HR Support
Level 3

Launch your HR career with practical expertise in administration, employee lifecycle management, recruitment support, and payroll basics. CIPD-recognized qualification, levy-funded.

14
Months (Plus EPA)
£4.5K
100% Levy Funded
3
Qualifications Included
12
Intensive Modules

🎯 You'll Earn

HR Support Standard (Apprenticeship) + CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate + Professional Membership Pathway

Why This Matters

Every growing business needs skilled HR professionals. CIPD-qualified HR support staff command 35% higher salaries and drive workplace culture.

CIPD Recognized HR Professional Career Pathway
🚀
35%
Higher Salary Potential
💼
100%
Levy Funded
🎓
3
Qualifications
💰
£0
Out-of-Pocket Cost

Why HR Support Level 3 Is the Foundation of Great People Teams

HR professionals are the backbone of any growing business. This programme builds practical expertise in administration, recruitment, employee lifecycle, and CIPD-recognized qualifications.

Why HR Skills Matter

AI Without Leadership Fails

70% of AI initiatives stall - not because the technology doesn't work, but because teams aren't coached through adoption. Leaders are the missing piece.

HR Administrators Are the Key

Your HR coordinators are closest to the work. When they understand AI, they spot opportunities, coach their teams, and turn resistance into momentum.

AI + Leadership = Compounding Returns

Leaders who understand both AI and people development don't just adopt tools - they build AI-confident teams that continuously improve. The impact multiplies.

What AI-Literate Leaders Deliver
Faster Tool Adoption
3x faster
Team Confidence in AI
78%
Reduction in Change Resistance
65%
Time Saved on Routine Tasks
20+ hrs/wk

Based on outcomes from AI-enabled leadership programmes across UK employers

Built for HR Professionals

Whether you're managing your first team or leading across divisions, this programme fits your role.

👔

HR Coordinators

Master HR administration, employee lifecycle management, and support recruitment projects with CIPD qualifications.

⏰

People Support Specialists

Develop expertise in recruitment support, payroll basics, and employment law fundamentals.

📊

HR Administrators

Build professional HR administration skills and gain recognized CIPD credentials.

📋

Apprentices Seeking HR Careers

Launch your HR career with hands-on training, mentoring, and professional development.

🌱

Career Changers to HR

Transition into HR with structured support, practical skills, and industry-recognized qualifications.

💬

Employee Relations Professionals

Develop expertise in employee wellbeing, engagement, and relations management.

Your 4 Portable Qualifications

Recognised qualifications you own forever, across any organisation.

🏛️

CMI Level 3

Chartered Management Institute
Principles of Management & Leadership. Covers leadership styles, workplace communication, developing individuals, managing teams through change, and resolving conflict. Mapped to CMI 301, 303, 304, 307, 309 & 310.
Level 3
📊

NCFE Level 3

Certificate in Data
Data fundamentals, interpretation, and use. Learn to spot trends, communicate findings, and make data-informed decisions without being a data scientist.
Level 3
🤖

NCFE Level 3 CQ

AI Prompt Mastery (TESS Bespoke)
Master ChatGPT, Copilot, and other AI tools. Learn prompt engineering, quality control, ethical use, and how to teach your team to use AI effectively.
Level 3
Microsoft's globally recognised credential. Understand AI strategy, implementation, and business impact. Copilot in practice across Microsoft tools.
Professional

Your 4-Phase Journey

HR fundamentals, administration, recruitment, employee lifecycle, and CIPD standards woven throughout. 12 intensive modules across 14 months.

The difference: Every phase interweaves HR administration with people management principles. When you learn recruitment processes, you also learn employment law. When you manage employee lifecycle, you're developing your professional expertise. HR from month one - not bolted on at the end.

1

Foundations & HR Administration

Months 1–3
HR FUNDAMENTALS
M1
HR Fundamentals & CIPD Intro
Introduction to HR as a discipline, CIPD standards, professional practice, and ethical HR.
EMPLOYMENT LAW
M2
Employment Law Fundamentals
Contract law, discrimination, health & safety responsibilities, dispute resolution, and compliance.
PEOPLE MANAGEMENT
M3
People Management Principles
Effective communication, interpersonal skills, team dynamics, and managing diverse workforces.
2

Recruitment & Selection

Months 4–7
RECRUITMENT
M4
Recruitment Process & Strategy
Job analysis, recruitment planning, sourcing, advertising, and candidate screening.
RECRUITMENT
M5
Selection & Interviewing
Interview techniques, assessment methods, decision-making, and candidate experience.
EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE
M6
Onboarding & Induction
Effective employee onboarding, induction planning, integration, and early engagement.
PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT
M7
Employee Development & Performance
Performance management, appraisals, training & development, and career support.
3

Employee Lifecycle & Payroll Basics

Months 8–11
EMPLOYEE LIFECYCLE
M8
Employee Lifecycle Management
From hire to exit: leave management, offboarding, exit interviews, and employee records.
PAYROLL BASICS
M9
Payroll Fundamentals
Salary administration, tax, National Insurance, benefits, and payroll compliance.
HR DEVELOPMENT
M10
AI Risk & Security
Prompt injection, model risks, data leaks, governance, your role in risk management.
LEADERSHIP
M11
Supporting Teams Through Change & Resolving Conflict
Lead your team through AI-driven workplace change. Handle resistance, manage conflict constructively, and build resilience. CMI 310 & 309.
4

Mastery & Application

Months 12–14
HR DEVELOPMENT
M12
Agile Testing & Piloting
Run AI pilots in your team. MVP thinking, iterate, gather feedback, scale.
HR DEVELOPMENT
M13
Winning AI Support & Buy-In
Stakeholder management, business cases, selling AI internally to skeptics.
HR DEVELOPMENT
M14
Microsoft Copilot in Practice
Hands-on with Copilot across Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook. AB-730 prep & final project.

