Operations/Departmental Manager (Level 5 Apprenticeship)
Subject: Leadership and Management
This apprenticeship has been designed by employers for those that work as a manager of a department or team and have a range of responsibilities but have perhaps not had any formal training.
Your employee will also have the opportunity to study the ILM Level 5 Diploma for Operational Managers alongside this apprenticeship at a reduced cost.
Key Facts
- Attendance: Distance learning with tutor support (you will have the opportunity to undertake live webinars on key management topics). Additional workplace assessor visits can also be discussed on an individual basis.
- Duration: 24 months (a minimum of 6 hours per week must be spent undertaking off-the-job training)
- Start date: Start at anytime
- Location: You must be living and working in England.
Entry Requirements
Ideally your employee should have 5 GCSEs at grades C/4 or above including English Language and Mathematics.
In order for you to have an apprentice they must be living and working in England in a suitable role and they cannot already hold a Level 5 (or above) qualification in a similar subject).
For the apprenticeship to be completed within 24 months the apprentice must be working a minimum of 30 hours per week. If they are employed for fewer hours then the length of their apprenticeship will be proportionately extended.
Should you be looking to recruit a new trainee to join your team we can help to advertise your vacancy and screen applicants free of charge, contact us for more information.
International qualifications
Students with foreign qualifications are required to have their certificates translated using a UK ENIC Statement to confirm if they have previously achieved Level 2 English and Level 2 maths for their apprenticeship. If a student has not previously achieved this, they will need to complete Functional Skills English and/or maths as part of their apprenticeship. More information about how to apply, how it works and prices can be found on the UK ENIC’s website here.
Please note: As our courses include online learning components, students are required to have access to a PC or laptop with a reliable internet connection.
Course Content
This apprenticeship consists of:
- The required knowledge, skills and behaviours to effectively manage people and deliver results
- End Point Assessment to demonstrate the standard is achieved
- Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English unless exempt
It is important to note that 6 hours per week of working time must be spent undertaking ‘off-the-job guided learning hours’. This may, for example, be by online learning, guided study or undertaking projects related to the workplace to gather portfolio evidence.
Knowledge and Skills
The knowledge and skills studied include:
- Operational Management
- Project Management
- Finance
- Leading and managing people
- Building relationships
- Communication
- Self-awareness and management
- Decision making
Behaviours
The behaviours looked at include:
- Responsibility – managing difficult situations and seeking new opportunities
- Inclusivity – being authentic and seeking views of others
- Agility – being positive, creative and flexible to change
- Professionalism – operating within organisational values whilst being consistent and fair
Functional Skills
Apprentices under 19 years of age will be required to undertake Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Maths unless exempt. Apprentices over the age of 19 are able to undertake these as part of the apprenticeship if they wish at no additional cost, if they do not already hold the same level qualification.
Assessment
Throughout the apprenticeship access will be given to our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and an online portfolio will be completed. Once agreed an End Point Assessment will be undertaken by an independent assessor.
This consists of the following:
- Presentation with questions - the apprentice delivers a presentation on their written project report, followed by answering questions on the subject by the assessor.
- Professional discussion - a two way conversation around the apprentice’s portfolio of evidence.
Assessment for this uses a variety of methods including written assignments, on-screen knowledge tests and development of a portfolio which also contributes to the End Point Assessment.
Course Fees
Apprenticeship fees are payable by you as the employer.
Prior to commencing the course an invoice will be issued for the total course fee.
As an employer you will either be an Apprenticeship Levy Payer (employers with over a £3 million pay bill) or Non-Levy Payers (employers with less than a £3 million pay bill).
Course fees for Apprenticeship Levy Payers
Levy payers in England will pay the full apprenticeship amount of £7,000 using their digital account.
Course fees for Non-Levy Payers
Non-levy paying employers in England are required to contribute 5% (£350 in one payment) towards the cost of the apprenticeship provided they use their digital account to process the claim for 95% funding available.
Apprenticeship fees may be free for those aged 16-21 years of age, working in a non-levy paying organisation with less than 50 employees.
All fees are fully inclusive of End Point Assessment (EPA) fees. However, if a student needs to re-sit their EPA, re-sit fees may be payable.
Before making any financial decision it is recommended that you seek advice from an independent source, for example the Money Advice Service.
These are current figures and may be subject to change. The differences in course fees reflect the level of funding that is available as a result of government policies and priorities. These may be as a result of age, employment status, previous education achievements, or location for example, and are outside the control of CAW Business School.
Save 50% off the ILM Level 5 Diploma for Operational Managers qualification course fees if you study it alongside this apprenticeship (Awarding Body fees still apply).
What Next?
On completion of this qualification your team member will become an Affiliate of the City & Guilds of London Institute and be able to use the post-nominals AfCGI. They may also wish to apply to become a Member of the Institute of Leadership (MIoL).
Testimonials
"The course taught me so much and I grew not only professionally but personally too. Everything I learnt on the course helped me immensely and I could use the skills in real life. My tutors were my biggest champions, and counsellors during the hard times. At times I thought about giving up, but they were there to support and guide me through. Without them, I don’t know if I would have finished. I am incredibly proud of myself and thankful to the tutors who supported me to get here."
Laura Doran, Operations/Departmental Manager Level 5 Apprenticeship (June 2025)
What our Business School students say:
“I have enjoyed learning new skills and applying some of these to my current job”
“The tutors are very helpful and supportive and provide me with regular reviews on my progress”
“The course fits around my everyday work making this easy to complete”
“The tutors are extremely helpful and always manage to find time to provide support and answer any queries”
Full Course Brochure
Enter your details to download the full course brochure. We'll email you with information about the course.
You can unsubscribe at any time. We respect your privacy and handle your data with care. Please see our privacy policy.