Human Resource Management with Foundation Year

This module will introduce you to key concepts of business and management, looking at what business is (and isn’t). You will be encouraged to draw on real-life examples found in the businesses you use in your every day life. You will develop an understanding of the key functions used within contemporary businesses and learn about the tools and techniques used in business for analysis and planning. 

This module takes you through how to get to grips with the technology you need to succeed, as well as using the library, how to reference and how to produce the different styles of academic writing. It also helps you to develop yourself; you will create a CV, learn how to write a cover letter and find out what your learning style is. The module has guest speakers who share their expert knowledge and experience with you. All the skills covered in this module will help you to succeed in your chosen degree.

This module looks at what’s involved in starting up a sustainable business. You will discover what is needed for long term business success. We’ll look at financing and funding, business formation, planning, business ethics and sustainability along with other core aspects of start-ups. You will work closely with industry partners to gain insight into the world of start-ups. If you are interested in starting a business, this module will really help you to discover what is involved. You also gain key knowledge which your degree will build upon.  

This module will explain the importance and key elements of digital business. You will explore how digital business ideas drive technology choices and how those technologies support the development of the business.  

This module brings together everything you have learned so far and gives you the opportunity to put your knowledge into practice. Working in teams, you will develop a business idea and take it through the process of setting up a start-up. You will pitch your idea to a panel to secure investment, launch the business and organise an event, with profits donated to a local charity of your choice. Whatever your chosen business discipline, this module allows you to demonstrate and further develop your skills in a real-world context.

The module aims to acquire and develop an understanding of the employability skills required to succeed in your chosen industry. This is a practical module which will help you create and develop a professional CV and will develop your understanding of the recruitment and selection process. You will learn essential life-long skills to help you succeed in job applications whether they are for part-time work whilst you are a student or for your future graduate career.

Through an immersive and intensive delivery, this introductory module explores how businesses operate through core functions like people management, finance, marketing and operations. Via an organisational visit and case studies, you will learn how organisations work and respond to external change. 

You will compare business types alongside developing essential academic and professional skills in analysis, reporting and presentation of information to support future study and careers. The module will leave you with understanding of appropriate academic practice and expectations of professional behaviour alongside a strong foundation of business knowledge to build on for the remainder of your degree discipline.

This is the start of your professional career, and this module lays the foundation that will support you in being a successful graduate. In your first year, you will research potential career options and map-out skills and opportunities to be developed through your second and third years. By building a graduate portfolio, and demonstrating employability skills, you will identify your strengths and weaknesses to create a personalised and targeted plan alongside your programme pathway. Starting early will give you the confidence and adaptability as you progress through your undergraduate career.

This module examines the twin forces shaping the future of business: the urgent drive toward sustainability and the disruptive potential of emerging technologies. You will explore ecological economics, climate change and the global energy transition alongside the dynamics of digital transformation, including artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0 and 5.0, robotics, automation, 3D printing, the Internet of Things, blockchain and virtual reality. 

Through case studies and applied learning, you will develop the ability to lead and innovate responsibly in a rapidly changing world, applying creative and sustainable solutions to transform industries and shape next-generation business strategies.

This is a highly interactive module where you learn and develop the skills most important to successful people management professionals and those leading people. You will study key topics and build on your understanding of the profession including equality, diversity and inclusion, professionalism and ethical decision making, human resources in partnership and organisational culture. 

You will take part in debates, group work and problem-solving supporting development of a strong learning community. You will gain experience working on real world problems and be inspired by visits from professionals working in HRM. 

This module sets the scene by introducing human resource management; people management practices and activities carried out by people professionals. The module explores the entirety of the employee lifecycle and the key activities within each area. You will develop your wider understanding of the skills required as a future people professional, supporting your knowledge and understanding of sustainable and innovative people practices.

This module will examine various aspects of project management through a variety of means, including online content and practical seminars informed by research and industrial collaborations. It will focus on theoretical approaches, tools and techniques of planning and controlling projects. You will learn to appreciate project management as an important and integral part of a business whether product or service based.

This module will enable you to build on the embedded employability skills developed during year one of the programme. Through engaging in various professional development and reflection activities, you will be able to identify or realise, evaluate, plan and lead on the development of your future-focused knowledge, skills, behaviours and activities required to help secure your professional career aspirations, according to your programme of study. You will develop knowledge on how to access career-specific and professional graduate-level job opportunities through exploring graduate-level labour market trends, and job-specific employer requirements. 

You will also draw on the expertise of the school’s Career’s and Employability team, employer visits and workshops delivered by the academic team within the school. This will enable you to identify and engage in innovative development strategies to improve your work experience and employability, enabling you to further strengthen in a sustained way your career-focused digital footprint in relation to your professional career goals and around the graduate level employer selection process.

Building on the knowledge and skills gained in the first year, this module aims to provide you with a more detailed understanding of how data is used and applied in a business setting. This module will introduce the concepts of business intelligence as a service that underpins decision making in different business functional areas, providing you with experience of using industry standard business intelligence tools to lead and inform evidence-based decision making in your subject specialisms. You will understand how to use data visualisations to inform decision making to influence change in the organisations. This will include human centred design approaches, developing understanding of user experience and people in organisations.

