Business Management and Childhood & Youth

The combination of business management and childhood and youth studies reflects a recognition that the organisations serving children and young people, from schools and charities to local authorities and social enterprises, need leaders who understand both how organisations function and what young people genuinely need. Business management equips you with the frameworks to run and improve organisations: strategy, finance, marketing, human resources, and the dynamics of decision-making in uncertain conditions. Childhood and youth studies brings a different but complementary lens, drawing on sociology, psychology, education, and policy to explore how children and young people grow, learn, and are shaped by the social institutions around them.

At Liverpool Hope University you will study how businesses of all kinds, from small enterprises to large multinationals, operate across the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. You will also examine the experiences of children and young people in contemporary society, considering questions of wellbeing, identity, rights, and the role of family, community, and the state. The programme runs over four years and includes a foundation year to build your academic skills before the main degree begins.

You will also have the opportunity to take a placement year in industry and a year abroad, both of which allow you to test and extend your understanding in real-world and international settings. Work placement experience is built into the programme, giving you practical exposure alongside your studies.

This is a degree that prepares you to think critically about both organisations and the people they serve. You will develop skills in analysis, communication, research, and project management, alongside a genuine understanding of the social and ethical dimensions of working with young people.

Graduates are well placed for roles in education, social care, youth work, community development, the charity sector, and public sector management. Many go on to work in roles that bridge management and direct work with children, such as programme coordination, policy development, or leadership in schools and youth organisations. Further study in education, social work, public administration, or business is also a common route.