Employer Resources
By Sector
Financial Services Energy & Utilities Public Sector Transport & Logistics Retail & Consumer Healthcare & Pharma Professional Services Manufacturing
⚡ New for 2026

Growth & Skills Levy

Major changes to apprenticeship funding from April 2026. Understand the new rules and what they mean for your organisation.

Learn More →

The Data-Driven Team Leader

Page overview

Data skills and leadership development in one 13-month Level 3 apprenticeship

Data Technician Level 3 (ST0795 v1.1) with integrated CMI leadership qualification

Enquire Now → View the Curriculum
3
Qualifications included
13
Month programme
L3
Data + Leadership combined
Levy
Funded

A Market First

The only apprenticeship programme that combines genuine data skills training with CMI-accredited leadership development on a single funded standard. Your team leaders learn to use data, not just collect it.

Three Qualifications, One Programme

Learners walk away with credentials that carry weight:

CMI Level 3 Award NCFE Certificate in Data Data Technician L3

Trusted Provider

★ Ofsted Good ★ 4.9/5 Trustpilot ★ CMI Centre of Excellence
🎓
3
Qualifications Earned
📊
13
Months to Completion
🎯
100%
Integrated Data + Leadership
💰
Levy
Funded Through Your Levy Pot

Why this programme exists

The leadership apprenticeships your teams rely on are being defunded. This programme fills the gap with something better.

📈

Data-literate leaders

Your team leaders will make decisions based on evidence, not instinct. Excel, Power BI, and data storytelling are built into the programme from day one.

🎓

CMI-accredited leadership

Not a bolt-on webinar. Leadership theory starts in Module 1 and builds every month, from styles and situational leadership through to coaching and performance management, all assessed through a CMI Level 3 Award.

💳

Funded through the levy

Sits within the funding band. Levy employers use existing funds. Non-levy employers co-invest just 5%. The Growth and Skills Levy brings even broader flexibility from April 2026.

🚀

Future-proof your pipeline

Team Leader L3 and Ops Manager L5 are being defunded from September 2026. This programme gives your leadership pipeline a standard that stays funded.

September 2026 Defunding

Team Leader L3 (ST0384) and Operations Manager L5 (ST0385) will no longer accept new starts. Act now to transition your leadership development pathway.

What your leaders gain
Data literacy
90%
Leadership skills
82%
Decision confidence
88%
Team performance
75%

Improvement scores based on post-programme employer surveys across similar TESS programmes.

Built for people who lead teams, not write code

This programme is for the team leaders, supervisors, and first-line managers who need to use data every day but have never been shown how.

👥

The New Team Leader

Promoted for being great at the job, now expected to lead a team with no formal training. Needs leadership models and management frameworks.

📊

The Spreadsheet Survivor

Drowning in spreadsheets and manual reports. Knows there must be a better way to track team performance but has never been trained.

💬

The Gut-Feel Decision Maker

Makes solid decisions but cannot back them up with data. Needs to present evidence to senior stakeholders and influence upwards.

🌱

The Future Senior Leader

On the path to Operations Manager or Head of Department. Needs the data literacy and leadership credentials to take the next step.

Three nationally recognised credentials

Your learners walk away with two regulated qualifications plus the apprenticeship certificate. More than any competitor offers, with no extra assessment burden.

🎓

CMI Level 3 Award

Unit 302: Managing a Team to Achieve Results

Leadership styles, team development, performance management, coaching, feedback, and delegation. One workplace-applied assignment (approx. 2,500 words). Achieved by month 11.

Regulated Qualification
📊

NCFE Level 3 Certificate in Data

603/7882/7 | 195 GLH | 245 TQT

Six mandatory units covering the full data lifecycle. Internally assessed portfolio - the same evidence feeds into the EPA. No double work. Achieved by month 11.

Regulated Qualification
✅

Data Technician Level 3

ST0795 v1.1 | Apprenticeship Certificate

The nationally recognised apprenticeship standard. Two scenario demonstrations (90 mins) plus professional discussion (60 mins). Graded up to Distinction.

National Standard

The 13-month learning journey

Data skills and leadership development run side by side from day one. Every module builds both technical capability and team leadership practice. 10 modules. 13 months from start to finish. Unlike programmes that bolt leadership on at the end, The Data-Driven Team Leader weaves leadership practice into every stage. From your first data project, you are learning to lead with evidence, communicate with confidence, and manage a team that makes decisions grounded in data.
Data and Technical
Leadership and Management
Integrated (both threads)
Assessment
1

Building the Foundation

Months 1 to 5 | Modules 1 to 5
Data Technician Skills Leadership from day one NCFE units
Module 01
Data Technician Leadership NCFE
01
Data Foundations and the Digital Landscape
Data types, sources, and storage formats. Ethical use of data and AI. The relationship between data, ML, IoT, and generative AI. Starts the leadership journey from day one: what is leadership vs management, and what makes a data-driven leader different?
Module 02
Data Technician Leadership NCFE CMI 302
02
Data Sources, Selection and Migration
Accessing and extracting data from multiple sources. Lookups, blending tools, and migration techniques. Introduces leadership styles (autocratic, democratic, transformational) and when each applies to data projects. Managing stakeholder expectations.
Module 03
Data Technician Leadership NCFE CMI 302
03
Data Compliance, Governance and Team Responsibility
Data formats and precision. GDPR, DPA, and IP rights. Anonymisation techniques. Sustainable data practices. Situational leadership (Hersey-Blanchard): adapting your approach to your team's readiness level. Compliance as a leadership responsibility.
Module 04
Data Technician Leadership NCFE CMI 302
04
Data Quality, Validation and Leading Standards
Identifying data quality issues. Validation and corrective action. Prompt engineering for data transformation. Cleansing, auditing, and documentation. Setting and enforcing team quality standards. Applying your leadership style to quality management.
Module 05
Data Technician Leadership NCFE CMI 302
05
Data Analysis, Automation and Team Performance
Analysis, visualisation, and querying tools. Automation and filtering. Statistical methods (mean, standard deviation, percentages). Tuckman's team development model (forming, storming, norming, performing). Using data to measure and track team progression.
NCFE Level 3 Certificate in Data portfolio building throughout
2

Applying and Leading

Months 6 to 10 | Modules 6 to 9
Advanced Data Skills CMI 302 completion NCFE completion
Module 06
Data Technician Leadership NCFE CMI 302
06
Data Visualisation, Communication and Storytelling
Dashboards, charts, and presentation tools. Communication methods and storytelling with data. Data storytelling as a core leadership skill. Tailoring insights for different audiences: what does the board need vs what does your team need? Leading cross-functional data conversations.
Module 07
Data Technician Leadership CMI 302
07
Data-Driven Team Dynamics and Coaching
Using data to identify team strengths and development needs. Coaching models: GROW and OSCAR. Feedback delivery backed by evidence. Delegation frameworks. Collaborative working and EDI in data teams.
Module 08
Data Technician Leadership CMI 302
08
Performance Management with Data
Performance management frameworks underpinned by data. Setting measurable objectives. Building team KPI dashboards. Using automation to track and report on team outcomes. Prompt engineering for performance insights.
Module 09
Data Technician Leadership CMI 302 NCFE
09
Strategic Decision Making and Data Leadership
Data-driven decision making frameworks. Value of data for strategic planning. AI and data in organisational context. Presenting data-backed recommendations to leadership. Leading change through evidence.
CMI Level 3 Award achieved | NCFE Certificate in Data completed
3

Consolidation and Assessment

Months 11 to 13 | Module 10 + EPA Window
Gateway and EPA
Module 10
Data Technician Leadership EPA Prep
10
EPA Preparation and Gateway
Everything your learner has covered is revisited and consolidated across both data and leadership. Portfolio quality assurance. Mock scenario demonstrations combining technical data skills with leadership application. Professional discussion practice. Gateway readiness and sign-off.
EPA Window
End-Point Assessment
EPA
End-Point Assessment
Two scenario demonstrations with questioning (90 minutes total) plus a professional discussion underpinned by portfolio (60 minutes). Scenarios test both technical data competence and leadership application. Graded Pass / Merit / Distinction.
Data Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship achieved

Got team leaders who need to work with data and AI?

