Chartered Manager - Degree Apprenticeship (CMI)
Apprenticeship Summary
Whether you're an aspiring leader or an employer looking to build high-performing teams, the Chartered Manager Apprenticeship offers a comprehensive pathway to long-term success. This apprenticeship is designed for professional managers operating at a strategic or operational level across the private, public, or third sectors—those who take responsibility for people, projects, operations, or services and are ready to elevate their leadership impact.
For apprentices, it’s an opportunity to develop a full spectrum of management and leadership capabilities—from strategic decision-making and financial planning to motivating teams and leading change. You’ll gain the knowledge, skills, and behaviours to drive results, create ethical and inclusive cultures, and deliver real impact. Alongside this, you'll earn professional recognition and status as a Chartered Manager—a mark of excellence valued by employers. On successful completion of this apprentice programme, you will have earned three highly-sought-after qualifications:
- Foundation Degree in Business Management, awarded by Lancaster University
- BA(Hons) Management degree, awarded by Lancaster University
- CMI Level 5: Leadership and Management
For employers, investing in this apprenticeship means building a pipeline of confident, capable leaders equipped to meet the complex challenges of today’s business environment. Apprentices will learn to think critically, manage risk, innovate, and influence stakeholders—all while applying what they learn directly to your organisation.
Backed by a structured programme of continual learning and professional development, the Chartered Manager Apprenticeship is not just a qualification—it's a strategic investment in people, performance, and future success.
Apprenticeship standard dates
| Start date | Location | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
27 Jan 2026
|
University Centre
|
3 Years
|
|
|
14 Sep 2026
|
University Centre
|
3 Years
|
|
|
22 Feb 2027
|
University Centre
|
3 Years
|
Next steps
As an Employer
If you would like to offer this as an apprenticeship vacancy within your organisation, enrol one of your existing employees on this apprenticeship or simply find out more about supporting an apprenticeship within your organisation, please complete the Enquire Now form above and a member of our Business Development Team will be in touch within 2 working days to advise you on next steps.
As an Apprentice
If you are interested in securing an apprenticeship as a Chartered Manager please visit our Vacancies page to check for any suitable roles.
If there are currently no roles available, please submit an enquiry form using the Enquire Now button above to register your interest. We will use this information to let you know when a suitable vacancy becomes available and also to advise you of any courses we offer that might advance your career goals in the meantime.
Key information
Entry Requirements
The employer would ordinarily assess the applicant to commence this programme.
We would expect applicants to have:
A minimum of 80 UCAS points in an appropriate discipline. Applicants who are able to demonstrate substantial relevant work/life skills or knowledge will also be considered on an individual basis.
All applicants must be in employment for the duration of the apprenticeship.
How will the Apprenticeship be funded?
As the employer
How your apprenticeship is funded will depend on whether or not you pay the Apprenticeship Levy. If you do pay the Levy, your apprenticeship will be funded out of this, provided you have sufficient monies available. If you do not pay the Apprenticeship Levy, 95% of the apprenticeship will be funded by the Government, with the remaining 5% being funded by you. There may also be some further incentives offered by the Government which we will be able to advise you of when setting up your apprenticeship. Either way, B&FC's Business Development Team will be on hand to help you navigate the funding arrangements and support you through this process.
As the apprentice
One of the benefits of an apprenticeship is that, as the apprentice, you are not required to fund your training. You will also receive a wage for the work that you do with minimum hourly rates set by the Government. Your employer can choose to pay you more than the minimum wage, but they cannot pay you less. For details of current minimum wage rates for apprentices, please visit the Government website.
What will my Apprentice learn?
Knowledge
Your apprentice should understand:
- How to develop and implement organisational strategies, including resource planning, workforce development, sustainability, supply chains, change management, and quality assurance.
- How to manage projects through all phases, including planning, deployment, and evaluation, while applying risk management, health & safety considerations, and benefit analysis.
- Budgeting, financial management, reporting, procurement, contracting, and the changing commercial context of organisations.
- How to create and implement marketing and sales strategies, analyse market segments, and drive innovation in product and service design.
- The role of digital technologies in driving innovation, improving performance, and managing data for informed decision-making.
- Inclusive leadership models, team development, coaching, mentoring, interpersonal skills, and how to communicate across multiple formats and audiences.
- How to recruit, manage and develop people; apply HR and wellbeing processes; and manage stakeholder, customer and supplier relationships effectively.
