Operations/ Departmental Manager

The apprenticeship is suitable for those who are, or wish to become, Operational/ Departmental Managers. This includes individuals who are at the start of their career that wish to become Operational/ Departmental Managers. Also those aspiring or existing managers who may already have developed practical experience but who wish to develop their theoretical understanding of management skills further.

An operations/departmental manager is someone who manages teams and/or projects, and achieves operational or departmental goals and objectives, as part of the delivery of the organisations strategy. They are accountable to a more senior manager or business owner. Working in the private, public or third sector and in all sizes of organisation, specific responsibilities and job titles will vary, but the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed will be the same.

Key responsibilities may include creating and delivering operational plans, managing projects, leading and managing teams, managing change, financial and resource management, talent management, coaching and mentoring.

Roles may include: Operations Manager, Regional Manager, Divisional Manager, Department Manager and specialist managers.

Individual employers will set the selection criteria for their apprentices though most will be expected to hold 5 GCSEs at grade C or higher. Prior experience may also be considered. Apprentices should also have achieved qualifications in English and mathematics at a minimum of level 2 or equivalent. Where this is not the case, apprentices must complete these by the end of the Apprenticeship. It is also recommended that the apprentice is supported to become digitally literate where this is important to their role.

This Apprenticeship will typically take 2½ years to complete, but can take less depending on the prior experience of the individual and the specification of the employer.

NB - apprenticeships must take a minimum 12 months of learning.

To be able to deliver an apprenticeship a provider must be registered on the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s Register of Apprentice Training Providers (RoATP).

All Trailblazer apprenticeships are required to have an end-point assessment that is carried out by an independent body. Apprentices must pass the end-point assessment in order to achieve the apprenticeship certificate.

The end-point assessment for the Operational/ Departmental Manager Apprenticeship involves an assessment of the apprentice’s portfolio of evidence which is collated whilst on-programme: an online knowledge test; submission of a work-based project report; presentation of a work-based project and question/ answer session; a competency-based interview; and a professional discussion relating to the apprentice’s Continual Professional Development Log.

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) regulates the quality of apprenticeships. The IfATE’s role is also to advise on setting funding caps, and approve apprenticeship standards and assessment plans.

Yes – apprentices that successfully complete all parts of the Apprenticeship will receive a full apprenticeship certificate. This will be in addition to any qualifications that are taken as part of the apprenticeship.