TESS GROUP
4.9
Google Rating
4.8
Trustpilot
Ofsted Good
2025
LEVEL 3 APPRENTICESHIP — 15 MONTHS + GATEWAY & EPA — FULLY FUNDED

Cultural Learning & Participation Officer
Inspire Communities. Create Impact.

The apprenticeship for people who bring arts, culture, heritage, and wellbeing to life — in charities, NHS trusts, museums, tourism, theatres, and community organisations.

3 Qualifications Included
CMI Level 3 Accredited
NCFE Accredited
Safeguarding Certified
3
QUALIFICATIONS
15
MONTH DELIVERY
£8,000
LEVY FUNDED
CMI L3
COACHING ACCREDITED

Built for Everyone Who Brings Culture to Life

If you work in the cultural and community sector, this apprenticeship recognises and advances your career.

Charity & Third Sector Officers

Build engagement and impact in your charity. Lead cultural and learning programmes that make a difference in your community.

NHS Trust Arts & Wellbeing Leads

Bring culture and creative wellbeing into healthcare. Lead arts activities that improve patient and staff experience.

Museum & Heritage Coordinators

Make museums and heritage sites come alive. Develop learning programmes and community engagement that preserve and celebrate culture.

Tourism & Visitor Experience Officers

Create memorable experiences for visitors. Lead cultural engagement and storytelling that showcase your destination.

Theatre & Performing Arts Administrators

Support artists and audiences. Manage learning, outreach, and community engagement for theatres and performance spaces.

Local Authority Culture Teams

Lead cultural policy and delivery at council level. Develop programmes that strengthen communities and cultural participation.

Ideal Learner Profile

  • Work in the cultural or community sector
  • Passionate about arts, heritage, wellbeing
  • Want to develop leadership skills
  • Interested in community engagement
  • Looking to advance your career formally
  • Want fully-funded, sector-relevant training

Why This Apprenticeship Stands Out

Sector-Specific CMI Level 3 Coaching

Learn to coach and mentor in cultural settings. Develop your peers and engage communities through coaching and mentoring.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Embedded

NCFE qualification in Equality & Diversity. Make your cultural programmes inclusive and accessible to all communities.

Safeguarding Level 2 Certification

Protect vulnerable participants and young people. Industry-standard safeguarding knowledge for cultural roles.

Community Engagement Expertise

Every module includes real community engagement practice. Learn by leading cultural activities and programmes.

Peer Cohort from Your Sector

Learn alongside other cultural leaders from museums, theatres, charities, NHS. Your cohort becomes your professional network.

Sector-Specific Mentoring

Mentors understand cultural sector challenges. Real guidance on leading programmes, fundraising, and community building.

Recognised Cultural Qualifications

CMI and NCFE credentials valued across the cultural and community sector. Advance your career with recognised credentials.

Fully Funded by Apprenticeship Levy

If your organisation operates the levy, there's no training cost. Invest in your career without barriers.

3 Industry Qualifications — At No Extra Cost

Every apprentice earns three distinct qualifications on this programme.

Three qualifications that strengthen your cultural career — embedded into your real work.

You won't sit separate exams. Each qualification grows out of your workplace practice and assessment during the apprenticeship.

QUALIFICATION 1
1

CMI Level 3 Coaching & Mentoring

Coach and mentor in cultural settings. Assessed through coaching practice with participants, colleagues, and volunteers in your organisation.

QUALIFICATION 2
2

NCFE Level 3 Equality & Diversity

Understand and advance equality in cultural settings. Assessed through workplace application and promoting inclusive programmes.

QUALIFICATION 3
3

Safeguarding Level 2

Protect vulnerable people in cultural settings. Industry-standard safeguarding knowledge for cultural roles. Assessed through knowledge and workplace practice.

How They Compare

Qualification Industry Recognised This Programme
CMI Level 3 Coaching & Mentoring Public, regulated, UK-wide Embedded
NCFE Level 3 Equality & Diversity Public, regulated, UK-wide Embedded
Safeguarding Level 2 Industry standard, UK-wide Certification
Apprenticeship Gateway Pass (Synoptic Assessment) Apprenticeship requirement Integrated
End-Point Assessment (Professional Discussion) EPA standard method Expert-led
Portfolio of Evidence & Reflection Apprenticeship standard Continual
Community Engagement & Programme Delivery Real-world credential Assessment method
Observation of Coaching & Mentoring Practice Apprenticeship standard Assessment method

What You'll Learn

13 Core Modules + Embedded Qualifications

MODULE 01

Your Role as a Cultural Leader

Understand your role in cultural organisations. Develop your professional identity. Set learning goals for the apprenticeship.

