TESS Group
Programme brochure
2026 / 27 intake
Level 4 Apprenticeship · ST1512 · CMI Level 5 included

AI for Operations
Leaders.

The natural alternative to the defunded Operations / Departmental Manager Level 5 (ST0385). Built by the TESS leadership team — same operational leadership content, plus AI fluency, plus a CMI Level 5 Award in Management & Leadership included free.

3
Premium qualifications
included free
15mo
Delivery
+ Gateway & EPA
100%
Apprenticeship
Levy funded
4.9★
689+ verified
reviews
★CMI Level 5 Award in Management & Leadership — Unit 514 Managing Change
88 leadership modules across 4 intensive days — every ST0385 module is covered by
1111 AI & Automation modules — ST1512 curriculum
MMicrosoft AB-730 AI Business Professional
NNCFE Level 3 AI Prompt Mastery — TESS exclusive
AICoachy AI tutor — 24/7, included free
⚠ Funding deadline · September 2026
Operations / Departmental Manager L5 is being defunded.
Move your middle managers onto the natural alternative — no transition cost, no procurement disruption.
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Awarding partners Ofsted Good CMI BCS NCFE Microsoft Copilot
tessgroup.co.uk
01604 210 500 · [email protected]
AI for Operations LeadersLevel 4 + CMI L5 · ST1512
Why this · Why now
!
Funding change · effective September 2026

Operations / Departmental Manager L5 (ST0385) is being defunded.

It's among the standards losing apprenticeship funding from September 2026. No direct successor standard has been announced. Middle and senior operations leadership isn't going anywhere — but the way employers fund it needs to change.

The Natural Alternative

Every ST0385 module. Plus AI fluency.

Built by the TESS leadership team that delivered the Operations / Departmental Manager Level 5 standard. Every one of the 12 taught modules from the old curriculum maps directly into 8 deeper leadership modules across 4 intensive days — plus 11 AI & Automation modules, a formal CMI Level 5 Award, and Coachy your AI tutor. All in one Levy-funded apprenticeship.

Defunded · Sep 2026

Operations / Departmental Manager L5 (ST0385)

12 taught modules · old standard
  1. Managing Professional Development
  2. Professional Ethics, Regulation & Compliance
  3. Coaching & Mentoring
  4. Improving Performance & Goal Setting
  5. Communication & Culture
  6. Stakeholder Relations
  7. Governance & Compliance
  8. Sector Awareness & External Factors
  9. Managing Change
  10. Project Delivery
  11. Sustainability & Risk Management
  12. Strategic Planning & Decision Making
The Successor

AI for Operations Leaders L4 + CMI L5

8 leadership modules · new standard
  1. Managing Professional Development & Self-Awareness
  2. Strategic Planning & Decision Making
  3. Coaching, Mentoring & Performance
  4. Leading & Developing High-Performing Teams
  5. Communication, Culture & Stakeholder Influence
  6. Managing Change — CMI 514 ★ CMI
  7. Project Delivery & Sustainability
  8. Governance, Sector Awareness & External Factors
Plus 11 AI modules · CMI Level 5 Award · Microsoft AB-730 · NCFE Level 3 AI Prompt · Coachy AI tutor

Why this beats the old Operations Manager L5

01
AI fluency built in — the biggest capability gap in middle management today.
02
12 modules waive into 8 — same content, less time off the desk.
03
CMI Level 5 Award included free — chartered, portable, lifetime.
04
Coachy AI tutor 24/7 — board-prep & CMI 514 help on demand.
05
Live ST1512 funding — no procurement disruption.
06
72% distinction rate — measurably stronger managers.
AI for Operations LeadersLevel 4 + CMI L5 · ST1512
What's included · The stack
The Stack

Three premium qualifications. All included free.

The apprenticeship is the ST1512 AI & Automation Practitioner Level 4 standard. On top, TESS includes a curated stack of qualifications — all complimentary. No extra cost. No separate enrolments. No add-on fees.

