BTEC Level 3 Business Summer Assignment.
Summer assignments for each course must be submitted in the relevant first lesson in September.
Failure to do so will automatically place a student on their first warning during the induction
period.
Summer Assignment.
Scenario
You have just started working for Health Food Snacks Ltd (HFS Ltd), your family's business. The
company's profits have fallen over the last two years, not alarmingly but enough for the directors to
realise that a completely new strategy is required to ensure the future stability and growth of the
business.
You have convinced the board of directors that Health Food Snacks Ltd. should become market
orientated. You are to assume the role of marketing adviser. Your task is to a propose a marketing
strategy to the board at the next meeting.
Company history
Your mother and aunt founded the business 30 years ago. They were into health foods and wanted
to do something about the lack of appetising choice in local health food shops. They started with one
product, a breakfast cereal, which they produced, packaged and sold to health food shops in
beautiful South London.
Current situation
The current directors are very "product orientated", producing what they think is required by the
health food market and selling only to specialist shops. Until now, this has proved reasonably
successful. The products are sold to health food shops.
Preliminary research
You have carried out some very basic preliminary research and have made the following
observations:
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Only people who want specific health foods or remedies generally visit health food shops.
The highest "snackers" are the 16 24 year old market, who tend to miss at least one meal per day
and snack mostly on chocolate and crisps.
The confectionery industry is booming in the UK.
Such foods provide a quick fix of energy only, are
usually high in sugar.
Cereal , fruit and nut based products provide slow release energy and contain valuable nutrients to
help make up the daily recommended requirements.
Young people tend to follow fashion trends and are influenced by marketing.
PPL 15/16
YOUR TASK – Produce a 3 page report
Your report should use the following headings and questions as a guide.
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The Problem
Identify the problems that HFS faces.
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Introduction
What is marketing?
Why is it important to understand market segmentation?
Identify your present market segment? How do you hope to change this market segment? Why?
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Product
Identify a new winning product that could help HFS.
Include extensive detail of its ingredients, quality, name etc.
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Price
Why is price an important decision?
Describe at least two techniques of pricing (e.g. penetration, skimming, cost plus, competitor based).
Include examples to illustrate your points
What pricing strategy will you use? Why?
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Promotion
What promotions will you run for your new health bar?
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Packaging
Explain why packaging is important
Include examples of competitors’ packaging. Analyse.
Produce packaging for your product
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Place
Where will your product be sold? Be creative.
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Conclusion
Explain why you feel that you idea will be successful?
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Deadline: First Business Lesson in September.
PPL 15/16
BTEC Level 3 ICT Summer Assignment.
Summer assignments for each course must be submitted in the relevant first lesson in September.
Failure to do so will automatically place a student on their first warning during the induction
period.
The Task.
We’ve had the ice age, the stone age, the middle ages… and now we live in the information age. You
will need to investigate how the world we live in today has changed over the last 40 years as a result
of the use of ICT and the information age.
You must choose one of the following topics for the focus of your research:
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Employment opportunities;
Education;
Entertainment and leaisure;
Banking and shopping;
Crime and prevention
And explain how ICT has changed how things are done.
1. To complete your investigation, you will need to use as many different sources of
information, both primary and secondary. For example, you could use the Internet, personal
experience, interviews/questionnaires, newspapers, and/or radio shows.
2. You must present your findings as a written report.
3. You will also need to hand in a bibliography which clearly states all of the sources you have
used to write your report.
Planning.
This is not a straight forward task and will involve some planning.
Some issues to consider:
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Have you considered what the information age actually is (this would make a really good
introduction to your report)?
PPL 15/16
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How will you find out how things used to be?
Who will you speak to or ask?
How will you find out how things have changed over certain periods of time? Remember, 40
years is a long time, so you will need to break this down into smaller chunks of time.
How will you present your findings – video or written report?
Make note of all your sources as you go and collect them so they are in your bibliography.
The Bibliography.
Use the Harvard referencing system (http://libweb.anglia.ac.uk/referencing/harvard.htm for some
information on how to do this). Remember to include all sources you got information from.
The bibliography should be submitted alongside the report about the topic ICT changing life.
Assessment.
Mark band 1 (E/U)
Mark band 2 (C/D)
Mark band 3 (A/B)
Use a limited rage of sources to
gather some relevant
information about how ICT
affects different aspects of
people’s lives, but needs
extensive prompting.
Use of a range of sources to
gather relevant information,
needing only limited
prompting.
Use of a wide range of sources
to gather relevant information,
independently.
Given a brief description of how
ICT is affecting lives by chosen
topic.
Identified some benefits and
drawbacks, but not sufficient to
give a clear picture of how life
has changed because of the
Information Age.
Given a detailed description –
supported by examples – of
how ICT is affecting people’s
lives.
Described some benefits and
drawbacks, giving an indication
of life overall in the Information
Age.
Given a comprehensive
description – supported by a
range of well-chosen examples
– of how ICT is affecting
people’s lives.
Analysis of the benefits and
drawbacks, giving a clear and
balanced picture of life overall
in the Information Age.
Deadline: First ICT Lesson in September.
PPL 15/16