Course content
Integrative in its design and delivery, this qualification is for Operation Managers who take responsibility for people, projects, operations and/or services to deliver organisational success. In line with CMI Chartered Manager guidelines, it is applicable to managers from all sectors - the private, public or third sector - and all sizes of organisations.
This qualification forms the core of an apprenticeship that has been designed to provide access to development opportunities for as wide a range of individuals as possible. This includes individuals who are at the start of their career and who wish to become operational managers and achieve professional recognition on achievement of the apprenticeship once they have passed their end-point assessment, as well as those who may already have developed practical experience but who wish to develop their theoretical understanding of management skills further.
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
120 credits of compulsory modules
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory 1 | ||
| Building Relationships and Communication | 15 | |
| Project Management | 60 | |
| People Management and Governance | 15 | |
| Developing Self and Others | 15 | |
| Operational Management | 15 | |
BEM1029DA: Building Relationships and Communication
This module will focus on how to build collaborative relationships, including managing conflict and engaging with stakeholders. You'll learn how to take responsibility for your own tasks as well as those of your team and be encouraged to build relationships beyond your own department. Throughout, there will be a strong focus on enhancing interpersonal skills, with a particular emphasis on effective communication techniques.
- Explore the different relationships required within the team and organisation to understand the different approaches to partner, stakeholder and supplier relationship management including negotiation, influencing, delegation and effective networking.
- Explore how to earn the trust and respect of the team to build positive working relationships.
- Explore approaches to conflict resolution through communication and practise these.
- Explore and understand your team's workload and how they effectively meet the needs of employees and organisations.
- Explore influencing & negotiating theories and models and practise how to influence and negotiate by understanding how to flex communication styles to meet the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
BEM1032DA: Project Management
This module will help you design and carry out a project that could eventually be implemented in your specific work context. This piece of work will be the accumulation of selected knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) that you have been developing on the programme, as well as new learnings during this module. You will develop an interest in subject areas that reflect your professional role and aspirations and an awareness of how these relate to the aims of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The module aims to enable you to design and carry out a project that has the potential to advance your managerial practice and be of benefit to your department/organisation. The module will help you to develop your ability to select and appraise relevant project management tools and techniques, and to understand process management in setting up and managing a project. It will also prompt you to be critical users of information in solving problems and making decisions relating to the planning of your project. Throughout the module you will be asked to evaluate your approach to initiating and managing change and gain an appreciation of the knowledge and interpersonal skills required to overcome barriers to change. You will also revisit and apply knowledge from your other modules that are relevant to projects and form part of the apprenticeship standard project knowledge, skills and behaviours.
BEM1053DA: People Management and Governance
Effective management skills are essential for a successful operations manager. This module will provide comprehensive insights into all aspects of people management and organisational governance, from understanding motivational theories to implementing organisational policies and legislative guidelines that promote equity and diversity. You will explore both theoretical and practical strategies for developing and managing teams, with a strong emphasis on recruitment, selection, and talent development. Upon completing this module, you will not only grasp the principles of managing individuals and teams but also understand how to leverage policies to enhance wellbeing, diversity, and performance within an organisation.
- To introduce the underpinning theories and concepts of motivation.
- To consider the implications and impact of organisational governance, including the Equality Act 2010 on achieving inclusive leadership and for stakeholders.
- To introduce strategies for ethics and values based leadership as well as strategies for change management within the organisation.
- To consider how to recruit effectively and how to manage performance/ underperformance, including analysing performance data.
BEM1055DA: Developing Self and Others
This module is aimed at developing yourself and others. You will gain knowledge on approaches to leadership and management, coaching and mentoring, learning and reflective practice, which you will be asked to apply in the workplace. There will be a particular focus on the value and application of reflective practice for your own and others personal and professional development.
This module is aimed at developing yourself and others. You will gain knowledge on approaches to leadership and management, coaching and mentoring, learning and reflective practice. You will be asked to apply this knowledge to the workplace, evidencing how you have applied it to manage yourself and others. There will be a particular focus on the value and application of reflective practice for your own personal and professional development.
By sharing relevant and research-inspired content and using play and problem-based learning, this module has 4 main aims.
- First, it aims to develop your knowledge on approaches to leadership and management, coaching and mentoring, learning and reflective practice.
- Second, it aims to quip you to practice and evidence applying this knowledge to develop yourself and others.
- Third, this module aims to will give you an appreciation and understanding of reflective practice that you can take forward into any area of your working or personal life.
- Forth, by assessing this module with a presentation, it aims to help develop your presentation skills for both your end point assessment and your employability.
BEM1057DA: Operational Management
Operational management provides a critical link between design and execution of organisational strategy.
This module will explain the importance of understanding strategic direction and how to contribute to the strategic planning process through the creation and management of operational plans.
You will learn about the knowledge and skills required to create and deliver operational plans, such as the need to set key performance indicators, monitor quality and outcomes against the plan, and how to report on findings.
It will introduce you to tools and techniques to support planning, problem solving and decision making.
The role of operational managers in an organisation includes a need to work with finance colleagues to make appropriate decisions and ensure that revenue, profit and cash meet the needs of the organisation.
