Operations/Departmental Manager Apprenticeship - Level 5

This occupation is found in small, medium, large, and multinational organisations in private, public, and third sectors across all areas of the economy.

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.

The broad purpose of this occupation is to provide leadership, with both operational and project responsibilities.

An operations manager is responsible for managing individuals or a team, offering direction, instructions, and guidance to achieve set goals. They are crucial for the smooth functioning of all departments within an organisation and ensure that their functions are administered and maintained in accordance with legislation and the organisation’s policies and procedures.

Operations managers provide clear and inclusive leadership and direction within their area of responsibility. This typically involves setting, managing, and monitoring the achievement of core objectives aligned with the organisation’s overall strategic goals. In smaller organisations, they are also likely to contribute to the execution and achievement of these strategic objectives.

What will I achieve?

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, you will achieve:

University Diploma in Operations Management
Institute of Leadership and Management Level 5 Diploma for Operational Leaders and Managers
Operations Manager Apprenticeship Certificate

Location: Stoke-on-Trent campus
Duration: 2.5 years
Start date(s): September/October

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Course content

The apprenticeship covers a diverse range of topics over the duration of the programme:

Modules

Organisational Performance and Governance

This module introduces you to the fundamental principles of risk management, financial governance, and regulatory compliance in business. It explores how organisations identify, assess, and respond to risks while maintaining financial integrity. You will develop an understanding of corporate governance frameworks, financial statements, and risk mitigation strategies, equipping you with the skills to support decision-making in a business environment.

Managing and Leading People and Teams

This module is intended to prepare you for and/or support you in a management position in your organisation, giving you the understanding and abilities required to manage people and lead teams to ensure high levels of motivation, performance and inclusion.

Stakeholder Management and Operational Influence

This module intends to expose you to relationship building with internal and external stakeholders. This may include your immediate team, other departments and functions, suppliers, customers, regulators, legislators, policymakers, and the wider community. The module will support you to identify and analyse stakeholders, in addition to developing and maintaining relationships with them.

Planning and Managing Operations

This module is intended to prepare you for understanding operations management in your organisation, giving you the skills required to initiate and manage projects, set and maintain organisational budgets and use your knowledge of continuous improvement techniques to improve the performance of your organisation.

Work-Based Project

This module equips you with the competencies to effectively manage projects in diverse organisational contexts. You will learn how to analyse and interpret data to support decision-making, manage resources and budgets,and lead projects that drive change and continuous improvement. Emphasis will be placed on strategic resource planning to meet future organisational needs and on aligning project activities with sustainability goals. By the end of the module, you will deliver impactful projects that balance efficiency, innovation, and ethical responsibility.

Professional accreditation

Upon completion of this apprenticeship you can register as a full member with the Chartered Management Institute and/or the Institute of Leadership & Management. Apprentices with 3 years' of management experience can apply for Chartered Manager status through the CMI.

Entry requirements

To be eligible, apprentices will need to evidence the following:

Achievement of Level 2 Maths and English (GCSE, functional skills or equivalent) OR be demonstrating that you are functioning at Level 2 in both Maths and English, this would be determined by an initial assessment conducted by University of Staffordshire.

Fees

For levy-paying organisations the cost is paid from their digital account at a rate of £9,000 per apprentice.

For non-levy paying organisations there may be a financial contribution on 5% which equates to £450 per apprentice.

Delivery and assessment

Delivery

The course is delivered as blended learning. Each semester will feature a mix of face-to-face days at our Stoke-on-Trent campus, and webinars held online via Microsoft Teams. Webinars feature a mix of content and small group activities encouraging insightful discussion, application of theory to practice, and incremental progress towards a range of formative and summative assessments.

Assessment

A variety of assessment methods are used throughout the course:

Assignments/Reflection: these are usually in essay format of varying length. Assignments must be presented in an appropriate scholarly format which develops academic writing skills.
Seminar/Presentation: the research, planning and presentation of findings to an audience.
Examinations: either multiple-choice or oral (viva voce) examinations.
As part of the apprenticeship and once you have completed your academic qualification, you will undertake an end point assessment (EPA). This will include professional discussions with an external assessor and must be completed within 3 months of completing your academic studies.

Learning support

In addition to the excellent support you will receive from your course teaching team, our central Academic Skills team provides group and one-to-one help to support your learning in a number of areas. These include study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills); written English (including punctuation and grammatical accuracy); academic writing (including how to reference); research skills; critical thinking and understanding arguments; and revision, assessment and examination skills (including time management).

Additional support

Our AccessAbility Services support students with additional needs such as sensory impairment or learning difficulties. You will also have full access to our support services such as Student Guidance.

Feedback

Examination feedback may take a variety of formats. However, as a minimum, generic feedback will be made available to all students who take written examinations.

Responsibilities

Employer must not ask the apprentice to contribute financially to the direct cost of learning
Ensure apprentice spends at least 20% of their time in off-the-job training
Enter into a contract with University of Staffordshire
Participate in reviews with the Apprentice and university, providing evidence and feedback on progress at work and success in meeting apprenticeship milestones
Provide a safe, healthy and supportive environment, which meets the needs of the apprentice
Provide apprentices with a contract of employment for the duration of the apprenticeship on the first day of their apprenticeship and be paid at least a wage consistent with the law for both the time they are in work and in off-the-job learning
Provide the apprentice with paid time to attend off-the-job training, including additional support for English and Maths, or support accessed for learning difficulties and/or disabilities
Recognise that the apprentice must complete the apprenticeship within their working hours
Support the apprentice to gain new skills

A citizen of a country within the European Economic Area (EEA**) or have the right of abode in the UK, and have been ordinarily resident in the EEA for at least the previous three years on the first day of learning
Able to complete the apprenticeship in contracted working hours
Be an employee (have a contract of employment for the duration of the apprenticeship) on the first day of their apprenticeship and be paid at least a wage consistent with the law for both the time they are in work and in off-the-job learning
Be in a new job role (nine months or less), or in an existing job role, where significant new knowledge and skills are needed – employer statement of justification needed (relevant to the apprenticeship)
Be in full-time employment for at least 30 hours a week
Has the right to work in England
Maintain a safe, healthy and supportive environment, which meets your needs
Not be enrolled on another apprenticeship at the same time
Participate in reviews with the employer and university, providing evidence and feedback on progress at work and success in meeting apprenticeship milestones

Administer the funding and running of the Apprenticeship Standard to an acceptable standard of quality and in compliance with the ESFA’s requirements
Agree jointly between the University, the Employer and Apprentice, an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) ensuring that satisfactory progress is achieved and to ensure that the contents of the ILP fulfil the requirements of the Apprenticeship Standard
Provide a safe, healthy and supportive learning environment, which meets the needs of the Apprentice
Provide off-the-job learning and assessment and oversee the on-the-job skills development as detailed in the ILP
Provide support on selection of the endpoint assessor, if applicable. The endpoint assessment will be completed by the learning provider for all integrated degrees

Careers

You will have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team who support you with professional branding, career mapping and realising your potential.

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To join a higher degree apprenticeship programme or recruit an apprentice for your business, enquire with us today.

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