job well.

Which level is right for me?

Level 1
You are just starting out and want to learn how to carry out basic administrative tasks. You need everyday skills, including handling mail and working and communicating with others.

Level 2
You are in a junior role and want to develop your skills to become a future team leader or business manager. You need practical knowledge of more complex administrative support, perhaps supporting meetings and events or retrieving information

Level 3
You have some knowledge and experience of administration systems. You want to develop your skills to implement and monitor administrative procedures and systems, perhaps to move into a management role.

Level 4
You deliver administrative support services and contribute at a strategic level. You may lead or manage a team, or want to move in to that role. You need a range of administrative and management skills such as budget management and promoting innovation.

You can download a free Smartcards App to support this qualification from iTunes.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

An NVQ in Business and Administration can help you succeed in a support role in any size or type of organisation. These roles include:

Secretary
Receptionist
Administrator
Personal assistant
Office supervisor team leader
Manager.

You might also be interested in these qualifications:

Level 1 Award/Certificate in Business Administration (4418)
Level 2 and 3 Medical Administration/Secretarial qualifications (4419)
Level 2 and 3 Certificates in Principles of Business and Administration (4475)
Level 2 and 3 Legal Secretaries qualifications (7465)
Level 2 and 3 Business Skills qualifications (7537)
Level 1-4 NVQs in Customer Service (4430)
ITQ Award/Certificate/Diploma for IT Users (7574)
Leadership and management qualifications from the ILM.

What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?

To deliver these qualifications you will need suitably qualified staff to carry out training and assessment.

The NVQs can be delivered in the workplace, or in a simulated working environment.

Qualifications in Business and Administration are assessed by looking at evidence of the learner's work. This can include observation, questions, professional discussion, IT assignments and looking at the work they have produced.

Centres can reduce costs and maximise time by using our Business and ITQ plus e-portfolio provided by Skilsure. The e-portfolio gives learners, assessors and verifiers flexibility in evidence recording, tracking achievement and much more.

To find all the requirements for assessment and delivery, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

Existing 4404 centres will be automatically approved to offer the new 4428 NVQs at the same level.

Anyone can take these qualifications, but you must make sure all your learners can access the resources they need to complete the course.

Level 1

Level 1 will suit you if you are just starting out and want to learn how to carry out basic administrative tasks. You need everyday skills, including handling mail and working and communicating with others.

There are two qualifications available at Level 1:

NVQ Award in Business and Administration
NVQ Certificate in Business and Administration.

To achieve either the shorter award or the longer certificate, you complete two mandatory units:

Work in a business environment
Communicate in a business environment.

Depending the size of qualification you choose, you then complete optional units (usually between one and four) from a range that includes:

Work with other people in a business environment
Use a filing system
Archive information
Meet and welcome visitors.

For a full list of optional units, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

An NVQ in Business and Administration can help you succeed in a support role in any size or type of organisation. These roles include:

Secretary
Receptionist
Administrator
Personal assistant
Office supervisor team leader
Manager

You might also be interested in these qualifications:

Level 1 Award/Certificate in Business Administration (4418)
Level 2 and 3 Medical Administration/Secretarial qualifications (4419)
Level 2 and 3 Certificates in Principles of Business and Administration (4475)
Level 2 and 3 Legal Secretaries qualifications (7465)
Level 2 and 3 Business Skills qualifications (7537)
Level 1-4 NVQs in Customer Service (4430)
ITQ Award/Certificate/Diploma for IT Users (7574)
Leadership and management qualifications from the ILM.

Level 1 NVQ Certificate in Business and Administration (4428-01)

Last Registration Date: 31 Dec 2023

Level 1 NVQ Certificate in Business and Administration

Accreditation No: 500/9871/8 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: 15 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: 73 - 108 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: 150 The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/12/2024 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £76.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 1 NVQ Award/Certificate in Business and Administration (4428-91)

Last Registration Date: 31 Dec 2023

Level 1 NVQ Award in Business and Administration

Accreditation No: 500/9516/X This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: 9 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: 47 - 61 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: 90 The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/12/2024 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £66.30 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 1 NVQ Certificate in Business and Administration

Accreditation No: 500/9871/8 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: 15 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: 73 - 108 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: 150 The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/12/2024 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £108.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 2

Level 2 will suit you if you are in a junior role and want to develop your skills to become a future team leader or business manager. You need practical knowledge of more complex administrative support, perhaps supporting meetings and events or retrieving information.

There are three qualifications available at Level 2:

NVQ Award in Business and Administration
NVQ Certificate in Business and Administration
NVQ Diploma in Business and Administration.

To achieve the smaller award, you complete two mandatory units:

Work in a business environment
Communicate in a business environment.

You also choose optional units (usually between one and three) from a selection suiting a wide range of job roles. For a full list of optional units, download the qualification handbook from the additional documents section.

Both the longer certificate and diploma require that you complete four mandatory units:

Manage own performance in a business environment
Improve own performance in a business environment
Work in a business environment
Communicate in a business environment.

You then choose optional units (usually between three and six for the certificate, between six and ten for the diploma) from a selection suiting a wide range of job roles.

The full list of optional units can be found in the qualification handbook, download from the centre documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

An NVQ in Business and Administration can help you succeed in a support role in any size or type of organisation. These roles include:

Secretary
Receptionist
Administrator
Personal assistant
Office supervisor team leader
Manager.

