Operations manager

Managing teams and projects in line with a private, public, or voluntary organisation’s operational or departmental strategy.

Strengthen your leadership team by developing people who can confidently manage operations, lead teams and deliver results. This Level 5 apprenticeship builds practical management and strategic skills, helping organisations improve performance, efficiency and long term growth.

Key Information

Level 5 Apprenticeship (equivalent to a diploma or degree)
Duration: 24 months
Start Dates: Monthly intakes available
Funding: Get in touch with our team to find out what support your organisation can access.
Delivery: Blended learning (online study + face-to-face observations as needed)
Assessment: Ongoing evaluations, project-based tasks, and final EPA

Role Overview

Operations Managers play a central role in ensuring teams, projects and processes run effectively across an organisation. This apprenticeship develops the knowledge and skills required to manage resources, lead people and contribute to strategic objectives.

Learners gain experience in areas such as operational planning, data analysis, project management and performance improvement. Through practical, workplace based learning, the programme prepares individuals to lead teams, manage change and make informed decisions that support business success.

Why offer this Apprenticeship?

Builds managers who can effectively lead teams and deliver against organisational strategy, supporting long‑term succession planning.
Apprentices learn to research, analyse, and interpret data to inform decisions, improving operational performance and commercial outcomes.
Covers recruitment, performance management, coaching/mentoring, and enabling high‑performance teams, directly impacting productivity.
Equips managers to identify barriers, communicate change effectively, and support transformation initiatives across departments.

Learning outcomes

By completion, learners will be able to:

Provide leadership and people management.
Keep up to date with IT and digital interventions such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and software that can be used in their sector.
Analyse, interpret and cascade data to enable tracking, trend analysis and metric reporting to enable decision making for managing objectives and targets.
Manage and influence activities and projects within budget and resources to deliver change and continuous improvement.
Collaborate with and manage stakeholder relationships.
Lead the creation and implementation of their resource plans considering future organisation needs and impact on change requirements.
Interpret and comply with relevant legislation and regulation and the impact on their organisation.
Lead and manage the team to ensure the application of equity, diversity, and inclusion principles.
Lead the team and individual training needs and support continuous professional development.
Communicate complex information to build understanding and drive team and organisational performance.
Manage activities which drive the organisation’s sustainability goals.
Build and manage internal relationships and collaborate with colleagues to enable cross-team working.
Lead and respond to risk management, assessing the opportunities which could affect individual and team performance, and finding solutions that meet their needs.
Develop and implement their operational plan that aligns with the strategic direction of the organisation.

Module breakdown

Months 1 - 3

Induction and Initial Training

Key topics: leadership styles, personal development, communication skills.

Months 4 - 6

Management Skills

Operational planning, project management fundamentals.

First practical assessment in the workplace

Months 7 - 12

Building Leadership Capability

Coaching and mentoring, team management, and performance optimisation.

Months 13 - 18

Strategic Management

Business strategy, managing resources, and decision-making techniques.

Real-life project implementation and review

Months 19 - 21

Gateway Preparation

Review of modules, mock assessments, EPA workshops.

Preparation for end-point assessment.

Months 22 - 24

End-Point Assessment

Practical observation, professional discussion, and portfolio review.

Receive Level 5 qualification.
Support with career progression.

Delivery and assessment

Blended delivery: A mix of on-the-job learning and remote training sessions
Regular reviews with employers and training providers
End-Point Assessment: Includes observation, a professional discussion and work portfolio review

Training is delivered flexibly to fit around your operational needs.

Ideal Candidates

This programme is ideal for:

Aspiring or existing managers moving into senior operational roles
Team leaders ready to take on broader management responsibilities
Individuals responsible for managing teams, projects or departments
Staff involved in planning, delivering or improving business operations
Organisations developing future senior leaders

Typical job titles

Area manager
Department manager
General manager
Operations manager
Regional manager
Specialist manager

Applicable Sectors

This apprenticeship suits organisations in:

Corporate and Professional Services
Logistics and Supply Chain
Manufacturing and Engineering
Retail and E-commerce
Health and Social Care
Public Sector and Local Government
Construction and Facilities Management
Hospitality and Leisure
Any organisation with operational management needs

Business impact

Develop managers who can lead teams and deliver against organisational strategy
Improve operational efficiency, productivity and performance
Strengthen decision making through data analysis and insight
Support effective change management and business transformation
Build a strong pipeline of future senior leaders

Next Steps

Interested in enrolling your staff?

Enquire now with the form below, or for further information

Speak to our Apprenticeship Team: apprenticeships@etraining-uk.com

Let’s discuss how this apprenticeship can support your organisation