AI for Coaching
Professionals
The first apprenticeship that fuses CMI Coaching with AI fluency.
Page overview
The coaching apprenticeship reimagined for the AI age. 11 AI & automation modules plus 6 dedicated coaching workshops — with a CMI Level 5 coaching qualification built in. Aligned with the EMCC competency framework — and we help with EMCC membership. No coding required. No management role required.
Why This Programme?
- CMI Level 5 Coaching Award (formally assessed)
- 6 dedicated coaching workshops
- Alternative to the defunded Coaching Pro L5 standard
- EMCC aligned — we help with EMCC membership
- 11 AI modules + Coachy AI tutor — free with every learner
Built for anyone who develops people
From C-suite executive coaches to first-time mentors, internal coaches to OD specialists, line managers to talent professionals — if developing people is part of your role, this programme is for you.
The Natural Successor — Same Curriculum, Plus AI
Built by the same TESS coaching team that delivered the Coaching Professional L5 standard. Every topic from the old 9-workshop curriculum is covered across 6 deeper workshops — plus 11 AI & automation modules, a formal CMI Level 5 credential, and Coachy your AI tutor. All in one levy-funded apprenticeship.
Coaching Professional Level 5
- Coaching Fundamentals & Context
- Self-Awareness & Motivation
- Coaching Behaviours & Values
- Coaching Models & Goal Setting
- Coaching Needs Analysis & Progress
- Advanced Tools & Techniques
- Peer, Group & Specialist Coaching
- Relationship Engagement & Evaluation
- Coaching Culture, Legislation & Data
AI for Coaching Professionals Level 4 + AI
- Coaching Foundations & Context
- The Coach's Self — Awareness, Style & Motivation
- Core Coaching Behaviours
- Coaching Models, Methods & Advanced Tools
- CMI Assignment — Principles of Professional Coaching ★
- Coaching at Scale — Culture, Team, GDPR & Impact
Built for Coaches and People Developers, Not Just IT
This is the AI apprenticeship designed for anyone who develops people - with a CMI Level 5 coaching qualification and four dedicated coaching modules built in.
🎯 Internal Coaches
Use AI to track coachee progress, automate session scheduling, and build data-driven development plans - all while keeping the human relationship at the centre of every conversation.
💬 HR & L&D Professionals
Scale coaching impact across the organisation. Use AI to personalise development pathways, measure engagement, automate onboarding workflows, and evidence ROI on people programmes.
🌟 Aspiring Coaches
Dreaming of a coaching career? This programme gives you a CMI Level 5 qualification, real coaching practice, and AI skills that set you apart from day one. No prior experience needed.
🤝 Mentors & Trainers
Already developing others informally? Formalise your skills with proven coaching models, ethical frameworks, and a professional qualification - plus the AI tools to amplify your impact.
🚀 Career Changers
Passionate about developing people? Enter the coaching field with a future-proof combination of professional coaching practice and AI & automation skills. No prior tech or coaching background needed.
Ideal Learner Profile
- Coaches - internal, external, or aspiring
- L&D and HR professionals with a coaching approach
- Mentors and trainers who develop others
- Anyone who uses Microsoft 365 in their daily work
- Professionals who want to future-proof their career
- Employers looking for a funded coaching development pathway
No Management Role Required
This programme is open to anyone in a coaching or people-development context. You don't need to be a manager, and you don't need a technical background. We use no-code tools, plain-English AI prompting, and real workplace scenarios from your own role.
Why AI & Coaching Matters Now
The coaching landscape is changing. Organisations that combine professional coaching with AI skills will lead the next decade of people development.
Coaching Professional L5 Defunding
The standalone Coaching Professional Level 5 apprenticeship loses funding from September 2026. This programme gives employers a levy-funded pathway that keeps coaching development alive - and adds AI capability.
AI Is Transforming People Development
From personalised learning pathways to automated progress tracking, AI is reshaping how coaches and L&D professionals work. Your team needs both skill sets to stay relevant.
The Only Programme of Its Kind
No other provider combines AI qualifications with professional coaching. TESS Group delivers 3 premium qualifications, a CMI Level 5 Coaching credential, and 6 core coaching workshops — all complimentary on top of the apprenticeship. EMCC aligned with membership support.
3 Premium Qualifications — All Bundled Free
The apprenticeship is the ST1512 AI & Automation Practitioner Level 4 standard. On top of that, TESS bundles three premium qualifications complimentary — no extra cost, no separate enrolment, no additional fees.
CMI Level 5 Award in Professional Coaching Practice
The gold standard credential for professional coaches. Provided complimentary on top of the apprenticeship — not part of the ST1512 standard, but bundled free by TESS as added value. Apprentices complete a formal CMI assignment covering coaching roles, competency frameworks, ethical practice, and professional contracting.
Level 5NCFE Level 3 CQ in AI Prompt Mastery
Master prompt engineering across ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini, and Claude. Apprentices learn to craft, refine, and apply prompts for coaching plans, learner feedback, scheduling, and reporting workflows. Hands-on from day one.