Leadership Identity
MODULE 02

Community Engagement & Participation

Engage and inspire communities. Understand what drives participation. Build programmes that people want to join.

Engagement Participation
MODULE 03

Coaching & Mentoring in Cultural Settings

Coach artists, participants, volunteers. Develop coaching skills through real practice. Assessed through observation.

Coaching Mentoring
MODULE 04

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Make cultural programmes inclusive and accessible. Understand equality frameworks. Build diverse audiences and participants.

Equality Diversity
MODULE 05

Safeguarding & Vulnerable People

Protect vulnerable participants, young people, artists. Safeguarding Level 2 knowledge and workplace application.

Safeguarding Duty of care
MODULE 06

Planning & Delivering Cultural Programmes

Design and deliver cultural activities. From idea to evaluation. Lead real programmes in your organisation.

Planning Delivery
MODULE 07

Working with Artists & Creatives

Support and develop artists. Commission work. Foster creative collaboration. Manage artist partnerships.

Artists Collaboration
MODULE 08

Wellbeing & Cultural Impact

Understand how culture impacts wellbeing. Design programmes that improve health, mental health, and quality of life.

Wellbeing Health
MODULE 09

Evaluation & Impact Measurement

Measure impact of cultural programmes. Collect evidence. Report on outcomes to stakeholders. Improve based on data.

Evaluation Impact
MODULE 10

Partnerships & Funding

Build partnerships with other organisations. Understand funding landscape. Develop funding bids. Sustain programmes.

Partnerships Funding
MODULE 11

Advocacy & Championing Culture

Advocate for culture in your organisation and sector. Influence decision-makers. Tell the story of cultural impact.

Advocacy Influence
MODULE 12

Leading Your Cultural Programme

Capstone: Design a new or enhanced cultural programme. Plan, deliver, evaluate, report on real impact in your organisation.

Leadership Project
MODULE 13

Reflection & Professional Development

Consolidate your learning. Reflect on your growth as a cultural leader. Prepare for your End-Point Assessment.

Reflection Assessment

Your Learner Journey & End-Point Assessment

MONTHS 1–4
Foundations & Community Engagement
Kick off your cohort. Establish your role and identity. Begin community engagement and coaching practice. Start building your portfolio.
MONTHS 5–8
Coaching & Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Develop your coaching practice with real participants. Complete EDI module. Begin assessment through observation and workplace practice.
MONTHS 9–11
Programme Leadership & Capstone
Lead your cultural programme capstone project. Deliver real activities. Measure impact. Prepare Gateway assessment.
MONTHS 12–13
Gateway Assessment & Final Preparation
Pass Gateway (test your KSBs). Finalise portfolio. Complete all qualifications. Prepare for EPA.
MONTHS 14–15
End-Point Assessment
Professional Discussion with independent assessor. Present your cultural programme and impact. Receive apprenticeship completion confirmation.

End-Point Assessment (EPA) — ST0396

EPA assesses your knowledge, skills, and behaviours as a cultural leader. ST0396 standard assessed by Aim Awards.

Assessment Method 1: Professional Discussion

60-minute discussion with assessor. Questions probe your understanding of cultural leadership, community engagement, and programme impact.

Assessment Method 2: Portfolio of Evidence

Your real work: programme plans, evaluation reports, coaching reflections, participant feedback, impact measures — proof you led cultural programmes.

Assessment Method 3: Observation of Practice

Assessor observes you leading a cultural activity, coaching a participant, or facilitating a programme element in your workplace.

Why Choose TESS Group

Why Thousands of Organisations Trust TESS Group

🏆

Ofsted Good (2022)

Independent inspection rated us Good across all areas. Quality, care, and outcomes that matter to learners and sector organisations.

Google 4.9/5 Stars

Real reviews from apprentices in cultural roles. Feedback from museums, theatres, charities, NHS trusts, tourism organisations.

🎯

Trustpilot 4.9/5 Stars

Cultural leaders across the sector trust and recommend us. Learn from peers in your field.

📚

CMI & NCFE Accredited

Our qualifications are designed with CMI and NCFE. Your credentials are valued across the cultural sector.

🚀

ST0396 Specialists

We are specialist providers of the Cultural Learning & Participation Officer standard. Deep sector expertise and networks.

Sector-Experienced Mentors

Your mentor understands cultural sector challenges. Real guidance on programmes, fundraising, partnerships, community building.

"This apprenticeship gave me the confidence and qualifications to lead cultural programmes in my charity. My team's engagement has grown, and I've built the evidence to show the real impact of culture on our community." — Cultural Officer, Arts Charity

Ready to Advance Your Cultural Career?

Join the apprenticeship designed for the cultural and community sector. Earn recognised qualifications. Lead programmes that inspire communities.

Get Started Today
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