Leah Shortt, Operations Manager at Learning Unlimited highlights and provides advice on how leadership and management apprenticeships could take your organisation to the next level, by developing staff and taking them to Chartered Management status.
Developing the right calibre of managers to implement strategies and support business growth is critical in all organisations and will ensure long term business success.
Identifying and growing talent to fill key positions in the future is vital. Ever increasing skills shortages and a lack of confidence in leadership potential has led to organisations now realising the importance of succession planning for the future.
From team leaders and supervisors, to middle management and directors, to CEOs; there are many different layers of management, making way for progression opportunities amongst your existing staff as well as from an external talent pool.
With the introduction of the management apprenticeship standards, there has never been a better time to revaluate the skills of the people within your organisation and identify those who have the potential to progress into top management roles.
The Level 3 and 5 Leadership and Management apprenticeship standards will allow more employees to set their sights on entering a career in management, while also allowing those already in the profession, the opportunity to gain new skills to climb the corporate ladder. Here are my top 5 reasons why integrating the new apprenticeship standard into your business is a good idea:
There’s often the misconception that apprenticeships are only available for someone starting out in their career but in actual fact, apprenticeships are available to everyone and are a great way of accessing bespoke training for existing members of staff, no matter what their age or previous experience.
For those just starting out on their management journey, the Level 3 Business Management apprenticeship is a perfect way to get to grips with the skills you need in a managerial role. The Level 5 Management apprenticeship has been designed to provide access to development opportunities for individuals. It is suitable for those who wish to take their first steps into professional management, as well as those who have already developed practical experience but who wish to develop their theoretical understanding of management and leadership skills. Alongside the Level 5 qualification that forms part of the apprenticeship, we also offer training in fundamental areas such as English and maths. These essential skills often hold people back, but we want to break down these barriers, which is why we offer all of our apprentices the opportunity to gain these qualifications whilst studying with us.
Becoming a chartered manager is the highest status that can be achieved in the managerial profession and the Level 5 apprenticeship gives the opportunity to achieve that. This higher-level apprenticeship is recognised and supported by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) which is the only professional body in the UK committed to rising and maintaining the highest standards in management excellence. 93% of managers who have undergone chartered training reported greater self-awareness*, and 86% said they had gained more confidence in applying their skills*. Upon successful completion of the course, learners can choose to apply to become a member of the chartered institute which brings a whole host of benefits including career development and access to the latest management thinking.
If you’re already working in management but are looking for ways to develop your professional skills then the Level 5 Leadership and Management course could be the way forward. The course is accredited and supported by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), giving you specialised recognition for the skills, knowledge and behaviours that you apply daily. This level of training can open up a world of opportunities for you and your employer and could even act as a stepping stone for you to move on to further study at university. It is reported that those with a professional qualification and membership earn an additional £152,000 over the course of their career* and can bring endless benefits to the companies they work in.
If you or one of your employees is just starting out in management then the Level 3 apprenticeship is an excellent, practical way to develop the skills needed to be a confident and effective manager.
The Level 5 Apprenticeship in Management and Leadership is equivalent to university-level study. With most university fees exceeding over £9,000 a year, the higher level apprenticeship is a cost effective way of achieving such a qualification without the fees. This apprenticeship is delivered entirely in the workplace, which allows staff to implement and develop those new skills gained every day, which in return allows you as an employer to reap the rewards. Also, once qualified, a chartered manager will deliver £391,443* in value added, which makes the apprenticeship a great investment opportunity. If you are an employer and you are an apprenticeship levy payer you could fund the development of your managers of the future with these both the Level 3 and 5 apprenticeships via the levy.
At Learning Unlimited, we provide high quality training and development solutions for organisations across the UK. From start to finish, we work with your business to tailor our training to meet your needs. Our successful track record for delivering on our promises and reputation for providing outstanding account management has enabled us to build long term relationships with employers up and down the country. With a good track record in delivering management training to a variety of organisations and businesses, we can find a solution to help you take your staff to the next level.
To find out more about working with us and our management apprenticeships, call us on 03458 501055 or email info@learningunlimiteduk.com.
*Fact and figures taken from Guidance for Providers, Chartered Management Institute