Transform your senior managers and directors into strategic improvement leaders. Master Lean Six Sigma methodology, deploy Hoshin Kanri, and drive measurable change that delivers boardroom-level ROI, with a pathway to Chartered Manager status via CMI.
The strategic improvement programme for middle and senior managers ready to lead transformation at scale
Directors of Continuous Improvement, Heads of Operational Excellence, Transformation Directors, and Operations Directors with strategic CI accountability.
Senior Project Managers with a CI/Lean focus, Programme Managers, Portfolio Managers, and Project Directors driving change initiatives.
Senior Process Excellence Managers, Quality Directors, Lean Masters, and Lean Six Sigma professionals seeking advanced strategic impact.
Change Leaders, Directors of Change Management, Senior Navigators in transformation programmes, and Executive Sponsors for improvement.
Logistics and Supply Chain Managers with a strategic improvement focus, driving end-to-end value stream optimisation across complex operations.
Environmental Health and Safety Leaders applying process excellence frameworks to embed a culture of continuous risk reduction and compliance.
This programme bridges the gap between boardroom strategy and operational reality. Your senior managers will learn to deploy improvement roadmaps using Hoshin Kanri, master the psychology of change leadership, and deliver initiatives with measurable financial returns.
Professional recognition that sets your leaders apart from every other improvement programme
Only CMI can award Chartered Manager (CMgr) status, the gold standard of professional management recognition. Completing this apprenticeship with TESS Group gives your leaders a direct pathway to Foundation Chartered Manager (fCMgr) or full Chartered Manager status, depending on experience.
This is more than a qualification. It is a professional credential that signals rigorous competence, ethical leadership, and strategic impact to every boardroom in the country.
The full apprenticeship standard, taught at Lean Six Sigma Black Belt level. 18 months of strategic improvement mastery with live workplace projects delivering real ROI.
Elevate beyond Level 6 with a postgraduate-level qualification. Available for a small additional fee, exceptional value for a Level 7 credential.
On completion, your leaders gain a pathway to Foundation Chartered Manager or full Chartered Manager status, a distinction only CMI can confer.
Most providers deliver the apprenticeship standard alone with no CMI pathway and no optional Level 7. TESS Group offers the combination of Lean Six Sigma at Black Belt level, CMI Chartered Manager pathway, and an optional Level 7 Award, all within a single 18-month programme.
13 intensive workshops plus a full recap, designed for the leaders shaping your organisation's future
Establish your improvement leadership baseline. Self-assessment, leadership styles, and building the personal development plan that underpins your entire programme journey.
Design coaching plans for teams. Mentor on benefits realisation to sustain gains and optimise resource allocation across your improvement portfolio.
Conduct VoC analysis for stakeholder mapping. Create value stream maps to align customer needs with project success criteria and strategic priorities.
Prioritise improvement projects using benefit-cost analysis, strategic alignment criteria, and portfolio management techniques that deliver maximum organisational impact.
Create benefits realisation plans with tracking mechanisms. Conduct post-project reviews to secure ROI and lessons learned that impress the boardroom.
Track KPIs and sigma levels with SPC charts. Perform variance analysis for process stability and embed data-driven decision making across your teams.
Design and implement robust data collection systems, dashboards, and reporting frameworks that give senior leaders real-time visibility of improvement performance.
DMAIC and DFSS mastery combined with advanced process mapping. Integrate into milestones, work breakdown structures, and critical path analysis.
Master data collection methodologies, sampling strategies, and measurement system analysis. Build the statistical thinking mindset essential for evidence-based improvement.
Design and run experiments using DOE (Design of Experiments), A/B testing, and optimisation techniques to identify the changes that deliver the greatest improvement.
Apply hypothesis testing to risk registers. Use Monte Carlo simulations for contingency planning and quantitative risk analysis at a strategic level.
Develop hybrid risk registers addressing scope creep in Kaizen rollouts. Apply qualitative and quantitative mitigation tools for strategic-level governance.
Map organisational strategies to improvement roadmaps using Hoshin Kanri. Simulate governance boards for multi-project oversight and policy deployment.
Comprehensive programme recap bringing all 13 workshops together. Final portfolio review, EPA preparation, and readiness assessment before End Point Assessment.
CMI accreditation runs throughout every workshop, building a portfolio of evidence towards Foundation Chartered Manager or full Chartered Manager status.
Executive onboarding, leadership skills assessment, strategic deployment frameworks, and Hoshin Kanri policy deployment. Setting the strategic baseline for your improvement journey.
DMAIC and DFSS mastery, advanced statistical analysis, hypothesis testing, Monte Carlo simulations, and SPC. Building the technical foundation with live projects.
Value stream mapping, VoC analysis, governance frameworks, risk registers, and quality management systems. Aligning improvement with strategic priorities.
Psychology of change (ADKAR, Kotter), coaching and mentoring, financial impact modelling, benefits realisation, and the Kaizen mindset. Embedding improvement into culture.
Deliver a substantial workplace improvement project demonstrating measurable ROI. Complete your evidence portfolio. CMI Chartered pathway milestone review.
Formal EPA: Written Dissertation Report (4,000–4,500 words) with A3 visual summary, 45–50 minute presentation, and Professional Discussion. Graded Pass, Merit, or Distinction.
Two rigorous methods ensure your leaders demonstrate strategic mastery. Grades: Fail, Pass, Merit, Distinction.
A comprehensive report demonstrating tangible business benefits and strategic alignment. Includes a one-page A3 visual summary, plus a 45–50 minute presentation and 35–40 minute Q&A with an Independent Assessor.
Underpinned by a portfolio of evidence gathered throughout the 18-month programme, including project reports, stakeholder feedback, meeting minutes, and improvement data.
Apprentices are graded Fail, Pass, Merit, or Distinction. Our dedicated EPA preparation support and experienced coaches ensure your leaders are fully prepared to achieve their highest potential grade.
Every learner receives a dedicated skills coach with industry experience, regular 1-to-1 strategic progress reviews, access to our digital learning platform, and employer engagement sessions designed for senior stakeholders.
Independently verified quality assurance. Your senior leaders deserve a provider held to the highest national standards.
Exceptional satisfaction from hundreds of learners and employers. Our reputation is built on consistent excellence, not marketing.
The only credential that matters at boardroom level. Your leaders graduate with a direct route to Chartered Manager status, an advantage most providers simply cannot offer.
Training delivered at Black Belt level as standard, with an optional Level 7 Award for leaders who want to go further. Most competitors offer the standard alone.
Industry-expert trainers, monthly rolling starts, and programmes tailored to your organisation's strategic priorities, not generic off-the-shelf content.
"Ideal for Senior Project Managers advancing to strategic programme leadership. Empowering Directors and Heads of Department to drive organisation-wide transformation."
Fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy. Equip your middle and senior managers with Lean Six Sigma mastery, CMI accreditation, and a Chartered Manager pathway at no additional cost to the learner.
Get Started TodayThe TESS Group
109 Innovation Centre, Green St, Northampton NN1 1SY
📞 01604 210 500
✉️ info@thetessgroup.com
🌐 tessgroup.co.uk