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Level 3 Apprenticeship — 12 Months — Fully Funded

Improvement
Technician
Drive Continuous Improvement

Master Lean Six Sigma foundations and transform your workplace through continuous improvement. Eliminate waste, optimise processes, and develop the practical CI skills that drive efficiency across every industry.

CMI Level 3 Coaching Award Included
NCFE L2 Safeguarding Certificate Included
12Month Programme
326OTJ Hours
£4,000Funding
2Qualifications Included

For Teams Ready to Eliminate Waste & Improve Performance

The Level 3 Improvement Technician apprenticeship is designed for frontline and supervisory staff across every sector

Where Continuous Improvement Drives Results

🏭 Manufacturing & Production

Lean tools to reduce cycle times, eliminate bottlenecks, and improve throughput. Drive measurable quality and efficiency gains on the shop floor.

📦 Operations & Logistics

Streamline workflows, reduce waste in supply chains, and optimise warehouse operations. Make every process count.

Quality Assurance

Root cause analysis, defect prevention, and statistical process control. Build systems that catch problems before they reach customers.

🏥 Healthcare & NHS

Apply Lean to patient pathways, theatre scheduling, and clinical workflows. Improve care quality whilst freeing up critical time for staff.

💳 Financial Services

Eliminate process waste in transaction handling, customer onboarding, and back-office operations. Reduce cost per transaction whilst improving accuracy.

🏛️ Public Sector & Service Industries

Lean principles adapted for service delivery. Improve citizen/customer experience whilst managing resources more effectively.

Ideal Learner Profile

  • Process workers and technicians
  • Team leaders & supervisors
  • Quality assurance staff
  • Operations & logistics coordinators
  • Anyone involved in process improvement
  • Professionals ready to advance their career

Transferable CI Skills for Every Sector

Lean Six Sigma methodologies are industry-agnostic. Whether you work in manufacturing, healthcare, finance, or public services, the principles remain the same. Master Lean once, apply it everywhere.

One Skill. Infinite Application.

Qualifications & Skills You'll Achieve

Industry-recognised apprenticeship standard plus 2 bolt-on professional qualifications

3

Your apprentices graduate with the ST0193 Level 3 Improvement Technician plus 2 additional professional qualifications. That's more value, more skills, more career options.

1
Apprenticeship Standard

ST0193 Level 3 Improvement Technician

DfE-approved standard covering continuous improvement, change management, data analysis, lean tools, and workplace problem-solving. Certified improvement practitioner.

2
Professional Qualification

CMI Level 3 Award in Coaching & Mentoring

Chartered Management Institute qualification. Develop coaching skills to mentor colleagues, drive team development, and embed continuous improvement culture in your workplace.

3
Professional Qualification

NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Safeguarding & Prevent

Essential safeguarding knowledge and Prevent duty awareness. Critical for any role involving team leadership and organisational responsibility.

How TESS Compares: 3 Qualifications vs Typical 1

Most apprenticeship providers deliver the standard qualification only. TESS includes 2 additional bolt-on qualifications at no extra cost. Your team doesn't just complete the apprenticeship — they graduate as certified coaching practitioners with safeguarding expertise. That's competitive advantage.

3
TESS
1
Typical
Provider

What Your People Will Learn

M1–M2

Foundations (Months 1–2)

Lean principles, Six Sigma, 8 wastes, PDCA cycle, Kaizen thinking. Building the mindset and language of continuous improvement.

All Sectors
M3–M4

Process Mapping & Problem Solving (Months 3–4)

SIPOC, Value Stream Mapping, Voice of Customer, root cause analysis. See and understand where problems hide in your processes.

OperationsAll Sectors
M5–M6

Lean Tools & Data Analysis (Months 5–6)

5S, standard work, Statistical Process Control, Pareto analysis. Practical tools to reduce waste and control quality. Data-driven decision making.

ManufacturingOperations
M7–M8

Experimentation & Solutions (Months 7–8)

PDCA cycles, Design of Experiments, business case development, change management. Test, validate, and implement solutions. Drive sustainable improvement.

