Academic Year: 2024/25

Assessment Introduction:

Course: BA (Hons) Accounting and Financial Studies	Module Code: BM3506 Related Post 6BU020+Assessment+Brief++202425 June 9, 2025 Individual Assignment Rubrics V1 (1) June 9, 2025 Individual Case Assignment Brief V11 (1) June 9, 2025 Individual Assignment Rubrics V1 (1) June 9, 2025 Module Title: Business Strategy
Title of the Brief: Assessment 2	Type of assessment: Presentation
This assessment is worth 70% of the overall module mark. The word limit for this assignment is 1,750 words.

This Assessment Pack consists of a detailed assignment brief, guidance on what you need to prepare, and information on how class sessions support your ability to complete successfully. You’ll also find information on this page to guide you on how, where, and when to submit. If you need additional support, please make a note of the services detailed in this document.

How, when, and where to submit:

Completed coursework should be submitted as two Word documents and a Powerpoint document via Turnitin on Blackboard no later than 10:00am on 15^th April 2025.

You can submit to Turnitin before 15^th April if you wish to check your familiarisation score. You can then resubmit which will overwrite any earlier submission. Your submission will only be accessed to mark after 10am on 15^th April.

The Turnitin link on Blackboard will be visible to you on the date the coursework is released – 14^th March 2025.

Feedback will be provided after the grades for the module have been finalised.

You should aim to submit your assessment in advance of the deadline.

Note: If you have any valid mitigating circumstances that mean you cannot meet an assessment submission deadline and you wish to request an extension, you will need to apply online, via MyUCLan with your evidence prior to the deadline. Further information on Mitigating Circumstances via this link.

We wish you all success in completing your assessment. Read this guidance carefully, and any questions, please discuss with your Module Leader.

Additional Support available:

All links are available through the online Student Hub

1. Academic support for this assessment will be provided by contacting Steve Singleton ssingleton2@uclan.ac.uk
2. Our Library resources link can be found in the library area of the Student Hub or via your subject librarian at SubjectLibrarians@uclan.ac.uk.
3. Support with your academic skills development (academic writing, critical thinking and referencing) is available through WISER on the Study Skills section of the Student Hub.
4. For help with Turnitin, see Blackboard and Turnitin Support on the Student Hub
5. If you have a disability, specific learning difficulty, long-term health or mental health condition, and not yet advised us, or would like to review your support, Inclusive Support can assist with reasonable adjustments and support. To find out more, you can visit the Inclusive Support page of the Student Hub.
6. For mental health and wellbeing support, please complete our online referral form, or email wellbeing@uclan.ac.uk. You can also call 01772 893020, attend a drop-in, or visit our UCLan Wellbeing Service Student Hub pages for more information.
7. For any other support query, please contact Student Support via studentsupport@uclan.ac.uk.
8. For consideration of Academic Integrity, please refer to detailed guidelines in our policy document . All assessed work should be genuinely your own work, and all resources fully cited.

Assessment Brief

The aim of this assignment is to assess your ability to apply some of the analysis tools reviewed through the year in a practical situation and prepare a professional presentation of your analysis.

In Appendix 1 you will find a description of a business and the industry in which they operate together with some recent information regarding their results and potential strategies.

In Appendix 2 you will find a Grading Form which will be used to evaluate your submissions.

You are required to answer the following question submit three documents – a Word document and a Powerpoint slide deck. Any other formats will not be marked.

The content:

1. submit presentation notes in a Word document supporting each question required in the presentation described below
2. prepare and submit a Powerpoint slide deck for a presentation to the Board of Directors of Bartlet Apple Growers. Details on the required content and suggestions for preparing an effective deck are given below.
3. record yourself presenting the Powerpoint slide deck. Again, suggestions for good presenting skills are given below. A link to your recording is to be attached to your Word cover sheet for the assignment.

The word count of 1,750 is only relevant for the presentation notes in your Word document in part i.

Required content for the presentation supporting notes

Please submit a Word document, via the Turnitin link on Blackboard, using the recommended structure and style discussed within our lectures and seminars.