This module focuses on finance for managers and explains the importance of being able to understand key financial documents and make effective decisions concerning finance.
It will introduce you to approaches of forecasting, budgeting, financial control and reporting.
The aim of the module is to introduce and consolidate your knowledge and learning around operational planning in the context of their workplace. To dissect your own organisations operational plans, consider the KPI's and targets set and critically review these.
Top 10 in the UK for Business and Management
9th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 and 8th in The Complete University Guide 2027
Triple accredited Business School
AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS
All Business School departments are top 10 for graduate prospects
Entry requirements
| Qualifications | Typical Offer | Required Subject |
|---|---|---|
| A Level | CCC | |
| Contextual offers | Find out more about contextual offers | |
| Equivalences | View other grade equivalences |
We require at least three A Levels at Grade C or above and/or two years’ relevant experience. All candidates will need to be in a role that supports the gathering of evidence required to illustrate the new learning.
Additional entry requirements
As an apprenticeship funding requirement, all apprentices aged 16-18 studying for a level 3 apprenticeship or higher are required to evidence achievement at level 2 in Mathematics and English before their gateway to endpoint assessment.
If the apprentice is aged 19+ when they begin their apprenticeship training, and they do not already hold a suitable equivalent qualification, English and / or maths is an optional part of the programme under the funding rules. However, L2 English remains a standard entry requirement for University of Exeter programmes.
Find out more about how we support Functional Skills.
Applicants must also have a valid and eligible residency status to gain entry onto the apprenticeship – please see the Department for Education website for further information.
How to apply
Operations Manager does not follow the standard UCAS application process. You can apply to this programme in addition to making applications to any institution through UCAS. To gain a place on the apprenticeship:
- Apply directly for a vacancy with a relevant employer – please check their websites for vacancies. The GOV.UK website will also list a number of DA vacancies throughout the year. Current DA vacancies our partner employers are advertising through us can be found on our current vacancies page. Applicants are welcome to apply for more than one vacancy.
- Already have a position or job offer from a company that is willing to support your application.
Once you meet one of above options, please get in touch with us and we will proceed with your application.
Funding
Full programme cost: £9,000
The employer fully covers the cost of the apprenticeship; apprentices do not pay for any of the eligible training costs. The apprentice will be an employee of the organisation, gaining a University of Exeter award alongside working and earning a salary.
Employers who pay the Apprenticeship Levy will pay for the apprenticeship fees directly through that contribution. See further information about the Apprenticeship Levy funding.
UK-based employers who do not pay the Levy will be able to claim 95 per cent of the cost of the apprenticeship from the Government. Up to 100 per cent Government contribution may be available if the employer has fewer than 50 employees and:
- Recruits an apprentice aged 16-21
- OR an apprentice aged 22-24 who has previously been in care or who has a local authority education, health and care plan
See further information on the Apprenticeship Levy funding.
Employers must pay their apprentices a salary at least consistent with national legislation.
Funding eligibility criteria
To be eligible for funding the apprentice must meet the criteria listed in the Department for Education guidance.
The apprentice must have a valid and eligible residency status to gain entry onto the apprenticeship.
Learning
On average, approximately 6 hours per week of a learner’s contractual working time will be given over to study. Apprentices can expect to be stretched and challenged but supported throughout as they develop the academic skills required to be a successful Operations Manager.
An Operations Manager is someone who can take responsibility for people, projects, operations and/or services to deliver long term organisational success, with the professional recognition of their ability to deliver impact, behave ethically and demonstrate their commitment to continual learning and development. Our ambition is for our apprentices to complete the programme academically ready to grow into more senior roles. Apprentices are supported to demonstrate managerial effectiveness using skills such as critical thinking, negotiation, innovation and creativity which are then applied to business issues.
The CertHE is made of 5 modules, worth 120 credits, that map directly to the Operations Manager standard and the modules run one after the other over a period of 13 months, with 3 additional months for EPA. The first 4 modules (building relationships and communication, people management and governance, developing self and others, operational management) are worth 15 credits, while the project module is worth 60. Each stage of study is structured to incorporate online masterclasses, online learning, academic coaching and workplace mentoring. Assessment is ongoing and is relevant to the work tasks of practicing managers, measuring the higher-level thinking skills demonstrated in a variety of problem-based assignments. During and outside of this time, apprentices will also be able to meet one-to-one with their academic mentor.
Careers
About the apprenticeship
Apprentices will be a full salaried member of an organisation in the UK. Much of the learning will take place at work, either through projects linked to academic content or time set aside for distance learning. Apprentices will be working in an exciting and relevant job from day one of their studies, meaning when they graduate, they'll have both the professional and academic experience sought after by employers.
Employer valued skills
Solid industry experience is what employers look for when recruiting. The structure of the apprenticeship standards means that apprentices will gain knowledge, skills and behaviours to be a fully-fledged manager at the end of the programme. They will have gained experience in areas including selecting and leading a team, building relationships and communication, developing self-awareness, operational and financial management and project management.
Find out more about our Operations Manager degree apprenticeship
Employers
We can help you invest in upskilling your people and attract new talent via progression routes.
Aspiring apprentices
Discover why a Degree Apprenticeship is right for you.
Events
Find out more about our programmes and partnering with the University of Exeter.