- Personal effectiveness, emotional intelligence, time management, ethical values, and decision-making through analysis and governance frameworks.
Skills
Your apprentice should be able to:
- Support the delivery of business plans by setting goals and KPIs, managing resources, and analysing data to measure performance and drive operational excellence.
- Plan, lead and manage projects and change initiatives, applying tools and techniques to mitigate risk and overcome challenges.
- Create and manage budgets, control costs, and produce accurate financial and procurement reports.
- Use data-driven insights to enhance customer experience and relationships, and develop innovative solutions to meet market needs.
- Identify opportunities for innovation and organisational development using data analysis, benchmarking, and new technologies.
- Communicate clearly through various channels, structure discussions, manage meetings, and influence and persuade effectively.
- Build inclusive, high-performing teams by coaching and mentoring others, setting clear expectations, and driving performance.
- Build trust, collaborate across functions, manage conflict, and influence stakeholders both internally and externally.
Behaviours
- Demonstrates resilience, sound judgement, and a strong desire to achieve results and seize opportunities.
- Builds trust by being open, approachable, and respectful of diverse perspectives and backgrounds.
- Embraces change, remains flexible, and seeks creative, enterprising solutions.
- Acts ethically, fairly, and consistently, upholding organisational values and professional standards.
Expert Tutors
All tutors involved in the delivery of courses and apprenticeships within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver.
Our recruitment process ensures that tutors delivering a given programme are suitably qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and a familiarity with professional practice. This is especially important for apprenticeships where off-the-job training needs to align with apprentices' on-the-job experience.
How will the Apprenticeship be delivered?
The apprenticeship will typically be delivered over a 48-month period with additional time required to prepare for the End Point Assessment. Apprentices' time will typically be split 80:20 throughout the apprenticeship programme and delivery will factor in the requirements of the business to ensure that off-site training is provided in a way which minimises disruption to operational arrangements.
What support will I get from B&FC?
As the employer
Each employer is supported by an experienced member of our Business Development Team to set up their apprenticeship. For those employers who are completely new to the apprenticeship process, the Team will support them with all the necessary paperwork and administration to get their apprenticeship programme up and running as quickly and efficiently as possible. For existing employers, their dedicated Client Services Manager will be an ongoing point of contact for all their apprenticeship queries, however big or small.
We can also help employers who are looking to recruit new apprentices by advertising their vacancy, finding suitable applicants and supporting them with the interview and selection process. Once an apprentice is onboard, our Curriculum Tutors and Apprenticeship Trainers and Skills Coaches also step in to support the employer-apprentice relationship and ensure the apprentice is on track to succeed.
As the apprentice
In the first instance, we aim to give potential apprentices all the support they need to find a suitable apprenticeship. That can mean working with them prior to an application to improve their CV, hone their interview skills and advise them of any additional training that may help them secure an apprenticeship vacancy.
Once they start their apprenticeship, we continue to support them with their off-site training and with regular meetings with our Apprenticeship Trainers and Skills Coaches to ensure they are progressing and acquiring all the knowledge, skills and behaviours that will ensure they complete their apprenticeship successfully.
How will the Apprenticeship be assessed?
What is an end-point assessment and why it happens
An EPA is an assessment at the end of the apprenticeship. The EPA is the apprentice's opportunity to show an independent assessor how well they can carry out the occupation they have been trained for.
The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:
- fail
- pass
- distinction
When the apprentice passes the EPA, they will be awarded their apprenticeship certificate. It is a requirement of the end-point assessment that the apprentice has successfully completed the degree component of the apprenticeship and been awarded a Level 6 qualification.
Assessment methods
Project with report and presentation
The apprentice will be asked to complete a project and write a supporting report, the title and scope of which must be agreed with the external assessor at the gateway.
The apprentice will have 12 weeks to complete the project and submit the report to the assessor.
The apprentice will also need to prepare and give a presentation to an independent assessor. The presentation slides and any supporting materials should be submitted at the same time as the report. The presentation itself should be timed to last 15 minutes with the opportunity to ask questions following it.
Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
The apprentice will also have a separate professional discussion with an independent assessor. It will last 60 minutes. They will ask at least 6 questions. The questions will be about certain aspects of the occupation, based on the extensive portfolio of evidence the apprentice has compiled during their apprenticeship programme and which should demonstrate their competency based on the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the occupational standard.