All Sectors
M9

Consolidation & EPA Prep (Month 9)

Portfolio development. Knowledge consolidation. Mock assessments. Gateway readiness. Preparing your apprentice to shine at End Point Assessment.

Assessment Ready
EPA

End Point Assessment (Months 10–12)

Knowledge test (multiple-choice). Improvement project report with presentation. Graded Distinction / Pass / Fail. ST0193 standard.

ST0193 Standard

Your Learner Journey & End Point Assessment

9 Months Practical + 3 Months EPA = 12 Months Total

Months 1–2

Foundations: Lean, Six Sigma & Mindset

Introduction to Lean thinking. Eight wastes. PDCA cycle. Kaizen principles. Kaizen. Building the foundation for everything that follows. Initial process mapping in your own workplace.

Months 3–4

Process Mapping & Problem Solving

SIPOC diagrams. Value Stream Mapping (VSM). Voice of Customer (VoC). Root cause analysis. 5 Whys. Learning to see problems clearly and systematically.

Months 5–6

Lean Tools & Data Analysis

5S methodology. Standard work. Statistical Process Control (SPC). Pareto analysis. Control charts. Practical tools to eliminate waste and control quality.

Months 7–8

Experimentation & Solution Implementation

PDCA cycles. Design of Experiments (DoE). Business case development. Change management. Testing, validating, and implementing sustainable solutions.

Month 9

Consolidation & EPA Preparation

Portfolio development. Knowledge consolidation. Mock assessment. Gateway review. Preparing your apprentice for success at End Point Assessment.

Months 10–12 — EPA Window

End Point Assessment

Knowledge test (multiple-choice on Lean principles, DMAIC, tools, statistics, change management). Improvement project report (written evidence). Presentation of findings and questioning by EPAO assessor.

End Point Assessment

ST0193 Improvement Technician Level 3 — Graded Distinction / Pass / Fail.

1. Knowledge Test (MANDATORY)

Multiple-choice assessment covering Lean principles, Six Sigma tools, statistical foundations, waste types, and change management concepts.

2. Improvement Project Report (MANDATORY)

Written evidence of a real workplace improvement project. Demonstrates understanding of Lean methodology, data analysis, implementation, and measurable business impact.

3. Presentation & Questioning (MANDATORY)

Defend your project findings and methodology. Answer technical questions from the EPAO assessor. Demonstrate mastery of continuous improvement thinking.

Grading

Apprentices are graded Distinction, Pass, or Fail. TESS coaching ensures learners are ready to achieve.

Support Throughout

Dedicated improvement coach, weekly 1-to-1 progress reviews, digital learning access, project mentoring, and direct employer engagement to ensure every apprentice delivers real business value.

Why Choose TESS Group for Improvement Technician Training?

  • 🏆

    Ofsted Good Provider

    Independently verified training excellence. Learner support and outcomes that meet the highest standards.

  • 4.9/5 Google & Trustpilot Rating

    Apprentices and employers consistently rate us among the best. Real feedback from real learners.

  • 🎯

    3 Qualifications Included

    Apprenticeship standard plus CMI Coaching Award and NCFE Safeguarding certificate. More value, more skills, more career options.

  • 🏭

    326 Hours Practical On-The-Job

    Far exceeds minimum requirements. Your team learns by doing real projects, not in classrooms. Measurable business impact from day one.

  • 💼

    Fully Funded — £4,000

    Complete funding for eligible employers through Apprentice Levy or co-investment. No hidden costs. Transparent pricing.

"The improvement projects our team completed have driven real cost savings and productivity gains. TESS turned our continuous improvement culture from aspirational into actual."

— Operations Manager, 2026

Transform Your Operational Performance

Fully funded. 12 months. 3 professional qualifications. Real workplace projects. Measurable impact. Start your team's improvement journey today.

Enrol Now

The TESS Group
109 Innovation Centre, Green St, Northampton NN1 1SY

📞 01604 210 500
✉️ info@thetessgroup.com
🌐 tessgroup.co.uk/improvement-technician

Ofsted
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★★★★★
Google 4.9/5
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Trustpilot 4.9/5
ST0193
Approved
3 Quals
Included
DfE
Funded