The School of Leadership and Management - Level 3 Team Leader or Supervisor Apprenticeship
Programme overview
The Level 3 Team Leader or Supervisor Apprenticeship is designed for those who work in, or aspire to a first line management role, with responsibility for managing a team to deliver clearly defined outcomes.
This qualification will equip the learner with the skills and knowledge needed to lead and manage teams and individuals to deliver results. It will also provide the organisation with effective managers and a start point for leadership talent development.
The Level 3 Team Leader or Supervisor Programme is designed around four stages. These are:
- Stage 1: Pre-onboarding
- Stage 2: Induction and onboarding
- Stage 3: Programme delivery and key components: Team Leader Level 3 Duties, workshops, tutorials, 1-2-1 coaching and CMI learning units.
- Stage 4: Gateway and End Point Assessment
You will find a monthly structure and description of key elements of the programme below. This should give you a good feel for the regular activities.
The programme is funded through the Apprenticeship Levy >find out more. The cost of the Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship is currently £5,000.
Who is it for?
This apprenticeship is for those who want to learn how to support, manage and develop team members, manage projects, plan and monitor workloads and resources, deliver plans, resolve problems and build relationships.
They may either already have limited first line management experience or aspire to a position and career in leadership and management.
They will certainly need to have the opportunity to lead and manage a small team during the time that they are on programme.
Who is eligible?
- Learners who are, or aspire to be, first line managers, team leaders or supervisors.
- No formal qualifications are required, other than
- Learners will be required to demonstrate a minimum level 2 achievement in English and Maths functional skills. We will support learners to demonstrate this or to achieve the necessary level.
How can the programme link to qualifications?
Successful completion of the programme leads to the award of the Level 3 Team Leader or Supervisor Apprenticeship Diploma and a CMI Level 3 Certificate in The Principles of Management & Leadership.
Duration
12 months programme and 2-3 months End Point Assessment. 14-15 months in total.
Attendance Method
Online delivery (MS Teams/Zoom), featuring workshops, executive coaching and tutor support. In-person workshops can be arranged for groups.
How is the programme delivered?
The programme takes 12 months to complete, followed by an 2-3 months End Point Assessment. Participants complete a formal learning journey including the learning units and below.
Individual programmes are delivered virtually using MS Teams/Zoom, group based programmes for employers are delivered using a hybrid approach – a mix of in-person and virtual sessions.
Learning units, skills and capabilities assessment
Initial skills and capabilities assessment & organisational review
Introduction and level 3 team leader duties (workbooks) and three CMI Level 3 learning modules. The workbooks and learning modules incorporate the required knowledge skills and behaviours for the standard.
Duties – Team Leader Level 3 include (click on the Details tab above for a full overview of the duties)
- Performance Management
- Project Management
- Sustainability and carbon footprint
- Business costs and expenditure
- Change and risk management
- Communication and stakeholder relationships
- Using data for decision making and reporting
CMI Level 3 learning units (click on the Details tab for an overview of the units)
- 301 Principles of Management and Leadership
- 302 Managing a team to achieve results
- 304 Principles of communication in the workplace
How is the programme structured?
The course is delivered through a blended approach, incorporating workshops, online learning, individual coaching, work based learning, observation and assessments, as well as regular line manager reviews.
Learners meet regularly with their tutor 1-2-1 and/or in group workshops and tutorials and are supported in their journey by a dedicated Learner Manager.
Programme structure – 12 months
Group/Individual Workshop x 4
Action and accountability tutorials x 4
Individual online tutorial / 1-2-1 coaching sessions
Independent study – reading, listening, writing assignments, attending leadership and management events
Off the job hours – undertaking tasks and activities that enable the learner to apply the learning
Off the Job hours
Learners will also complete a monthly learning journal or work diary, which will be a record of how they are applying the learning in practice. The journal entries are linked to the knowledge, skills and behaviours that will be used to build the learners portfolio and for End Point Assessment.
Apprentices are required to complete a number of off the job hours whilst they are undertaking an apprenticeship programme. Practically this will consist of the learner undertaking new tasks, new projects, carrying out procedures and processes in the new ways to achieve better results.
