Great organisations are built by great leaders. This 15-month programme transforms ambitious professionals into confident, capable team leaders — through 8 intensive workshops, structured workplace projects, 1:1 coaching, and professional recognition from the CMI and Institute of Leadership.
8 workshop modules with live webinars, 30+ workplace study tasks, 1:1 skills coaching, portfolio building, mock assessments, and independent End-Point Assessment — all within working hours.
Eligible for CMI Associate Membership and Institute of Leadership Associate Membership on completion — opening doors to Chartered Manager status.
Your next great leader is probably already on your team — they just need the right development
Shift supervisors and team leaders who keep operations running. They plan workloads, manage resources, hit targets, and ensure compliance — the backbone of every productive workplace.
Trading managers and duty leads who manage high-performing, fast-paced teams. They coach staff, resolve customer issues, manage rotas, and drive commercial performance every day.
Project leads and site supervisors responsible for safety, compliance, and delivery. They coordinate teams across shifting priorities and tight deadlines.
Ward leads, care coordinators, and senior practitioners managing teams delivering critical services. They balance compassion with performance, compliance with culture.
Team leaders in HR, finance, legal, and IT who translate organisational strategy into team action, manage budgets, and develop talent within their function.
Supervisors managing frontline delivery in government, emergency services, and education. They navigate regulation, lead diverse teams, and drive improvement.
Four phases that take you from foundations to professional recognition — every month builds on the last
Understand yourself, your organisation, and the people you lead. Build the strategic awareness and relational skills that underpin everything else.
Develop high-performing teams, harness data and technology, and build confidence in problem-solving and decision-making.
Translate strategy into operational delivery. Lead projects, manage change, drive continuous improvement, and build sustainability awareness.
Consolidate all learning. Build and refine your portfolio. Complete summative assessments, mock EPAs, and achieve your End-Point Assessment.
Each module: 6-hour live webinar + structured study tasks + workplace application + skills coach review
Understand your role in the wider organisation. Explore sustainability, net zero, and economic trends using PESTLE and SWOT analysis. Learn how strategy connects to your team's objectives.
Master stakeholder management, EDI principles, and inclusive leadership. Apply Situational Leadership, explore emotional intelligence, and build the trust-based relationships that underpin effective teams.
The heart of leadership. Learn performance management, GROW coaching, SMART objectives, and motivation theory (Maslow, Herzberg). Create environments where people grow and take ownership.
Harness IT and software to drive efficiency. Collate, interpret, and present data to different audiences. Build confidence with spreadsheets, compliance frameworks, GDPR, and sustainability-focused technology.
Develop systematic problem-solving using root cause analysis (5 Whys, Ishikawa), Pareto analysis, and decision-making frameworks. Build influencing, negotiation, and presentation skills.
Translate strategy into action. Manage resources, budgets, and time using Eisenhower matrices and Gantt charts. Communicate through multiple channels to ensure your team delivers.
Apply project management tools (Gantt, WBS, digital tools) to real workplace projects. Learn risk management, stakeholder engagement, scope control, and corrective action planning.
Lead through uncertainty using Kotter, Lewin, and ADKAR. Apply PDCA, Kaizen, and Lean principles. Build resilience, reduce conflict, and integrate sustainability into operational decisions.
Independent assessment that validates your leadership competence — plus professional body recognition
Independently assessed. Graded Pass, Merit, or Distinction. Two assessment components:
Prepare and deliver a 20-minute presentation on one of four topics (assigned after gateway), summarising your role as a team leader and how it connects to your organisation. Followed by 30 minutes of questioning from the independent assessor.
A structured 60-minute two-way discussion with your independent assessor, underpinned by the portfolio of evidence you've built across all 15 months. Demonstrate the depth of your knowledge, skills, and behaviours.
This standard aligns with professional recognition from two of the UK's leading management bodies:
Chartered Management Institute — the gold standard in UK management. Access CMI resources, networking, and a pathway to Chartered Manager status.
A professional community of leaders providing ongoing CPD support, resources, and recognition for your leadership career.
All apprentices develop English and maths skills throughout the programme. Those aged 16–18 must achieve Level 2 Functional Skills if not already held. Those 19+ discuss with their employer whether certification is right for them.
Built on the September 2024 version of ST0384, including new content on sustainability, net zero, environmental impact, and technology optimisation. 13 duties, 23 knowledge items, 19 skills, 5 behaviours.
Every module is mapped to the official occupational standard — here's what you'll be able to do
Set, monitor, and manage objectives and performance linked to organisational outcomes
Manage resources to deliver tasks within budget and targets
Contribute to the training and ongoing development of individuals and teams
Collate and interpret data to support stakeholder decision-making
Contribute to projects, initiatives, and their implementation for organisational goals
Monitor and apply operational policies, legislation, and compliance
Identify, assess, and monitor potential risks and support mitigation
Contribute to change and support others through change
Support sustainable operational plans to achieve organisational goals
Lead and manage equity, diversity, and inclusion across the team
Collaborate with stakeholders to identify and support improvement
Communicate information to drive operational performance improvement
Manage team and resources to reduce carbon footprint and business costs
New cohorts every month. Enrol one learner or twenty — we flex to fit your planning cycle.
Every study task, project, and portfolio piece is completed in your workplace, using your data, your challenges.
Not just people skills — leaders who interpret data, use technology, and make evidence-based decisions.
Sustainability, net zero, EDI, and digital optimisation woven throughout — because modern leadership demands modern thinking.
CMI and Institute of Leadership membership on completion — tangible career ROI beyond the apprenticeship.
"TESS Group didn't just train our team leaders — they transformed them. The programme gave our supervisors the confidence and frameworks to manage performance, lead change, and own their development."
Fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy. No cost to levy-paying employers. SMEs may be eligible for 95% government co-investment.
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