Level 3Microsoft AB-730 AI Business Professional
Microsoft's globally recognised credential. Demonstrates proficiency in Copilot, generative AI tools, and enterprise AI adoption frameworks — the badge that travels with your apprentice on LinkedIn and across every employer.
ProfessionalEMCC Aligned — Plus We Help With Membership
Our CMI Level 5 Coaching Award and 6-workshop coaching curriculum are built on the European Mentoring & Coaching Council (EMCC) Competence Framework — the most respected coaching standards body in the UK and Europe. Plus we actively help your apprentices apply for EMCC membership and accreditation — not just align with the framework, but get them onto the coaching register. A real USP that no other AI apprenticeship provider offers.
How TESS Compares
The only UK provider combining a CMI Level 5 Coaching qualification with an AI & Automation apprenticeship.
| What You Get | TESS Group | Coaching Professional L5 (defunded Sep 2026) | Typical AI Provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMI Level 5 Coaching qualification | ✓ | Partial | ✗ |
| 6 coaching workshops across 3 intensive days (covers all 9 topics from defunded L5) | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| AI & Automation curriculum (11 modules) | ✓ | ✗ | Partial |
| Microsoft AB-730 AI Business Professional | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| EMCC alignment + active membership support | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Coachy AI tutor (24/7, free) | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| levy-funded (Sep 2026 onwards) | ✓ | Defunded | ✓ |
| No coding / no management role required | ✓ | ✓ | Often required |
Inside the 6 Core Coaching Workshops
The TESS coaching team curriculum — rated 9.8/10 across 100+ learner reviews. Every topic from the defunded Coaching Professional Level 5 is covered across 6 deeper workshops — complimentary on top of your apprenticeship, delivered across just 3 intensive coaching days.
3 intensive days · 2 paired workshops per day · maximum depth, minimum time off the desk
Two paired workshops per day — immersive, themed, efficient
Workshop 2: The Coach's Self — Awareness, Style & Motivation
Workshop 4: Coaching Models, Methods & Advanced Tools
Workshop 6: Coaching at Scale — Culture, Team, GDPR & Impact
Coaching Foundations & Context
What coaching is — and what it isn't. Coaching vs mentoring vs therapy. EMCC Code of Conduct and ethical frameworks. Professional contracting, confidentiality principles, and how to build trust-based coaching relationships from session one.
The Coach's Self — Awareness, Style & Motivation
Build deep self-awareness using the Johari Window. Discover your coaching style and values. Develop emotional intelligence as a practitioner. Identify your motivations and the personal development journey of becoming a coach.
Core Coaching Behaviours
Master the EMCC Coaching Competencies in practice: deep listening across all four levels, powerful and generative questioning, embodied coaching presence, holding silence, non-judgment, and building radical trust in the coaching space.
Coaching Models, Methods & Advanced Tools
Master the full coaching toolkit: GROW, OSKAR, CLEAR, Thinking Environment, NLP, Solution-Focused, and CBT-coaching. Goal-setting, action planning, working with resistance and stuck clients, plus metaphor and reframing techniques.
CMI Assignment — Principles of Professional Coaching
The formally-assessed CMI Unit. Coaching roles and competency frameworks. Coaching needs analysis, designing coaching interventions, tracking progress, evidencing impact. Ethical practice and professional contracting at depth. Complete the assignment to earn your Level 5 Award.
Coaching at Scale — Culture, Team, GDPR & Impact
Build a coaching culture across the organisation. Team, group, and peer coaching. Coaching across difference and specialist contexts. GDPR, data protection, confidentiality, legislation. Reflective practice and supervision. Measuring coaching impact and ROI.
Coachy — your apprentices' AI tutor, 24/7
Built on Claude and scoped to the ST1512 standard. Apprentices can ask questions about coaching models, AI tools, EPA prep, or their workplace project — any time. EPA-safe by design. Available across mobile and desktop.
The 11 AI & Automation Modules
The ST1512 AI & Automation Practitioner Level 4 apprenticeship curriculum — 11 KSB-aligned modules delivered across 15 months. The 6 Core Coaching Workshops (above) are delivered separately and complimentary on top of this.
AI Ethics & Values
Build the business case for ethical AI adoption. Manage reputational risk, improve staff morale, and create trust across your organisation.
Governance, Law & GDPR
Navigate legal frameworks for automation, including employment rights, equality legislation, and data protection requirements with confidence.
Spotting Waste & Inefficiency
Map workflows, uncover hidden waste, and identify the highest-impact opportunities for AI and automation to transform outcomes.
Building for People
"Augmentation, not Replacement." Design AI systems that enhance human capabilities without creating disruption. Make technology a true ally.
No-Code Automation Tools
Hands-on with low-code and no-code platforms. Select, configure, and deploy automation software — no programming skills needed.
Data-Driven Decision Making
Use AI to analyse complex data and generate actionable insights. Make smarter, evidence-based decisions at every level.
Change Management & AI Impact
Lead colleagues through automation-driven change with empathy, resilience, and buy-in. Foster inclusion throughout your organisation.