How is the programme assessed?
The programme is assessed through a combination of written assignments and observations. There are assessments for every learning unit and additional End Point Assessment.
At the end, learners complete an End Point Assessment, incorporating two elements:
- A presentation, followed by questions and answers. The presentation topics – choice of 4 topics which are linked to the Team Leader Level 3 Duties. (Session time: 50mins)
- A professional discussion, underpinned by a portfolio of evidence (Session time: 60 mins discussion).
Who is the Team Leader Level 3 Apprenticeship for?
This apprenticeship is for those who want to learn how to support, manage and develop team members, manage projects, plan and monitor workloads and resources, deliver plans, resolve problems and build relationships.
They may either already have limited first line management experience or aspire to a position and career in leadership and management.
They will certainly need to have the opportunity to lead and manage a small team during the time that they are on programme. The programmes has been designed around 4 key stages and provides an accreditation pathway to the CMI Level 3 Certificate in The Principles of Management & Leadership.
The broad purpose of this role is to provide leadership with operational and project responsibilities. Team leaders manage individuals, teams, or elements of a project, offering direction, instructions, and guidance to achieve set goals. They are vital for the smooth functioning of all departments within an organisation and are often responsible for ensuring that functions are correctly administered and maintained in line with legislation and the organisation’s procedures.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with colleagues from various internal departments, including operations, human resources, finance, legal, IT, sales, and marketing. This role also involves interaction with external stakeholders such as customers, clients, and suppliers. It may include off-site and hybrid working.
An employee in this occupation is responsible for supporting, managing, and developing individuals; managing projects; planning and monitoring workloads and resources; delivering operational plans; resolving problems; and building relationships both internally and externally.
Team leaders may work as part of a network or in various team settings. They operate within agreed budgets and available resources, reporting to mid-level and senior managers. While they may occasionally make decisions, they more often guide or influence the decisions of others, including collecting and interpreting data to identify trends, analysing resources, and finding ways to save money and improve efficiency.
Team leaders understand how their role supports the broader organisational structure. They apply codes of practice, legislation, and regulations relevant to their organisation’s areas of operation. This includes not only legal and ethical responsibilities but also equity, inclusion, and the sustainability impacts of the organisation.
Monthly programme themes
The 12 month programme followed by up to 2-3 months preparation and completion of End Point Assessment.
You will find a monthly structure and description of key elements of the programme below. This should give you a good feel for the regular activities.
We have created a series of learner workbooks mapped to the Team Leader Level 3 Duties below which provide ideas and approaches drawn from the experience of its authors, supported by the standards published by the Chartered Management Institute and underpinned by its Management Direct resources and other sources. It offers opportunities for the learner to apply this learning within their working environment and job role.
Duties – Team Leader Level 3
Duty 1 Sets, monitors, and manages objectives and performance which link to organisational outcomes.
Duty 2 Manage resources to deliver tasks within budget and targets.
Duty 3 Contributes to the training and ongoing development needs of the individual or the team.
Duty 4 Collates and interprets data and shares outputs with stakeholders to support decision-making.
Duty 5 Contributes to projects, initiatives, and their implementation to achieve organisational goals.
Duty 6 Monitors and applies operational policies, relevant legislation, and regulation, and makes recommendations to ensure individual and team compliance.
Duty 7 Identifies, assesses, and monitors potential risks, and supports the mitigation of risk within the organisation.
Duty 8 Contributes to change and support others through change.
Duty 9 Support the development and implementation of sustainable operational plans to achieve organisation goals.
Duty 10 Lead and manage the team to ensure the application of equity, diversity, and inclusion principles.
Duty 11 Collaborates and builds relationships with stakeholders to identify and support improvement opportunities.
Duty 12 Communicates information to drive operational activities and improve organisational performance.
Duty 13 Manage the team and resources to reduce carbon footprint and reduce business costs.
The aim of our apprenticeship workbooks is to support you the learner in developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to lead a team, at or above the standard expected within the apprenticeship.
The learner will also undertake three CMI Level 3 learning units.