These notes are not for presentation to the Board. They are to help you construct an effective Board presentation.

1. Prepare a PEST analysis for the UK organic fruit industry.

(10 marks)

1. Using the quantitative data in the Exhibits and the other information provided, evaluate the performance of Bartlet Apple Growers (BAG) in the year ended 31 March 2025 compared to 2024. As part of this evaluation, comment on the impact that BAG’s two new strategies had on its performance.

(18 marks)

1. Discuss the ethical issues for BAG arising from the supply chain problem and advise BAG on appropriate actions.

(6 marks)

1. As part of an expansion strategy, briefly outline three new strategies for growth that BAG could implement in future years including a justification for why you think the strategy would be suitable.

(6 marks)

Total marks for the Presentation Notes: 40 marks

Powerpoint presentation guidance

You are taking the role of a business advisor to Bartlet Apple Growers (BAG).

The Board of Directors of BAG have asked you to prepare a presentation for their next Board meeting during which you are expected to summarise the key points for the questions listed above.

The directors would like you to prepare the presentation on Powerpoint and record yourself presenting the slides to them (using Microsoft Teams) as they don’t want to pay for your travel costs to their Head Office!

As they are very busy, they would like you to ensure that the presentation takes no longer than 10 minutes (you can present any number of slides however).

The Directors would like a concise, convincing and balanced review of the questions listed above. They do not need the situation explained to them again, nor every point included. They would like to hear what you think are the key conclusions for each element.

They will only pay for your services if they feel that you have added value to their business!

The marks available for the presentation are as follows:

Clarity of slides – number of points, size font, language used

(5 marks)

Use of pictures, diagrams, animations

(5 marks)

Do the slides provide useful advice for the directors

(5 marks)

Presenter is well prepared, uses good eye contact and has an engaging presentational tone

(5 marks)

(Remember – this isn’t an academic assignment. Including academic references will reduce your marks as this will waste time for the directors)

Total marks for the Presentation Slides and Recording: 20 marks

Total marks available for Assignment 60 marks

It is strongly recommended that you utilise the support available to you on the Student Hub with regards to preparing and presenting an effective Powerpoint document:

Link to Student Hub Powerpoint support

Please watch the following recordings to help you prepare, present and record your presentation:

Recording 1- Steve discussing what makes a good presentation

Recording 2 – Steve discussing how to record your presentation

Recording 3 – Steve explaining how to submit your presentation recording

Appendix 1

Bartlet Apple Growers

Bartlet Apple Growers (BAG) is a UK organic fruit farm in Hampshire that is owned and run by the Bartlet family. BAG grows apples and produces apple juice, both of which it sells at local farmer’s markets on its own stalls and to retailers such as Waitrose, Booths and Marks & Spencer.

The contracts with the retailers are to supply local stores only, due to BAG’s available volumes. The retailers like to be seen to support local businesses as well as provide organic, healthy foodstuffs for their customers.

Organic food must be produced using environmentally friendly farming methods, so no genetically modified (GM) crops, growth enhancers, or artificial pesticides and fertilisers may be used. Any farmer claiming to be organic must be certified by the government and so they are exposed to regular audits of their methods. Food producers must also comply with Food Standards Agency regulations regarding the production, packaging and labelling of food.

Regulatory bodies can impose sanctions for breaching regulations. They can:

• forbid the use of misleading labels and product descriptions
• issue fines for inappropriate production
• close down operations

Organisations which handle over 50 tonnes of packaging materials and have revenue in excess of £2m have to register with the UK Government and show that they are actively reducing the amount of packaging they use, reduce how much packaging waste goes to landfill and increase the amount of packaging waste that’s recycled and recovered.

Although BAG isn’t large enough to have to register with the Government, it takes issues like waste and plastic use very seriously and so has set the same targets internally.

