Business skills qualifications

AAT Level 1 Award in Business Skills

Level 1

This entry-level qualification helps you support finance teams with everyday business activities, and understand sales and purchases processes.

What it covers

This Level 1 qualification covers a range of skills and relevant supporting knowledge to help prepare students for applying numbers in business and working in a business environment.

It will give students an understanding of:

  • how different organisations operate
  • how to contribute effectively in the workplace
  • how businesses process sales and purchases, and the documents and procedures associated with this.

Students will also be equipped with the basic numerical skills needed in the workplace, such as decimals, percentages and fractions, and applying proportions and ratios.

Syllabus

Working in the Business Environment

This unit introduces students to the skills needed in the workplace, including the importance of teamwork, communication, effective time management and professional behaviour. They'll also learn about some of the core finance processes linked to sales and purchase orders.

Percentage contribution of this unit to the overall qualification grade: 65%.

Learning outcomes

  • Develop skills for the workplace.
  • Understand how organisations operate.
  • Understand how sales and purchases support businesses.
  • Apply business procedures to sales and purchases.

Using Numbers in Business

Numeracy is an essential business skill. This unit will introduce students to the basic skills needed when working with numbers in a business environment, developing confidence and skills to use and apply numbers to a wide range of situations.

Percentage contribution of this unit to the overall qualification grade: 35%.

Learning outcomes

  • Perform simple business calculations.
  • Calculate decimals, fractions, percentage, proportions and ratios.
  • Use tools and techniques to present numerical data.

Get started now

Find a local training provider to deliver your course, and once you've registered with them, you're ready to register with us.

How long it takes

The qualification usually takes between two and three months to complete, but this will depend on study method and course timetable.

Read the AAT career guide
Read the AAT career guide

Find out where an AAT qualification can take you.

Read the qualification specification
Read the qualification specification

Download this PDF for a detailed view of the qualification and the individual unit learning objectives.

How and where to study

You can study through distance learning online, blended learning, or in the classroom. Do it in the evening, part-time or full-time, whatever suits you. You'll need to find a training provider, even if you're choosing distance learning.

Fees

Training provider fees

£150–£800

This fee covers your tuition (if attending a course of study) and is paid directly to your training provider.

Standard qualification fee

The standard qualification fee comprises:

  • a registration fee of £46
  • an assessment fee of £38.

This gives a total of £84.

Your registration fee is paid directly to AAT and lets you access study support resources and be scheduled for the assessment for the lifetime of the qualification, typically four to five years.

You will be required to pay the assessment fee to your training provider or assessment venue.

Note: training providers and assessment venues may charge an additional administrative fee for the assessment. The administrative fee, if charged, can vary from one organisation to another.

Check what funding options are available
Check what funding options are available

You may be eligible for support from your employer or other bodies.

Download all AAT fees
Download all AAT fees

Here's a list of all qualification-related fees in PDF.

Entry requirements

Students can start with any qualification depending on existing skills and experience. For the best chance of success we recommend that students begin their studies with a good standard of English and maths.

Already got some accounting experience? Test your knowledge with AAT Skillcheck to find out the best qualification to start with.

Exemptions

This is an entry-level qualification: exemptions don't apply.

I started studying AAT at the age of 37, with a plan to change my career to one in accounting or bookkeeping. I knew AAT was the best starting point, as it's a strongly viewed qualification, with options to progress to high levels if I wanted to.
Craig, an AAT professional member since 2019

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