If you're interested in a career that puts people at the centre of business success, the People Professional role could be for you. Found in all kinds of organisations and industries, People Professionals work on everything from hiring and developing talent to managing payroll, benefits, and employee wellbeing. It’s a role that offers variety, real responsibility, and the chance to make a meaningful impact in the workplace.
In smaller companies especially, you’ll get hands-on experience across a wide range of areas, helping you build a strong foundation for a future career in HR or people management.
This apprenticeship gives you real-world experience and the skills you need to kick-start a career in people management and HR. You’ll learn how to support a business in areas like attracting and developing talent, managing employee relations, handling payroll and benefits, and staying compliant with employment law.
From day one, you’ll be involved in meaningful projects, helping shape workplace culture and employee experience. With expert guidance and hands-on learning, you’ll gain the confidence to offer advice, solve problems, and play a key role in supporting people and driving business success.
You will need exposure to relevant workplace experience in order to gather evidence that meets the Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours outlined in the Professional Standard.
A Level 5 People Professional Apprenticeship offers a comprehensive blend of practical work experience and industry-relevant qualifications, allowing you to earn while you learn.
You will be equipped with essential HR knowledge and expertise, including legal and ethical understanding, conflict resolution, and people management skills to further your career. This apprenticeship also ensures the development of strong communication, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
Alongside personal development, you'll gain valuable experience in technology and HR systems, time management, and teamwork, supported by networking and mentoring opportunities. Ultimately, this apprenticeship lays a solid foundation for career progression in HR, preparing you to effectively engage employees and contribute to organisational success.
To be awarded the CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management, you are required to successfully complete a total of seven units (3 core, 3 specialist and 1 additional specialist unit)
Core Modules: (Mandatory)
Specialist Units: (Mandatory)
Additional Specialist Units: (Select One)
You will be assessed throughout the duration of your apprenticeship. Assessment methods include practical observations, knowledge assessments, assignments and projects.
To conclude your apprenticeship, you will complete an End-Point Assessment (EPA).
These assessment methods provide a well-rounded approach to ensuring that apprentices gain the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in their careers, and help employers evaluate the apprentice’s progress over time.
You will meet with your Apprenticeship Assessor every 4 weeks, remotely, for approximately one hour. During this session, your assessor will help you gather workplace evidence and link your curriculum learning with the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) that make up the apprenticeship standard.
Weekly curriculum sessions will begin in September and conclude in June/July. Each week, you’ll log in remotely for about 4 hours (excluding school holidays). These sessions are designed to help you complete your qualification, CIPD Level 5. While the live sessions are not recorded for GDPR reasons, all supporting resources and materials will be available in the remote ‘Blackboard’ area.
Upon successful completion of the Level 5 People Professional Apprenticeship, you could go on to complete the Level 7 Senior People Professional Apprenticeship. Job opportunities this apprenticeship may open include:
