Operations/Departmental Manager
A work-based route to key skills in operational management, with eligibility for chartered status
An apprenticeship is a real, paid job. The apprentice works for an employer and trains with us at the same time, and comes out with a nationally recognised qualification and the experience to go with it.
The short answer
What an apprentice needs
Apprentices must be working within the human resource management or development field and their job role must align with the apprenticeship standard.
Eligible candidates from within an organisation will be selected for registration by the University and/or partner college in consultation with the employer. Most candidates will meet the entry criteria specified below and hold English and Maths at Level 2. Other relevant or prior experience may also be considered as an alternative.
It is desirable that learners hold a level 3 qualification before joining this course. This may include:
- Access to Higher Education
- CMI Level 3
- Level 3 apprenticeship in a related occupation
- HTQ in a related occupation
- HNC in a related occupation
All apprentice applicants under the age of 19 must hold GCSE maths and English at grade 4 or equivalent. Those who do not hold these qualifications should enquire regarding support to obtain the qualifications prior to commencement.
All apprentice applicants must complete the apprentice onboarding process, including completion of an initial skills scan. Apprentices must be able to demonstrate that they meet the requirements set by Skills England and a job role check will be completed to ensure that the workplace provides appropriate opportunities for apprentices to meet the KSBs.
The employer sets the real bar, so treat this as a guide. If somebody is close but not quite there, it is still worth the conversation.
What they’ll learn
Operations managers perform leadership and management duties with teams and senior managers to ensure that teams fulfil their roles and meet organisational goals.
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They will develop and deliver operational plans
Creating and delivering operational plans, with data analysis and resource management.
Covers Creating and Delivering Operational Plans
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They will lead individuals and form successful teams
Managing and leading individuals and teams to achieve success, managing equality, diversity and inclusion, and talent management.
Covers Principles of Managing and Leading Individuals and Teams to Achieve Success, Forming Successful Teams, Managing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
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They will manage stakeholder relationships
Stakeholder management is one of the role's responsibilities, and managing stakeholder relationships is a topic area of the course.
Covers Managing Stakeholder Relationships
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They will manage change and projects to achieve results
Managing change, and managing projects to achieve results.
Covers Managing Change, Managing Projects to Achieve Results
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They will deliver sustainable solutions
Delivering sustainable solutions is one of the role's responsibilities, with strategic corporate social responsibility and sustainability a topic area of the course.
Covers Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability
The programme
Level 5
Course delivery will cover the below topic areas to develop apprentice knowledge skills and behaviours in line with the duties of the Operations Manager standard:
Level 5
- Principles of Managing and Leading Individuals and Teams to Achieve Success
- Managing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
- Forming Successful Teams
- Managing Stakeholder Relationships
- Managing Change
- Creating and Delivering Operational Plans
- Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability
- Managing Projects to Achieve Results
Occasional changes to modules and course content may take place. Students will be notified when applicable.
About this apprenticeship
About
The Operations Manager Apprenticeship is an exciting work-based route towards developing key skills in Operational Management. It includes work-based learning, which means that the apprentice is in paid employment for the duration of their apprenticeship and receives in the job training.
Read more about this apprenticeship
Who is it for?
Area manager, Department manager, General manager, Operations manager, Regional manager, Specialist managers.
Responsibilities
Develop and deliver operational plans
Data analysis
Stakeholder Management
Resource Management
Managing change
Talent management
Delivering sustainable solutions
Benefits for the Employer
Operations managers perform leadership and management duties with teams and senior managers to ensure that teams fulfil their roles and meet organisational goals. They are essential to all business models that have an operational area or department with a workforce to lead, manage, and support.
Benefits for the Apprentice
The Level 5 Operations Manager Apprenticeship delivers a professional pathway for future development with eligibility for Foundation Chartered Manager (fCMgr) or Chartered Manager (CMgr) status.
The advantages of doing an apprenticeship while you are in the job is that you can apply everything you are learning and put it into practice straight away.
Learning Approach
On campus teaching includes a combination of lectures, small group seminars, workshops, guest lectures and discussions.
Delivery is on a fortnightly basis on Mondays between 09:30 and 15:30.
Apprentices will also receive off-the-job learning time within the workplace to support their learning.
Study Commitment
The apprenticeship is delivered on a day release model, with bi-weekly classroom attendance.
Apprentices will also receive off-the-job learning time within the workplace to support their learning.
Alternate models can be arranged for organisations who wish to enrol full cohorts: please contact the team to discuss your needs.
Qualification Awarded
Operations Manager
Next Steps
Following completion of this apprenticeship learners may wish to progress to a level 6 qualification such as the Accelerated Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA) or Top-Up Degree.
Nobody springs anything on anyone
Project with report with presentation and questions
Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
More about the assessment
Apprenticeship End Point Assessment (EPA) has 2 assessment methods.
Assessment method 1 - project with report with presentation and questions.
Assessment method 2 - professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence.
What it takes, on both sides
If you're the employer
- A real role that covers the standard. Your Employer Relationship Officer will check it before anyone enrols.
- Time released for teaching, on a timetable you'll have from day one.
- Half an hour every 8 to 10 weeks for a three-way review.
- Your say-so when the apprentice is ready for their final assessment.
If you want to be the apprentice
- A job. An apprenticeship is employment, so you need an employer before you can start.
- Already working in this kind of role? Your manager can put you forward directly.
- An initial skills scan with us, so we know where you're starting from.
- No employer yet? That's the usual starting point, and finding one is the part we help with.
This is a step, not a destination
This qualification provides learners with skills and knowledge for individuals entering the management sector in roles including:
Job titles this leads to
- Operations Manager
- Divisional Manager
- Departmental Manager
- Regional Manager
- Specialist Manager
Not sure what comes after this one? Tell us the role and we'll tell you honestly which of our apprenticeships, higher apprenticeships or university-level courses fits next.
Where this course can take you
- Before you start
- This course Level 5
- Further study
Check you have what you need in the entry requirements.
Not sure? Talk to us and we will help you find the right starting point.
See all 2 courses
At this campus
At University Campus North Lincolnshire
Careers it can lead to
- Financial Accounts Managers £41,300 a year
- Sales Accounts and Business Development Managers £48,900 a year
- Property, Housing and Estate Managers £42,100 a year
- Waste Disposal and Environmental Services Managers £48,900 a year
See all 11 careers
- Managers in Transport and Distribution £47,200 a year
With further study or experience
- Management Consultants and Business Analysts £43,100 a year
- Business and Financial Project Management Professionals £52,000 a year
- Chief Executives and Senior Officials £75,800 a year
- Research and Development (R&D) Managers £49,200 a year
- Human Resource Managers and Directors £48,700 a year
- Financial Managers and Directors £50,900 a year
Typical pay is the UK median for each job (Lightcast, November 2026).
How to start this apprenticeship
It takes two, an employer and an apprentice. Pick your side.
Put someone on this programme
Recruiting, or formalising the training of someone already in post? Start with a conversation. We'll check the role, sort the funding, and get them enrolled.
Speak to us today 01302 553 913
Or advertise a vacancy through us and we'll handle the recruitment.
You'll need an employer first
An apprenticeship is a job, so an employer has to take you on before you can start. Already employed in this kind of role? Your manager can put you forward directly.
No vacancy that suits? Register your interest and we'll tell you when one comes up.