Business Read, Watch, Listen
Enjoying Business in the real world!
Recommended Reads: Quality newspapers and magazines such as The Times, Guardian, Telegraph, Independent. Journals such as The Economist.
(There can be reduced rates for students on some of these publications. It is also an idea to sign up online and receive free articles.)
Literature
The complete story behind the founding and building of Nike.
The life of a person raised in poverty and a single mother at 14, who is now one of the richest and most influential people in the world.
A business woman in the world of football.
Theo explains the methods used to take him to the top of the Business world.
Recommended Websites,
Podcasts and Videos
tutor2u: Excellent business website with everything you need to learn for Business A Level, presentations, videos, revision quizzes.
BBC News: Excellent news website with everything you need to learn about what is going on in the world today.
London Stock Exchange: Excellent website with everything you need to learn about share prices and market capitalization.
Companies House: Excellent website which allows you to research any registered Private Limited Company LTD in the UK.
Financial Times: Excellent website for researching the UK economy at a glance. The FT’s one-stop overview of key economic data, including GDP, inflation and unemployment.
YouTube: Really useful YouTube channels with wide range of revision videos on all business topics. Watch a few below.
TV programmes recommended
for background knowledge
BBC News: the latest news from around the world.
Newsnight: British current affairs documentary programme.
Panorama: Key national and international news stories.
Question Time: Topical debate in which guests from the world of politics and the media answer questions posed by members of the public.
Sky News: Lastest news from the UK and around the world.
Dragons Den: Programme about entrepreneurs presenting their business ideas to gain funding from the Dragons. (Venture Capitalists).
The Apprentice: Programme about entrepreneurs working in teams and being interviewed so they can gain the backing of Sir Alan Sugar for their business idea.
Undercover Boss: A CEO goes undercover to find out how a large firm is running. There are both UK and USA versions. Check catchup TV or YouTube.
Inside the Factory: A fun insight into the foods we eat and how they are made. An opportunity to learn the different production methods used.
Exams and Revision
Exam Pack
Films
(Some of these films may include mature themes so please check the ratings before watching.)
Up In The Air with George Clooney (2010): Up in the Air is a 2009 American comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and written by Reitman and Sheldon Turner, based on the career of J Weller. The story is centered on corporate “downsizer" Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) and his travels.
Business reference: Human Resources and retrenchment.
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005): The film examines the 2001 collapse of the Enron Corporation which resulted in criminal trials for several of the company's top executives during the ensuing Enron scandal, it also shows the involvement of the Enron traders in the California electricity crisis.
Business reference: Profit, Public Limited Companies, Stock market and insider trading.
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992): This film follows the lives of four unethical Chicago real estate agents who are prepared to go to any lengths (legal or illegal) to unload undesirable real estate on unwilling prospective buyers.
Business reference: Profit
Working Girl (1988): This film shows equality and how anyone can achieve in life. Today the role of women in senior roles is common, but in 1988 it seems like it was still pretty revolutionary.
Business reference: Human Resources, Motivation and Entrepreneurship.
Trading Places (1983): Trading Places is a 1983 American comedy film directed by John Landis and starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy. It tells the story of an upper-class commodities broker and a homeless street hustler whose lives cross paths when they are unknowingly made part of an elaborate bet.
Business reference: Profit and stock market.
Brewster's Millions (1985): After losing his position as a minor-league pitcher, Montgomery Brewster (Richard Pryor) learns his great-uncle has left him $300 million. To inherit it, Brewster must spend $30 million in 30 days under a complicated set of rules that forbid him from donating too much to charity or retaining any new assets when the period is up.
Business reference: Money and assets.
The Founder (2016): The true story of how Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton), a struggling salesman from Illinois, met Mac (John Carroll Lynch) and Dick McDonald (Nick Offerman), who were running a burger operation in 1950’s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers' speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. Kroc soon maneuvers himself into a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create a multi-billion dollar empire.
Business reference: Franchising
The Pursuit of Happiness (2006): The Pursuit of Happiness is a 2006 American biographical drama film based on entrepreneur Chris Gardner's nearly one-year struggle being homeless. Directed by Gabriele Muccino, the film features Will Smith as Gardner, a homeless salesman.
Business reference: Entrepreneurial spirit, sales and finance.