- 301 Principles of Management and Leadership
- 302 Managing a team to achieve results
- 304 Principles of communication in the workplace
CMI 301 Principles of Management and Leadership
Being equipped with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to manage and lead effectively is essential if an individual and their organisation are to succeed.
This unit has been designed for learners who want to develop or sharpen their professional edge and enhance personal effectiveness.
The unit focuses on the ways organisations operate. The application of management and leadership approaches and how these can positively impact on own role, lead to improved performance, and support teams, colleagues and customers.
The aim of the unit CMI 301 is to introduce the foundations for managers, which will be developed in the further units.
By the end of this unit, you will be able to:
- Understand how organisations operate
- Understand the management role
- Understand the application of management and leadership approaches
- Understand the knowledge, skills and behaviours to be an effective manager
CMI 302 Managing a Team to Achieve Results
The ability to manage teams, which are able to communicate effectively and overcome barriers to achievement, is a critical skill for any manager. High performing cohesive teams are created in an environment where there is a collective understanding of values, goals and objectives.
This unit has been developed to support managers in understanding the nature of teams in the workplace, and how these can be managed to achieve results.
By the end of this unit, you will be able to:
- Understand the role and purpose of teams
- Be able to recognise the characteristics of a high performing team
- Know how to lead, communicate with and motivate a high performing team
- Know how to respond to challenges when managing a team proactively
- Know how to manage the performance of a team
CMI 304 Principles of Communication in the Workplace
As the range of communication tools used by a business continues to grow, and new technologies emerge, managers are faced with the challenge of how to select and use different tools to ensure that communication is effective, timely and has impact.
The aim of this unit is to equip managers with the knowledge and skills to select and use a range of workplace communication methods. These must be measurable and tailored to the needs of the target audience.
By the end of this unit, you will be able to:
- Know the channels and types of communication used in the workplace
- Understand the communication cycle
- Be able to plan communication for a target audience
- Know how to measure the effectiveness of communication with a target audience
Off the Job hours
Learners will also complete a monthly learning journal or work diary, which will be a record of how they are applying the learning in practice.
The journal entries are linked to the knowledge, skills and behaviours that will be used to build the learners portfolio and for End Point Assessment.
Learners will create entries to their journal at the end of each Knowledge, Skill or Behaviour learning. They will be asked to write up to 750 words, considering what they have done as a consequence of their learning.
Apprentices are required to complete a number of off the job hours whilst they are undertaking an apprenticeship programme. Practically this will consist of the learner undertaking new tasks, new projects, carrying out procedures and processes in the new ways to achieve better results. The time the learner spends on programme e.g attending workshops, tutorials, 1-2-1s, self-directed learning also makes up a percentage of the off the job hours.
The learning the apprentice will undertake will challenge them to reflect on how they currently perform their role and to consider are there more efficient, more effective ways of performing their role and achieving the outcomes their role and organisation requires.
Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship Learning Journey
Stage 1: Pre-Onboarding
Prior to programme start, learners will complete the following activities:
- Attend an information session, providing an oversight of the key elements of the programme.
- Complete an initial skills assessment against the standard’s knowledge, skills and behaviours.
- Verify status of existing qualifications, including English and Maths.
Stage 2: Induction and onboarding
- 1-2-1 session (virtual – MS Teams or Zoom):
- Introduction to the programme, to include:
- Apprentice standard
- Team Leader Duties and ALM workbooks
- CMI Level 3 Certificate Principles of Management and Leadership
- Learning journey
- Assessment methods
- Gateway and End Point Assessment
- Introduction to the programme, to include:
- Introductions:
- Moodle online learning platform
- Assessment team
- Learner management team
- Preparing to be an effective learner
- Completion of apprenticeship documentation – agreement and training plan
- Understanding the roles of the course delivery team
Stage 3: Programme delivery and key components
Programme structure – 12 months
- Group/Individual Workshop x 4
- Action and accountability tutorials x 4
- Individual online tutorial / 1-2-1 coaching sessions
- Independent study – reading, listening, writing assignments, attending leadership and management events
- Off the job hours – undertaking tasks and activities that enable the learner to apply the learning
Workshop (if group) or a 1-2-1 session with your course tutor/coach.