You might also be interested in these qualifications:

Level 1 Award/Certificate in Business Administration (4418)
Level 2 and 3 Medical Administration/Secretarial qualifications (4419)
Level 2 and 3 Certificates in Principles of Business and Administration (4475)
Level 2 and 3 Legal Secretaries qualifications (7465)
Level 2 and 3 Business Skills qualifications (7537)
Level 1-4 NVQs in Customer Service (4430)
ITQ Award/Certificate/Diploma for IT Users (7574)
Leadership and management qualifications from the ILM.

Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Business and Administration (4428-02)

Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026 Supportive services: SmartScreen Learning Assistant

Replacement qualification (5528-02 (September 2014))

Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Business and Administration

Accreditation No: 500/9677/1 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: 21 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: 86 - 154 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: 210 The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/08/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £95.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 2 NVQ Award/Certificate/Diploma in Business and Administration (4428-92)

Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2024

Level 2 NVQ Award in Business and Administration

Accreditation No: 500/9466/X This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: 9 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: 51 - 91 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: 90 The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/03/2026 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £66.30 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Business and Administration

Accreditation No: 500/9677/1 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: 21 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: 86 - 154 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: 210 The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/08/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £135.80 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Business and Administration

Accreditation No: 501/0040/3 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: 37 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: 152 - 266 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: 370 The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/03/2026 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £205.30 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3

Level 3 is ideal if you have some knowledge and experience of administration systems. You want to develop your skills to implement and monitor administrative procedures and systems, perhaps to move into a management role.

There are two qualifications available at Level 3:

NVQ Certificate in Business and Administration
NVQ Diploma in Business and Administration

Both the certificate and the diploma at this level comprise four mandatory units:

Manage own performance in a business environment
Evaluate and improve own performance in a business environment
Work in a business environment
Communicate in a business environment.

You also choose optional units (usually between four and six for the certificate, between six and ten for the diploma) from a selection suiting a wide range of job roles.

For a full list of optional units, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

An NVQ in Business and Administration can help you succeed in a support role in any size or type of organisation. These roles include:

Secretary
Receptionist
Administrator
Personal assistant
Office supervisor team leader
Manager

You might also be interested in these qualifications:

Level 1 Award/Certificate in Business Administration (4418)
Level 2 and 3 Medical Administration/Secretarial qualifications (4419)
Level 2 and 3 Certificates in Principles of Business and Administration (4475)
Level 2 and 3 Legal Secretaries qualifications (7465)
Level 2 and 3 Business Skills qualifications (7537)
Level 1-4 NVQs in Customer Service (4430)
ITQ Award/Certificate/Diploma for IT Users (7574)
Leadership and management qualifications from the ILM.

Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Business and Administration (4428-03)

Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026 Supportive services: Learning Assistant

Replacement qualification (5528-03 (September 2014))

Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Business and Administration

Accreditation No: 500/9548/1 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: 40 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: 167 - 272 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: 400 The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/08/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £142.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3 NVQ Certificate/Diploma in Business and Administration (4428-93)

Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Business and Administration

Accreditation No: 500/9548/1 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: 40 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: 167 - 272 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: 400 The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/08/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £261.20 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Additional information for centres

SMARTSCREEN IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS QUALIFICATION

SmartScreen is our online portal for tutor, assessors and learners that provides unit-specific support materials and tutor forums to complement the delivery and learning experience

Visit Smartscreen.co.uk >

LEARNING ASSISTANT IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS QUALIFICATION

Learning Assistant is an innovative and cost effective e-portfolio solution that allows colleges and training providers to dramatically improve the delivery of their vocational qualifications.

Learn more about Learning Assistant >

Here you can find all documents related to this suite of qualifications.

By clicking on the section headings below, you can access a variety of documents such as the qualification handbooks and assessment materials, Statements of Purpose, and recognition letters from industry and employers.

Some documents may be password protected. Passwords can be retrieved by logging in to Walled Garden and visiting the Administration section of the relevant qualification catalogue page.

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form.

Business and Administration (4428)

Interested in delivering this qualification?

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?

What Careers Can This Lead To?

What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?

Level 1

What Careers Can This Lead To?

Level 1 NVQ Certificate in Business and Administration (4428-01)

Level 1 NVQ Certificate in Business and Administration

Level 1 NVQ Award/Certificate in Business and Administration (4428-91)

Level 1 NVQ Award in Business and Administration

Level 1 NVQ Certificate in Business and Administration

Level 2

What Careers Can This Lead To?

Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Business and Administration (4428-02)

Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Business and Administration

Level 2 NVQ Award/Certificate/Diploma in Business and Administration (4428-92)

Level 2 NVQ Award in Business and Administration

Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Business and Administration

Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Business and Administration

Level 3

What Careers Can This Lead To?

Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Business and Administration (4428-03)

Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Business and Administration

Level 3 NVQ Certificate/Diploma in Business and Administration (4428-93)

Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Business and Administration

Additional information for centres

SMARTSCREEN IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS QUALIFICATION

LEARNING ASSISTANT IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS QUALIFICATION

Interested in delivering this qualification?

4428 level 1

Centre documents

4428 Level 2

Centre documents

4428 Level 3

Centre documents

4428 Level 4

Centre documents

Additional documents

Centre documents

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