Agile Testing & Piloting
Run AI pilots from concept to delivery. Evaluate against budgets, iterate on feedback, and prove ROI before full rollout.
AI Risk & Security
Conduct assurance activities, apply governance frameworks, and implement risk mitigation to keep AI tools safe and accountable.
Winning AI Support & Buy-In
Master the communication skills to advocate for AI-driven change. Influence leaders, colleagues, and boards with confidence.
Microsoft Copilot in Practice
Apply AI across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams using Microsoft Copilot. Prepare for the AB-730 certification exam.
Thinking about upskilling your L&D or coaching team?
25-minute discovery call. We will discuss route options, funding, and who on your team this fits.
Book a Discovery CallEmployer Return on Investment
levy-funded through the Apprenticeship Levy - here's what your business gains.
Your Learner Journey & End Point Assessment
15-month delivery + gateway & EPA - structured for real-world impact
Foundations & AI Readiness
Onboarding, skills assessment, AI ethics & values, governance & GDPR. Setting the scene for the dual-discipline programme.
Coaching Foundations & AI Skills
Coaching Foundations & Self-Awareness module. Spotting Waste & Inefficiency. Building for People. NCFE AI Prompt Mastery CQ begins.
Coaching Models, Data & CMI Assessment
Coaching Models, Tools & Techniques. No-Code Automation. Data-Driven Decision Making. CMI assignment underway.
Change, Piloting & Coaching Culture
Change Management & AI Impact. Agile Testing & Piloting. Coaching Culture, Evaluation & Reflective Practice.
Advanced AI & Microsoft Copilot
AI Risk & Security. Winning AI Support & Buy-In. Microsoft Copilot in Practice. AB-730 certification exam.
Workplace Project & Gateway
Work-based project applying AI and coaching skills to a genuine business challenge. Portfolio consolidation. Gateway readiness review.
End Point Assessment
Gateway sign-off, then formal EPA: Work-Based Project (mandatory) plus at least one additional assessment. Graded Pass or Distinction.
End Point Assessment
Official ST1512 V2.0 EPA - assessed against 6 Assessment Outcomes. Grades: Pass or Distinction.
1. Work-Based Project (Mandatory)
Deliver a substantial AI or automation project solving a genuine business problem. Demonstrate you can identify inefficiencies, implement solutions, and measure commercial impact.
2. Additional Assessment (at least one)
The Assessment Organisation selects from: Professional Discussion, Presentation, Simulated Task, or Portfolio - ensuring flexible, authentic assessment of real-world skills.
6 Assessment Outcomes Covered
AO1 Strategic & Ethical AI Adoption · AO2 Solution Design & Development · AO3 Testing & Evaluation · AO4 Governance & Risk · AO5 Stakeholder Engagement · AO6 Continuous Improvement
Support Throughout
Every learner gets a dedicated skills coach. Regular 1-to-1 reviews, a digital learning platform, and employer engagement sessions make sure workplace projects deliver real value.
Why Choose TESS Group for AI + Coaching?
⭐ 4.9/5 on Google AND Trustpilot
689 reviews averaging 4.9/5, verified on Google and Trustpilot. Exceptional learner satisfaction across every programme.
🏆 Ofsted Good Provider
Independently verified quality. Our programmes meet the highest standards of delivery, learner support, and outcomes.
💬 6 Workshops · 3 Intensive Days · Rated 9.8/10
Not a bolt-on. Six deep coaching workshops paired across 3 intensive days — covering every topic from the defunded Coaching Professional L5. Delivered by the same TESS coaching team whose workshops are rated 9.8/10 across 100+ learner reviews.
🤖 3 Premium Qualifications — All Included
CMI Level 5 Coaching Award (formally assessed), NCFE Level 3 AI Prompt Mastery (exclusive to TESS), and Microsoft AB-730 AI Business Professional. A carefully-curated stack — not a kitchen sink.
🌐 Coaching Apprenticeship? This Is the Future.
With coaching apprenticeship funding changing from September 2026, this programme gives employers a levy-funded pathway that keeps professional coaching development alive - and adds AI capability.
💻 Built for Non-Technical Professionals
No coding. No tech background. No management role needed. We use no-code tools, plain-English AI prompting, and real workplace scenarios from your own role.
"This programme doesn't just teach AI — it transforms how entire teams think about their work. The qualifications alone make it worthwhile, but the real value is in the confidence and capability our people take away."
"The TESS coaching team is exceptional. The GROW and OSKAR modules gave me practical tools I now use every day with my team — and the CMI assignment was the credibility piece I was missing on my CV."
"I came in as an HR Business Partner with no formal coaching background. I'm leaving with a CMI Level 5 credential, AI tools I use daily, and TESS actively helped me apply for EMCC membership. Best CPD I've ever done."
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything employers need to know about AI for Coaching Professionals
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Ready to Future-Proof Your Coaching?
levy-funded through the Apprenticeship Levy or government co-investment. Give your coaches the AI skills to lead the next decade of people development - and a CMI Level 5 qualification to prove it.
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