- Discussion of the topic linked to the Level 3 Team Leader Duties and the CMI learning units contextualising it to your business.
- Preparation for assessment activities
- Portfolio and End Point Assessment
Individual tutorial
- Bespoke support for assessment task.
- Progress against knowledge, skills and behaviours of the Level 3 standard – ALM workbooks
- Inclusion of line managers as appropriate
- Bespoke support with
- Portfolio development – monthly learning journal and CMI assessments
- Preparation for End Point Assessment
- Off-job learning requirement
Self-directed learning
- Working through Team Leader Level 3 workbooks which are aligned to the Duties and the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviour requirements
- Development of portfolio
- Completion of assessment task
- Off-role training
In house input and support
We recommend inviting key people within the apprentices organisation to participate in the programme, at appropriate points during the month. This can include, but is not limited to, workshops, coaching and mentoring.
Group/Individual Workshop
This session will deliver course content, provide opportunity for interactive learning and expert tuition as well as guest speakers where appropriate.
Where the programme is delivered to a group, these sessions will also include opportunity for debate, discussion and peer on peer learning.
Your course tutor will also provide guidance and advice on how to approach assessed elements of your qualification including written assignments and the development of your skills/behaviours portfolio and monthly learning journal.
Independent study
During these allocated weeks you will be required to read the ALM Level 3 Team Leader workbooks, work on your formal written assignments as well as compiling evidence for your monthly learning journal and skills/behaviours portfolio.
There will be no direct contact from your tutor during these weeks, though they will be accessible via email for enquiries.
Individual online tutorial
During these weeks, you will be allocated (through mutual agreement) a time slot for you to meet online with your course tutor 1-2-1.
This will be a safe, confidential space for you to ask questions about your formal assignments and raise any concerns you may have regarding any aspects of the programme. Your tutor will also ask you about access to your Off The Job training time allocation, as well as how you are using this designated time.
They will also talk to you about your portfolio, providing both support and challenge to help you build this up over time. At regular intervals during your time on the programme, your line manager will also be invited to these meetings (effectively making them 1-2-2) to discuss progress and support.
Learners will also participate in regular line manager reviews. They will meet regularly with their tutor and are supported in their journey by a dedicated Learner Manager.
What are the benefits – for the learner?
- Growth in ability to manage people and develop relationships
- Use of effective communication approaches
- Building of confidence and capability to support delivery of results
- Ability to plan and manage projects
- Understanding of financial measures vital to first line management
- Personal growth in self-awareness and management
- Ability to make decisive decisions
What are the benefits – for the employer?
- Enhanced first line leadership and management
- Motivated workforce
- Focus on solutions
- Talent development for leadership and management.
- Tangible results arising from practical learning applied in the workplace
Who is eligible?
- Learners who are, or aspire to be, first line managers, team leaders or supervisors. .
- No formal qualifications are required, other than
- Learners will be required to demonstrate a minimum level 2 achievement in English and Maths functional skills. We will support learners to demonstrate this or to achieve the necessary level.
How can the programme link to qualifications?
Successful completion of the programme leads to the award of the Level 3 Team Leader or Supervisor Apprenticeship Diploma and a CMI Level 3 Certificate in The Principles of Management & Leadership
Our Approach
- Timetable tailored to the needs of learners and their organisation
- Sponsorship of learning projects by senior managers, where appropriate.
- Invitation to internal guest speakers to participate in individual themes.
- Co-branding of learning materials with client logos.
- Practical approaches to qualifications and End Point Assessment
How is the programme assessed?
The programme is assessed through a combination of written assignments and observations. There are assessments for every learning unit and additional End Point Assessment.
At the end, learners complete an End Point Assessment, incorporating two elements:
- A presentation, followed by questions and answers. The presentation topics – choice of 4 are linked to the Team Leader Level 3 Duties. (Session time: 50mins)
- A professional discussion, underpinned by a portfolio of evidence (Session time: 60 mins discussion)