Circular economies have been explored for many years however vested interest has always got in the way. “Productivity isn’t everything, but, in the long run, it is almost everything. A country’s ability to improve its standard of living over time depends almost entirely on its ability to raise its output per worker.” Paul Krugman, economist. One of the greatest stories ever told is that of economic growth and how our lives have been transformed by it. The main activity of businesses is to transform inputs into outputs. How they do this is analysed. The role of business within society is also questioned. Should business have more than just profit as an aim? This course looks at how businesses and nations have organised, managed and used their scarce resources in the past. It will familiarise students with different schools of thought and introduce students to the work of key players in the history of business. It looks at how their ideas have changed the world and our lives. We will consider production capacity/borrowed acres, embedded water/import, productivity/at what environmental and social cost. How do you capture the true value/costs of production? The course will expose students to business terminology, concepts, and current business practices. It will help establish a viable business vocabulary, foster critical and analytical thinking, and refine students’ business decision-making skills. Delivery will introduce the concept of a circular economy with direct and coordinated connections with other level 4 modules to allow students to benefit from project work and the case study of the College estate to consolidate learning.