25-minute discovery call. We will discuss the pathway, funding, and cohort fit.

Book a Discovery Call

The return on your investment

What your organisation gains from developing data-driven team leaders.

📈
3 Qualifications
CMI Level 3 Award, NCFE Certificate in Data, and the apprenticeship certificate. More portable credentials than any competing programme on this standard.
📊
Evidence-Based
Leaders who present data, not opinions. Team performance tracked through dashboards and reports. Decision making grounded in analysis, not gut feel.
🎯
Leadership Ready
Coaching models (GROW, OSCAR), performance management frameworks, Tuckman's team stages, and situational leadership. Your managers learn how to lead, not just do.
🚀
Future-Proof
Built on a funded standard that is not on the defunding list. Your leadership pipeline continues without disruption when Team Leader L3 and Ops Manager L5 are withdrawn.

See the difference

We checked what competitors deliver on the Data Technician standard. Here is the genuine side-by-side.

Feature TESS Group Typical Provider
Regulated qualifications included ✓ 2 + EPA 0-1 + EPA
Leadership integrated throughout ✓ Built into every module from day one None or bolted on
CMI management qualification ✓ CMI L3 Award Not included
Power BI training ✓ Full module Brief overview
Coaching models (GROW, OSCAR) ✓ Taught and assessed Not covered
Data storytelling for leaders ✓ Dedicated module Presentation basics only
Employer visibility ✓ Monthly reports + portal Varies
🎓

CMI Centre of Excellence

Recognised for quality of leadership delivery

★

Ofsted Good Provider

Inspected and rated for apprenticeship quality

📈

4.9/5 Trustpilot

Rated by learners and employers

Why employers choose TESS

✓

The only data + leadership hybrid

No other provider wraps CMI leadership into the Data Technician standard. This programme is a genuine market first.

✓

Three qualifications, zero double work

Evidence for the NCFE portfolio feeds directly into the EPA. Your learners do the work once and it counts everywhere.

✓

Employer visibility throughout

Monthly progress reports, employer dashboards, and a dedicated account manager. You always know where your learners are.

✓

Progression pathways built in

Completers can progress to AI for Operations Leaders (L4) or other TESS programmes across data, leadership, and improvement.

Awarding body partners

Qualifications delivered through nationally recognised awarding organisations.

How your learners are assessed

Two practical assessment methods that test real workplace capability across the full programme.

End-Point Assessment

The EPA is conducted by an independent assessor after gateway. Both methods must be passed for the apprenticeship to be awarded.

💻

Scenario Demonstration with Questioning

Two practical demonstrations observed by an independent assessor. Scenario 1: Data Gathering (45 mins). Scenario 2: Data Analysis and Validation (45 mins). Minimum 10 questions across both.

🗣

Professional Discussion Underpinned by Portfolio

A structured one-to-one discussion supported by a portfolio of evidence (typically 8 pieces). Minimum 10 open questions. Audio-recorded. 60 minutes.

🏆

Module 10 gets them ready

The final on-programme module is dedicated entirely to EPA preparation: mock assessments, portfolio consolidation, and gateway readiness. No learner goes in unprepared.

Assessment Timeline

M1-9
On-Programme Learning

9 modules building knowledge, skills, and portfolio evidence

M10-11
EPA Preparation

Mock assessments, portfolio QA, gateway sign-off

M12
Scenario Demonstrations

Two observed demonstrations with questioning (90 mins total)

M13
Professional Discussion

Portfolio-underpinned discussion (60 mins). Grading confirmed.

Overall EPA Grading

Each method graded Fail / Pass / Distinction. Both at Pass = Pass overall. One Distinction + one Pass = Merit. Both at Distinction = Distinction.

💬
We needed our team leaders to stop guessing and start using the data that was right in front of them. This programme gave them the skills to do exactly that, and the CMI qualification gave them the confidence to lead properly.
Operations Director
National Retail Group

Frequently asked questions

What is The Data-Driven Team Leader?