★ Flagship · Included free

CMI Level 5 Award in Management & Leadership

The gold-standard credential for middle managers. Apprentices complete the formal CMI assignment for unit 514 Managing Change — the most natural companion to an AI programme, addressing how to introduce AI into teams and operations. Chartered, portable, lifetime — stays on the CV.

Level 5 Unit 514 · Formally assessed Chartered Mgmt Institute
Complimentary

NCFE Level 3 CQ in AI Prompt Mastery

Bespoke TESS qualification. Master prompt engineering across ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini and Claude. Apply prompts to forecasting, supply-chain analysis, board reporting and operational decisions.

Level 3 CQ TESS exclusive
Complimentary

Microsoft AB-730 AI Business Professional

Microsoft's globally recognised credential. Demonstrates proficiency in Copilot, generative AI tools and enterprise AI adoption. The badge that travels with your operations leader on LinkedIn and into every boardroom.

Professional AB-730
High Achievers

BCS Foundation Certificate in AI

For top-performing learners. Covers AI ethics, governance, responsible deployment and generative AI — SFIA 3–4 equivalent. Doubles as End Point Assessment preparation.

Foundation Stretch goal
Coachy
Plus · Included free with every learner

Coachy — your AI tutor, 24/7.

Built on Claude. Scoped to the ST1512 standard, EPA-safe by design. Ask questions about decision frameworks, change models, the CMI 514 assignment or board-prep — any time, mobile or desktop.

AI for Operations LeadersLevel 4 + CMI L5 · ST1512
The leadership modules
Flagship leadership curriculum

Eight modules. Four intensive days.

Two paired leadership modules per day — immersive, themed, efficient. Every one of the 12 ST0385 modules map into these 8 deeper sessions across 4 dedicated leadership days. Maximum depth, minimum time off the desk.

Day 1 Foundations

Who you are as a leader

Self-awareness, CPD & strategy
  • LM1 · Professional Development & Self-Awareness
  • LM2 · Strategic Planning & Decision Making
Day 2 People

Build the team that delivers

Coaching, mentoring & succession
  • LM3 · Coaching, Mentoring & Performance
  • LM4 · Leading High-Performing Teams
Day 3 Mastery ★ CMI

Influence & change

Stakeholders + CMI 514 assignment
  • LM5 · Communication, Culture & Influence
  • LM6 · Managing Change — CMI 514
Day 4 Delivery

Deliver through complexity

Projects, sustainability & governance
  • LM7 · Project Delivery & Sustainability
  • LM8 · Governance, Sector & External Factors
LM1 Day 1 · Foundations

Professional Development & Self-Awareness

Covers ST0385 #1
  • Strengths, blind spots, derailers
  • Johari Window & 360° feedback
  • CPD that compounds over time
  • Energy, focus, resilience
  • Reflective practice that drives change
LM2 Day 1 · Strategy

Strategic Planning & Decision Making

Covers ST0385 #12
  • OGSM framework for ops planning
  • RACI, RAPID, OODA, Eisenhower
  • Defensible business cases
  • Pilot, scale, kill — decision gates
  • Leave with: your 90-day plan
LM3 Day 2 · People

Coaching, Mentoring & Performance

Covers ST0385 #3/4
  • Coaching vs mentoring vs managing
  • GROW model in practice
  • SMART goals that compound output
  • 1:1s that earn the team's trust
  • Tackle underperformance early
LM4 Day 2 · People

Leading High-Performing Teams

Supplements ST0385 #4
  • Tuckman + Lencioni's 5 Dysfunctions
  • Psychological safety in practice
  • Spot capability gaps in 60 seconds
  • Identify 3 successors, stretch plan
  • Measure team health holistically
LM5 Day 3 · Influence

Communication, Culture & Influence

Covers ST0385 #5/6
  • 7-slide executive briefing
  • Frame for CEO/CFO/COO/CHRO
  • Manager cascade that doesn't dilute
  • Influence without formal authority
  • Shape culture deliberately
LM6 Day 3 · ★ CMI 514