Consumers increasingly want food that is healthy and is sourced both ethically and locally, as well as distributed responsibly. Consequently, although initially perceived as a luxury niche product, organic food is now seen as a lifestyle choice by those consumers who regard non-organic products as more harmful to health and the environment. Major supermarkets have started to stock more organic and locally grown food.

A key issue for all farmers is the weather, which significantly affects the volume (yield) and quality of a crop and hence the market price. Increasing temperatures, higher or lower rainfall and the many storms that the UK has been exposed to can generate much more fruit than expected, destroy entire crops (very significant in recent years due to flood damage) or increase the number of insects in times of high humidity.

Organic farmers are unable to use artificial fertilisers or pesticides, so have developed alternative high-tech farming methods to improve profitability and cash flow. Weather information systems help plan planting, harvesting and irrigation.

Climate-controlled growing tunnels and stores provide a pest-free environment with temperature, light and humidity control. These methods increase yields, extend the possible growing season and allow crops to be stored for longer before usage or sale, with no loss of flavour or quality.

BAG operations

BAG’s profitability depends on crop yields and fruit quality, and its ability to use or sell all of the apple harvest. It is also affected by the overall level of supply in the market in any given year. BAG has a weather information system and uses climate-controlled technology.

The best of BAG’s apples, which conform to retailers’ specifications in relation to size, shape and quality, are sold to retailers as fresh fruit. Apples that do not meet retailers’ specifications are either sold at local markets or used to produce BAG own-brand organic pressed apple juice in one-litre bottles. The juice is sold at local markets and has proved very popular, so it is now also being stocked by retailers.

BAG’s harvest normally begins in early summer and ends in late autumn. The production of juice follows on from the harvest cycle and, because of BAG’s ability to store fruit, continues after the harvest has ended. BAG has a permanent labour force for its growing, production and bottling operations and additional seasonal workers are employed for harvesting and packing the fruit. BAG uses its own vans to transport goods to the local markets. Distribution of products to the retailers, most of which are within 80 kilometres of the farm, is outsourced.

New strategies affecting the 2025 results

Demand for BAG’s apples and juices in the year ended 31 March 2024 exceeded BAG’s production capacity. In y/e 31 March 2025, capacity increased as a result of implementing the following strategies:

Strategy 1: BAG had acquired 15 hectares of land from a neighbouring farmer in 2024. The land was then intensively planted with apple trees of a modern variety which were expected to produce yields 30% higher than existing varieties. The first apple crop from these new trees was harvested in the y/e 31/3/2025. BAG’s existing trees continued to give the same yield as in 2024, at the same cost per hectare.

Strategy 2: In y/e 31/3/2025 BAG started to buy apples from other local farmers to use in its organic juices.

BAG’s board set medium-term business objectives at the start of the period. These were to:

• Achieve average annual revenue growth of 15%
• Increase gross profit margin to 45%

Financial and operating data for 2025 and 2024 is available (Exhibits 1 and 2). The current management information system does not separately analyse cost of sales between the fresh fruit and juice operations.

A drive for further change

Zoe Bartlet is the youngest member of the Bartlet family on the Board of BAG. She was the driving force behind the strategies implemented last year and is keen to take the business into the next decade by implementing more new ideas.

She has encouraged the rest of the family to consider expansion into other regions, new countries, growing different fruit and supplying their juices in ways that are less harmful to the environment. She hasn’t developed these ideas in much detail at present as she’s unsure which option would be the best to implement.

Supply chain problem

In March 2025, a batch of BAG’s organic apple juice was tested by the Food Standards Agency and found to contain artificial pesticides. The juice was made in a large production run using fruit from one of BAG’s new suppliers. 20% of this production run has already been distributed to a major retailer which has just started to sell BAG organic juice. BAG is considering whether to issue a public recall of these bottles.

BAG’s marketing manager, Donna Moss, thinks this could be disastrous for BAG’s reputation locally and has suggested that they do nothing in relation to the bottles that have already been distributed, but re-label and sell the remainder as non-organic. “The thing that most concerns me,” said Donna, “is why we didn’t identify this as a problem earlier?”

