Debbie Malpas, Subject Advisor for Business and Economics

In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving commercial landscape, it’s more important than ever that young people are equipped with the knowledge and skills that reflect the realities of modern business. 

In this blog, I’ll explain how we’ve designed our new A Level Business specification (for first teach 2026, subject to accreditation) to do just that – bringing the real world into the classroom with modern, contemporary content that prepares students for the future. 

Please note, our new A Level Business has not yet been accredited by Ofqual. While our draft specifications and sample assessment materials have been published to enable teachers to have early sight, changes may be required as part of the accreditation process and the proposed first teach date may change. We can give no assurances these proposed qualifications will be accredited for September 2026 or remain as they currently are.

A specification built for now – and for what’s next

Our planned new Business A Level isn’t just a refresh. We’ve taken a step back, reassessed the qualification in line with teacher feedback, and rewritten it to support students in becoming commercially minded, enterprising individuals. We want to empower them with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their next steps, whether that’s further education or the world of work. 

That’s why we’ve made sure our content puts contemporary business issues front and centre, covering the topics that matter most today and in the future. 

Below are just a few of the modern topics embedded throughout the qualification. Want to read more? Take a look at our draft specification.

Customer experience

In a busy, competitive market, customers have greater power and voice, especially with the rise of social media. To ensure sales, retention and advocacy, businesses must prioritise a positive customer experience from day one. 

We’ve introduced a Customer journey topic (within the Business activity section) that includes a focus on customer experience. Students will learn how businesses build relationships with customers and why this is essential. They'll explore different ways to measure customer experience and how factors such as speed, personalisation and after-sales service influence customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Employee motivation and participation

Today we recognise that a happy and healthy employee is more likely to be a loyal and productive one. 

We’ve updated our Motivation topic (within People) to reflect the growing importance of employee morale, health and wellbeing. Students will explore factors such as work-life balance, mental health awareness and Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB). They will also learn how to interpret related data. 

In addition, our Employee participation topic looks at how modern businesses value employee input. Students will examine methods such as participative decision-making and suggestion schemes, and their impact on employer/employee relations.

Flexible, hybrid and remote working

In recent years, we’ve seen a shift towards more flexible working patterns – a change accelerated by the pandemic that has reshaped how people balance their work and personal lives. 

The Ways of working topic (within People) explores a range of working arrangements. Alongside traditional models, such as part-time, full-time, temporary and permanent, students will consider contemporary approaches such as working from home, hybrid and remote models. They’ll also assess the impact these arrangements have on businesses and employees.

Sustainability and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)

We’re committed to equipping students with ethical awareness, social responsibility and environmental understanding to prepare them to thrive in the modern workplace and the complex, interconnected world of the future. That’s why sustainability is woven throughout our new Business A Level. 

In the Ethical, legal, environmental and sustainability issues topic (within Strategy, risk and managing change), students explore green technology, net zero, the circular economy and the three Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle). They will consider the impact and importance of sustainability on organisations and stakeholders, and examine ESG reporting, including waste reduction, carbon emissions and responsible sourcing.

Technology advancements and artificial intelligence

Technological advancements have transformed business, and will continue to do so. It’s vital that business qualifications reflect this. 

Students will investigate how technology is reshaping marketing in our Technology in marketing topic (within Marketing), covering AI, big data, virtual reality and gamification. AI is also explored in Technology in production (within Operations) and Technological influences on a business (within External influences), alongside other innovations such as automation, nanotechnology, 3D printing, cybersecurity, wearable technology and electric vehicles.

Social media and digital marketing

Social media is a cornerstone of modern marketing, enabling businesses to drive leads, engage customers, gather insights and shape brand perception. Together with websites, content marketing and more, businesses can now reach thousands at the click of a button. 

Students will explore the power of digital marketing in our refreshed Marketing content, particularly in Promotion and secondary market research sources. They will examine how organisations use online forums, influencers, SEO, chatbots and other tools to promote, improve and grow their businesses.

Why modern content matters

We’ve worked closely with stakeholders, including teachers, to make sure our new specification is clear, accessible and teaches business in a relevant, engaging and future-focused way. It encourages students to build a critical understanding of modern organisations and their ability to meet society’s ever-changing needs and wants, while also developing a genuine enthusiasm for the subject and inspiring them to take enterprising and creative approaches to business opportunities, problems and issues. 

Whether your students are aspiring entrepreneurs, future marketers, or simply curious about how the world works, this qualification gives them the grounding they need to succeed, encouraging them to see business not just as a subject, but a lens through which to understand the world. 

Keen to find out more about our new qualification? Visit our dedicated page.

Stay connected

If you have any questions, you can email us at business@org.uk, call us on 01223 553998 or message us on X @OCR_BusEcon. 

And remember to sign up to subject updates to keep up to date with the latest news, updates and resources.

If you are considering teaching any of our qualifications, use our online form to let us know, and we'll support you at every step.

About the author

Debbie joined OCR in August 2014. She worked on the redevelopment of our GCSE Business (J204) and the Cambridge National in Enterprise and Marketing. She also supports teachers through the development of a variety of resources, the CPD programme and subject communications.

Before joining OCR, Debbie spent over 20 years in teaching and leadership roles. She worked in secondary schools, a sixth form college and international school in Shropshire and Cambridge. Debbie holds a degree in Business Operations and a PGCE in Secondary Economics and Business from the University of Warwick. In her spare time, Debbie likes to visit family in the Midlands and also writes for Cambridge University Press.