+
It is a 13-month Level 3 apprenticeship built on the Data Technician standard (ST0795 v1.1) where data skills and leadership development are woven together from day one. Learners complete 10 integrated modules plus EPA preparation, and earn three qualifications: a CMI Level 3 Award in Managing a Team to Achieve Results, an NCFE Level 3 Certificate in Data, and the Data Technician apprenticeship certificate.

How is the programme funded?

+
The programme sits within the funding band. Levy-paying employers use their existing levy funds. Non-levy employers co-invest just 5%. From April 2026, the Growth and Skills Levy replaces the Apprenticeship Levy with broader flexibility for employers.

Do learners need prior data experience?

+
No. The programme is designed for team leaders, supervisors, and first-line managers who want to make better decisions with data. No coding or prior data experience is required. Module 1 starts with data fundamentals and builds from there.

Why not just use the Team Leader Level 3 apprenticeship?

+
The Team Leader/Supervisor Level 3 (ST0384) and Operations/Departmental Manager Level 5 (ST0385) apprenticeships are being defunded in September 2026. New starts will no longer be possible after that date. The Data-Driven Team Leader provides a future-proof alternative that combines leadership with data skills through a standard that remains levy-funded.

What does the CMI qualification cover?

+
The CMI Level 3 Award is assessed through Unit 302: Managing a Team to Achieve Results. It covers leadership styles, team development, performance management, coaching, feedback, and delegation. It is assessed through one workplace-applied written assignment of approximately 2,500 words.

How much time will learners spend away from work?

+
Apprentices must spend a minimum of 20% of their time on off-the-job training (at least 6 hours per week for full-time learners). This is delivered through a blend of workshops, online learning, and workplace application. There is no block release required.

What industries does this programme suit?

+
The Data Technician standard was designed to work across all sectors where data is generated or processed. That includes financial services, retail, education, healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, public sector, and professional services. If your team leaders work with data in any form, this programme is relevant.

What happens after the programme?

+
Completers can progress to the AI for Operations Leaders Level 4 programme (using the AI and Automation Practitioner standard with CMI Level 5), or to other TESS programmes across data, leadership, and quality improvement. The CMI and NCFE qualifications are also portable credentials for any career pathway.

Explore related programmes

Build a complete workforce development pathway with TESS.

Level 3

The Data-Driven Team Leader

Data skills + CMI leadership on the Data Technician standard. Three qualifications in 13 months.

13 monthsST0795
Level 4

AI for Operations Leaders

AI and automation skills with CMI Level 5 leadership. The natural next step for Data-Driven Team Leader completers.

18 monthsST1512
Level 4

AI for People Leaders

AI and automation with CMI leadership for people-focused managers. HR, L&D, and talent development leaders.

18 monthsST1512
All Levels

View All Programmes

27+ apprenticeships from Level 3 to Level 7 across AI, data, leadership, HR, and quality improvement.

L3 to L7Full portfolio

Why This Matters

Understand the context and importance of this programme:

Why This Programme Exists 5 Workshops Every New Manager Needs

How do you want to start?

Every organisation is different. Some want to pilot with one leader first. Others want to upskill an entire department from day one. Both work, and we'll help you decide which is right.

Start with one leader

Test, learn, then scale

Put your most forward-thinking manager through the programme first. They come back with practical data skills, real automation wins, and the confidence to champion data-driven decision making across the business.

Low commitment way to test the approach
Your pilot becomes your internal data advocate
Scale to a full cohort when you're ready
Same levy-funded model, zero cost to start
Discuss a Pilot →

Upskill an entire team

Transform a department from day one

When a whole department goes through together, they build a shared data language, standardise their decision-making, and hold each other accountable. The impact is transformational, not incremental.

Shared data vocabulary across the team
Standardised data workflows, not individual hacks
Peer learning from different functional perspectives
Tailored to your organisation's specific challenges
Discuss a Team Cohort →

Ready to develop data-driven leaders?

Book a discovery call to discuss how this programme fits your team, your sector, and your levy or funding position.

Enquire Now → Call 01604 210 500
Or email [email protected]