Exhibit 1

Extracts from income statement for the years ended 31 March
	2024	2025	%
	£’000	£’000	Change
Revenue
Fresh fruit	580	890	+53%
Juice	340	525	+54%
Total revenue	920	1,415
Cost of sales	(530)	(810)	+53%
Gross profit	390	605	+55%
Other operating costs	(260)	(455)	+75%
Operating profit	130	150	+15%
Interest paid	(50)	(75)	+50%
Profit before tax	80	75	-7%

Exhibit 2

	2024	2025
Hectares of BAG trees yielding fruit	40	55
Tonnes of BAG apples sold as fresh fruit	288	468
Tonnes of BAG apples used for juice production	192	252
Total tonnes of BAG apples harvested	480	720
Tonnes of apples purchased from local farmers for juice	–	48
Number of one-litre bottles of juice produced and sold	96,000	150,000

Appendix 2 Grade Forms

This Grade Form will be used to evaluate your presentation supporting note submissions. It should be viewed together with your course notes to ensure you’re clear on how to approach each section.

Time will be allocated during seminars to discuss this Grade Form.

Prepare PEST for UK organic industry (10 marks)	½ mark for each factor + ½ mark for each statement linking to profits. If not linked to profit then no marks awarded Max 3 marks for each section of PEST 1 mark for conclusion. No marks for new ideas introduced in conclusion.
Review of BAG performance (18 marks)	Review of revenue – max 12 marks Review of gross profit – max 5 marks Review of operating profit – max 2 marks Intro + conclusion – max 2 marks Must comment on data – not just restate the figures. The purpose of this review is to understand WHY the figures have changed not simply to state HOW they’ve changed.
Discuss ethical issues arising from supply chain problem (6 marks)	Must explain why the issue isn’t an ethical problem, why it is an ethical problem and conclude what BAG should do. Max 2 marks per section. No marks if justification is linked to profits or legal restrictions. Ethics is about showing that BAG doesn’t necessarily HAVE to do anything but perhaps they SHOULD.
Outline 3 strategies for growth (6 marks)	Only first 3 ideas will be marked. Max 2 marks per strategy. Will need to provide detailed explanation of your idea and why it’s a good plan. Cost reductions won’t earn marks. Growth strategies should increase sales.

This Grade Form will be used to evaluate your presentation slide deck and recording submissions.

This is a very subjective area and so time will be allocated during seminars to discuss this Grade Form but basically each idea listed will be awarded 1 mark.

Clarity of slides (5 marks)	Not too many words on slide Font big enough to read Layout of slide is eye catching Words used are simple & clear for all readers Colours chosen are easy to see
Use of pictures, diagrams, animations (5 marks)	Are the pictures used relevant to slide info? Are the diagrams relevant and clear? Are animations helpful to clarify which point is being discussed? Are animations not too slow or too many things animated? Not too many ‘extras’ which can get in the way of the message?
Do the slides provide useful advice (5 marks)	Are the questions answered? Will the directors remember the advice? Are all the suggestions justified? Have they focussed on key points only, rather than including every possible idea and so losing credibility? Is it clear what the conclusion is?
Presenter is well prepared and engaging (5 marks)	Does the presenter seem to know the business or are they just reading the slides out? Do they look into the camera when talking and only look at the slide when moving to the next point? Is their tone energetic and enthusiastic? Have they prepared the presentation so there aren’t too many pauses? Is the pace slow enough to keep up but not so slow that we lose concentration?

Feedback Guidance:

Reflecting on Feedback: how to improve.

From the feedback you receive, you should understand:

• The grade you achieved.
• The best features of your work.
• Areas you may not have fully understood.
• Areas you are doing well but could develop your understanding.
• What you can do to improve in the future – feedforward.

Use the WISER: Academic Skills Development service. WISER can review feedback and help you understand your feedback. You can also use the WISER Feedback Glossary

Next Steps:

• List the steps have you taken to respond to previous feedback.
• Summarise your achievements
• Evaluate where you need to improve here (keep handy for future work):