Months 15–18

Project, Presentation, Professional Discussion & EPA

Independent assessment by 1st for Awarding. Graded Pass or Distinction across applied knowledge, skills, and communication.

Employer ROI: The Business Case for AI + Leadership

Why invest £4,500 in one apprentice? Because the returns compound across your whole team.

⚡
3x
Faster tool adoption when teams are led by AI-literate managers
📈
40%
Reduction in staff turnover when leaders coach through change
💼
£4.5K
In levy funding = £0 out-of-pocket cost to your business
🎓
4
Portable qualifications your employee takes with them (and you benefit from now)
How Teams Perform: With vs Without AI-Literate Leadership
Tool adoption success rate
75%
Staff engagement with AI
60%
Productivity lift (first 6 months)
85%

What You Get With TESS vs a Typical AI Apprenticeship Provider

Feature Typical AI Provider AI for People Leaders (TESS)
Leadership Qualification ✗ None included ✓ CMI Level 3 Management & Leadership
Total Qualifications ✗ 0–1 ✓ 4 (CMI + NCFE Data + Prompt Mastery + Microsoft)
People & Coaching Focus ✗ Tech-focused, not people-focused ✓ Leadership styles, communication, developing individuals, change management
Data Skills Varies - often theoretical ✓ NCFE Level 3 Certificate in Data
Copilot & Prompt Engineering ✗ Rarely included ✓ NCFE Prompt Mastery + Microsoft AB-730
Coaching Frameworks ✗ Not included ✓ GROW, OSKAR, psychological safety
Levy Funding £4,500 £4,500 - same funding, far more value
Designed For Generic / technical roles ✓ People leaders managing teams
🏆

Industry-Leading

Only ST1512 combining AI + CMI + Microsoft

🎯

Role-Focused

Designed for people managers, not generic learners

📊

ROI-Proven

3x tool adoption with AI-literate leaders

Why No Other Provider Offers This

✓

Integrated, Not Bolted-On

CMI L3 leadership modules woven throughout AI content - not tacked on at the end. You learn communication and leadership styles first, then develop people and manage change alongside the tools.

✓

CMI + Microsoft + NCFE

Other providers deliver AI training. None bundle the CMI leadership qualification + Microsoft credential + NCFE data cert. TESS does.

✓

4 Credentials Your Employee Keeps Forever

Move jobs, move countries, move sectors - these qualifications travel with them. They're your investment in people, not your company.

✓

Built for the HR practice Problem

Other providers teach AI. TESS teaches leaders how to help teams adopt AI. That's why adoption succeeds, staff stay, and ROI compounds.

Trusted Partners & Awarding Bodies

Qualifications delivered and assessed by the industry's leading bodies.

End-Point Assessment (EPA)

Your apprentice demonstrates competence in their workplace role through a rigorous, independent assessment.

1

Project (Mandatory)

Apprentice completes a workplace AI & automation project demonstrating applied knowledge, skills, and real business impact.

2

Professional Discussion

Structured discussion with an independent assessor exploring the apprentice's competence across all assessment outcomes.

3

Presentation

Apprentice presents their project outcomes, demonstrating communication, stakeholder engagement, and strategic thinking.

✓

Graded: Pass or Distinction

Independently assessed by 1st for Awarding (EPAO) across applied knowledge, applied skills, regulatory awareness, and communication.

Your EPA Timeline
1–4
Month 12–14: EPA Prep

Workplace project scoped. TESS guides preparation, evidence gathering begins.

2–5
Month 15–16: Project & Portfolio

Apprentice completes AI project in their workplace. Portfolio of evidence compiled.

3–6
Month 17: Assessment

Project assessed, presentation delivered, professional discussion with independent assessor.

4–7
Month 18: Results

Graded Pass or Distinction. All qualifications awarded. Apprenticeship complete.

My team didn't just learn AI - they got excited about it. The coaching frameworks helped me explain why change was happening, and our people stayed engaged through the whole adoption. That's where the real ROI is.
👩‍💼
TESS Apprentice
Manufacturing Sector (TESS Apprentice)

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about the programme.

Who is this programme for?

▼
HR coordinators, shift managers, section leads, project coordinators, aspiring first-line managers, and team coaches. Anyone who manages or coaches people and needs to lead them through HR practice. This is NOT for individual contributors - it's for people in leadership roles.

Do I need AI experience?

▼
No. We start from the fundamentals: what is AI, why it matters, ethics. You'll learn alongside your team. The programme assumes no prior technical knowledge - it builds from first principles and is designed for leaders, not data scientists.

What does it cost my company?

▼
£0 out-of-pocket. The £4,500 cost is covered by your payroll levy. If you don't have a levy account or have unused balance, TESS can help you access it. Apprentices over 19 at start of apprenticeship cost 5% shared (£225). The government funds 95%.

How long is the programme?

▼
15–14 months, including EPA (End-Point Assessment). The first 14–15 months cover the 14 modules. Months 15–18 focus on the workplace project, portfolio, and independent assessment. Pace adapts to your apprentice's progress.

Can your team help manage the apprenticeship?

▼
Yes. TESS handles recruitment, training delivery, EPA coordination with 1st for Awarding, and progress tracking. You manage the apprentice's day job and provide a mentor. We'll guide you on all apprenticeship compliance and reporting.

Ready to Build AI-Ready Leaders?

Start the conversation. Let's talk about how this programme fits your team and your business goals.

Enquire Now