This module provides you with hands-on experience to lead, by engaging with a live HR problem for a partner organisation. You will develop your innovative skills by investigating the factors that contribute to HR issues and evaluate their organisational impact. Building on knowledge from the project management module, you will apply your understanding of project management and consider key aspects such as teamwork, stakeholder management and problem solving to achieve successful project outcomes. The module develops your communication, analytical and collaborative skills, enabling you to propose well-informed recommendations and apply HR knowledge effectively in a real-world organisational context.

The module deals with people, organisational management and ways in which organisational structures and behaviours may be changed. The key question that it considers as a discipline and subject matter is why people do the things they do in organisations and how their behaviours may impact their individual and the organisation’s culture and performance. Behaviour is studied at the micro, (individual), meso (group) and macro (organisational/sectoral) level. The module draws on theories and insights from sociology and psychology, anthropology and politics, and this knowledge underpins management and leadership practice across a range of organisational and business areas.

This module explores the key principles, practices and challenges in contemporary employment relations and law within the UK and international contexts. You will critically examine the role of legal frameworks, trade unions, employer associations and the state in shaping workplace dynamics. Emphasis is placed on employment rights, dispute resolution, collective bargaining and the influence of globalisation on employment relations. 

The module develops applied knowledge by combining theory, case law and practice, enabling you to understand how employment relations and legal issues affect organisational performance and employee experience. By the end, you will be prepared to analyse and resolve workplace challenges.

You have the option to do a placement year, taking a year in industry to learn in a real-life environment whilst earning a salary and paying no tuition fees.

This is an excellent opportunity to take advantage of and we will help you find out about vacancies and make the right connections with high profile employers through regular events and presentations.

 For more information, please visit the placement and internships page. 

This module enables you to step confidently into your future as a professional graduate. Building on your development at Levels 4 and 5, you will critically reflect on who you are, what you offer, and how you will make your contribution. You will deepen your emotional intelligence, evaluate workplace behaviours, and identify strengths and aspirations to shape a compelling professional identity. Using strengths-based diagnostics and simulated recruitment environments, you will learn to lead through critical thinking and data-driven decisions, innovate with curiosity and entrepreneurial skills, and sustain positive impact for people and planet while building a lifelong learning plan.

In this forward-thinking module, you will critically examine the impact of local business decisions across globalised value chains. The module builds on prior learning and integrates multi-disciplinary themes, including ethical leadership, innovation and digital transformation, to explore how businesses can accelerate progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Through case-studies, co-creation activities and student research, you will critically reflect on the assumptions and systems that underpin business as usual before examining the role of managers and leaders in leading change to address the complex challenges of environmental sustainability and social inequalities. The module prepares you for your final year of study and future as an independent learner, by developing your academic skills and problem-solving mindset as you investigate, present and recommend innovative solutions to inspire positive change in both local and global communities.

This module supports you in developing a deep understanding and practical application of innovation and entrepreneurship, to develop innovation skills that will support your future career, whether you plan to launch your own enterprise as an entrepreneur or drive change within an organisation as an intrapreneur. Working with a partner organisation you will gain an in depth appreciation of the current status of, and external landscape influencing the core business functional areas. This serves as the foundation for exploration of evidence based opportunities for growth and innovation. You will research and respond to contemporary issues, asking critical questions and use the authentic business challenge to research and develop a sustainable and ethical innovation solution which focuses on your chosen area of the business. Building on prior learning, you will develop the confidence and creativity needed to lead innovation and create sustainable value in your chosen career. On completion you will have created a tangible innovation solution that you can use as evidence of your capabilities in a job interview.

This module provides you with in depth understanding of strategy and leadership. Using scenarios, you will be equipped to lead transformational change, make evidence-based strategic decisions and contribute meaningfully to sustainable organisational performance in complex, dynamic environments. You will examine and critique the underlying principles of key leadership theories and critically evaluate how effective leaders embed a culture of innovation in organisations. Finally, you will review and critically examine the strategic role of leaders within organisations.

This module will provide you with an opportunity to comprehensively investigate developments in the business and organisational environment relating to sustainable resourcing and talent planning, supporting your knowledge and evaluation of adopting an innovative and strategic approach to HRM policy and practice. The module addresses contemporary topics and challenges for organisations wishing to manage their employee talent pool in the internal and external labour markets.  

This module will enable you to take a deep dive into the future of work and your role in supporting organisations of all types in championing better work and working lives.

The nature of work and the workplace has changed significantly over the last 25 years.  The how, where and what of employment will continue to evolve as technology, globalisation, population change and skills requirements have impact. HR and HRM can contribute to enriching working lives supporting organisations, leaders, managers and employees to develop engaging and meaningful work. A range of topics, incorporating continued professional development/learning, HR practice and policy development will be examined.

This module will enable you to critically evaluate sustainable and innovative employee engagement and reward strategies, examining how they can be effectively applied in organisational settings to align with strategic goals while also supporting employee wellbeing and motivation. You will be introduced to the principles and applications of High-Performance Work Systems (HPWS) and will critically analyse your role in driving organisational success. The module also emphasises the importance of engagement and reward practices in contemporary workplaces, where employees increasingly prioritise a range of factors such as total reward, pay, benefits, career development, wellbeing and recognition in shaping motivation, retention and performance.