Become the strategic learning partner your organisation needs. Drive business value through talent development, consultancy excellence, and transformational change. Position yourself as the trusted advisor shaping your company's future workforce. Earn CIPD Level 5 membership plus 3 additional industry qualifications.
This is the apprenticeship built for L&D and HR professionals who want to shape business strategy through learning and talent management
Design learning ecosystems that align with business objectives. Build the business case for talent investment, measure ROI, and demonstrate learning's direct contribution to organisational success.
Create pathways for capability growth, succession planning, and leadership pipeline development. Coach and mentor high-potential talent through critical career transitions and skill acquisition.
Lead organisation transformation through learning and culture change. Design interventions that smooth transitions, build change capacity, and embed new ways of working across teams.
Partner with HRBP teams to integrate learning into talent strategy. Support recruitment, retention, engagement, and employee development as a core HR discipline — not a bolt-on.
Advise senior leaders, boards, and external clients on learning strategy, capability building, and organisational effectiveness. Influence at the highest level as a trusted strategic advisor.
Master learning technology, content design, and virtual delivery. Build scalable, blended learning experiences that meet modern workforce expectations and measurable business outcomes.
Organisations across every sector need strategic L&D partners who understand business strategy, organisational behaviour, change management, and talent transformation. CIPD Level 5 Business Partner status opens doors to senior advisory roles and strategic influence.
The only apprenticeship that combines CIPD Level 5 with CMI Coaching and NCFE Equality & Diversity certifications
Successful apprentices graduate with CIPD Level 5 L&D Consultant Business Partner qualification (ST0563) PLUS three industry-recognised bolt-on credentials: CMI Level 5 Award in Professional Coaching Practice and NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Equality & Diversity. Completers become eligible for Associate CIPD membership (Assoc CIPD) — the gold standard in the L&D profession at Level 5 (equivalent to second-year university degree level).
L&D Consultant Business Partner (ST0563)
Advanced learning strategy, consultancy methodologies, organisational behaviour, talent development, financial analytics, and change leadership grounded in 418 hours of workplace practice.
CMI Level 5 Award in Professional Coaching Practice
Embedded coaching excellence. Master one-to-one coaching methodologies, develop high-potential talent, and embed coaching culture in organisational learning strategies.
NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Equality & Diversity
Build inclusive learning experiences. Ensure compliance, eliminate bias in talent strategies, and embed EDI principles across all people development initiatives.
Associate CIPD Membership Eligible
Unlock professional credentials and industry recognition. CIPD membership opens doors to senior L&D roles, board influence, and strategic consultancy positions across sectors.
TESS is the only provider delivering a complete L&D ecosystem. While typical apprenticeships offer 0–1 bolt-on qualifications, our apprentices graduate with coaching accreditation, EDI certification, and CIPD Level 5 membership eligibility — making them immediately deployment-ready across strategy, coaching, talent, and compliance domains.
Align learning strategy with business objectives. Become the trusted advisor who understands strategic priorities, translates them into capability needs, and demonstrates ROI.
Master diagnostic frameworks, stakeholder engagement, and evidence gathering. Identify root causes of performance gaps and design targeted interventions.
Design blended, scalable learning experiences. From instructional design to delivery methods to embedding new capability in the workplace.
Leverage learning technology, platforms, and digital delivery. Build virtual, mobile, and blended solutions that engage modern workforces.
Measure learning impact at every level. Design evaluation frameworks, analyse data, and prove the business value of L&D investment.
Lead organisational transformation through learning. Manage change resistance, build capability, and deliver complex projects on strategy and budget.
Develop high-potential talent through coaching and mentoring. Build leadership pipelines, enable succession planning, and unlock human potential.
Build compelling business cases for L&D investment. Manage budgets, calculate ROI, and speak the language of finance to secure board support.
Ethical L&D practice, equality & diversity, GDPR compliance, and professional standards. Build inclusive, lawful learning experiences.
Consolidate learning through a real workplace consultancy project. Build evidence portfolio, demonstrate impact, and prepare for professional discussion.
Consultancy project report, professional presentation, and professional discussion with portfolio. Graded Distinction or Pass.
Establish yourself as a trusted strategic advisor. Master L&D consultancy frameworks, understand business strategy integration, and begin CIPD L5 units covering foundations of organisational learning.
Develop diagnostic and consultancy skills. Design bespoke learning solutions using instructional design principles. Continue building CIPD L5 knowledge through advanced units on learning strategy and consultancy methodologies.
Master learning platforms, digital delivery, and authoring tools. Leverage AI and emerging technologies in L&D. Build virtual and blended solutions for modern workforces.
Measure learning impact and business ROI. Master data analytics and evaluation frameworks. Apply change management methodologies (Kotter model) to L&D initiatives. Complete CIPD L5 units on evaluating impact and organisational development.
Earn CMI Level 5 Award in Professional Coaching Practice. Build talent pipelines and succession strategies. Develop business cases, manage budgets, and demonstrate L&D's commercial value.
Master equality, diversity, and compliance through NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Equality & Diversity. Build evidence portfolio. Prepare for Gateway and EPA. Consolidate all learning into professional impact.
Deliver your consultancy project demonstrating strategic L&D impact. Present findings and professional portfolio. Professional discussion with independent CIPD assessor. Graded Distinction or Pass.
ST0563 L&D Consultant Business Partner Level 5 — assessed by CIPD-approved assessors over 4 months. Grades: Distinction or Pass.
Deliver a substantial real-world L&D consultancy project solving a genuine business challenge. Demonstrate strategic analysis, solution design, implementation leadership, and measurable organisational impact.
Present your project findings, business impact, and learning outcomes. Showcase your consultancy approach, professional practice, and strategic contribution to organisational objectives.
In-depth conversation with independent CIPD assessor exploring your consultancy methodology, professional practice, impact, reflection, and portfolio. Authentic assessment of real-world capability and strategic impact.
Completing this apprenticeship and EPA makes you eligible for Associate CIPD (Assoc CIPD) membership — opening doors to senior L&D roles, board-level influence, and strategic consultancy across industries. Your gateway credential for life.
Independently verified quality. Our L&D apprenticeships meet the highest standards of delivery, learner support, and real-world outcomes.
Consistently rated among the best apprenticeship providers in the UK by learners, employers, and industry professionals.
Our delivery team combines senior L&D practitioners with CIPD expertise. We teach what you'll actually do, grounded in real consultancy practice.
418 hours of on-the-job training. Your apprenticeship delivers immediate value through real L&D consultancy projects solving genuine business challenges.
CIPD Level 5 opens doors to senior L&D leadership roles, consultancy positions, and board-level influence. Step into strategic L&D impact.
"This apprenticeship transformed how I advise senior leaders. I went from being a learning specialist to a trusted strategic partner — and the CIPD credential opened every door."
Fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy or co-investment. Enrol your senior L&D professionals and embed CIPD Level 5 credentials into your leadership pipeline.
Get Started TodayThe TESS Group
109 Innovation Centre, Green St, Northampton NN1 1SY
📞 01604 210 500
✉️ info@thetessgroup.com
🌐 tessgroup.co.uk/ld-apprenticeships