Managing Change — CMI 514

Covers ST0385 #9
  • Kotter, ADKAR, Bridges' Transitions
  • Map change impact across stakeholders
  • Resistance signals managers miss
  • Sustain change after launch
  • Earn the CMI L5 Award credential
LM7 Day 4 · Delivery

Project Delivery & Sustainability

Covers ST0385 #10/11
  • Waterfall, Agile, hybrid — when each
  • Estimating & stage-gating
  • Risk heat-maps & mitigation
  • ESG & sustainability in delivery
  • Benefits realisation post-close
LM8 Day 4 · Delivery

Governance, Sector & External Factors

Covers ST0385 #2/7/8
  • Professional ethics & accountability
  • Governance frameworks across sectors
  • PESTLE + Porter's 5 Forces
  • Sector AI maturity & regulation
  • Horizon-scan briefing for your CEO
AI for Operations LeadersLevel 4 + CMI L5 · ST1512
AI curriculum · Delivery
AI & Automation curriculum

The 11 AI modules. ST1512 standard.

The official ST1512 AI & Automation Practitioner Level 4 curriculum — 11 KSB-aligned modules delivered across 15 months. The 8 leadership modules above are delivered separately and complimentary on top of this.

01

AI Ethics & Values

02

Governance, Law & GDPR

03

Spotting Waste & Inefficiency

04

Building for People

05

No-Code Automation Tools

06

Data-Driven Decision Making

07

Change Mgmt & AI Impact

08

Agile Testing & Piloting

09

AI Risk & Security

10

Winning AI Buy-In

11

Microsoft Copilot in Practice

+

EPA Prep & Portfolio

Coachy — included free

Your AI tutor, 24/7.

Built on Claude, scoped to the ST1512 standard, EPA-safe by design. Apprentices can ask Coachy about decision frameworks, change models, the CMI 514 assignment or board-prep — any time. Mobile and desktop.

Coachy
1

Named Skills Coach

Fortnightly 1:1 mentoring across 15 months.

2

OneFile Portfolio

Evidence collection & gateway readiness.

3

Peer Cohort

Group learning + EPA prep tutors.

4

Live Workshops

Zoom or Teams · monthly intakes.

77%
Faster workflow cycle times via AI
15%
Operating cost reduction
35%
Forecast accuracy improvement
72%
Distinction-grade rate at EPA
AI for Operations LeadersLevel 4 + CMI L5 · ST1512
Compare · Invest · Book
How TESS compares

The only programme of its kind in the UK.

The only UK provider combining a CMI Level 5 Award in Management & Leadership with the live ST1512 AI & Automation apprenticeship — the natural alternative to the defunded Operations / Departmental Manager L5.

What you get TESS
AI for Ops Leaders L4 + CMI L5		 Ops Manager L5(defunded Sep 2026) Typical AI
provider
CMI Level 5 Award in Management & Leadership✓Partial✕
8 leadership modules (covers all 12 ST0385 modules)✓✓✕
AI & Automation curriculum (11 modules)✓✕Partial
Microsoft AB-730 + NCFE L3 AI Prompt✓✕✕
Workplace AI project — board-ready ROI✓Partial✕
Coachy AI tutor — 24/7, free✓✕✕
Levy-funded (Sep 2026 onwards)✓Defunded✓
Funding band
£18,000
100% drawn from the Apprenticeship Levy. SMEs: 95–100% government co-investment.
  • Levy payers: £0 out-of-pocket. Cost drawn from your monthly Levy.
  • SMEs (under £3M wage bill): 95–100% DfE co-investment.
  • All qualifications complimentary — CMI L5 + NCFE L3 + Microsoft AB-730 + BCS Foundation.
  • No transition cost — moves directly from Ops Manager L5 plans onto a live standard.
Ready when you are

Book a 25-min Teams chat with TESS.

No obligation. We'll walk you through how the programme works for your operations, your sector and your Levy.

01604 210 500 · [email protected]
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