TESS Group — AI for Operations Leaders

Built for Operations Leaders,
Not Junior Practitioners

This is the AI apprenticeship for the people who manage departments, lead programmes, and bridge strategy with execution

⚙

Operations Managers

Own your department's AI strategy. Build cross-functional AI roadmaps, manage P&L implications, and deliver measurable operational improvements that the board will notice.

📊

Department Heads

From HR to Finance, Marketing to Operations — lead your department's AI transformation. Design upskilling strategies, manage budgets, and report AI ROI to the executive team.

🌐

Divisional Managers

Drive AI adoption across multiple teams and locations. Build consistent AI practices, share best practice, and create scalable solutions that work at divisional level.

📈

Programme Managers

Apply AI to complex programme delivery. Streamline cross-functional workflows, automate reporting, and use predictive analytics to anticipate risks before they escalate.

👔

Experienced Managers

You've managed teams for years — now lead them into the AI era. Combine deep operational experience with cutting-edge AI skills and a CMI Level 5 credential.

🏢

Heads of Function

Whether you lead Procurement, Customer Service, or Supply Chain — build the AI business case for your function, win investment, and deliver transformation at pace.

What Makes This Different

Every workshop themed for operations leaders — not practitioners or technicians
CMI Level 5 Leadership & Management embedded — pathway to Chartered Manager
CMI Level 5 Coaching & Mentoring embedded — develop your managers and team leaders
Boardroom influence and executive communication skills throughout
Lean, Six Sigma, and operational excellence integrated with AI
"Your Department's AI Roadmap" as the strategic capstone project
Peer cohorts of fellow operations leaders for networking & challenge
Same KSBs, same EPA — but an entirely different calibre of experience

Ideal Learner Profile

Very experienced team leaders ready for the next step up
Operations managers overseeing teams, budgets, or departments
Middle managers and senior managers driving strategy through execution
Managers of managers — leading leaders across functions
Department or divisional heads responsible for cross-functional delivery
Any experienced manager seeking CMI Level 5 credentials alongside AI mastery

Your operations leaders graduate with five industry qualifications on top of their Level 4 apprenticeship. The qualification stack blends AI technical mastery with strategic leadership and advanced coaching accreditation.

★ Leadership Exclusive
1
CMI Level 5
Award in Management & Leadership
Strategic leadership and management credential from CMI. Pathway to Chartered Manager (CMgr) status. The leadership differentiator.

★ Coaching Exclusive

CMI Level 5

Award in Coaching & Mentoring

Advanced coaching for developing managers and team leaders. Build coaching cultures that accelerate AI adoption across functions.

Core

NCFE Level 3

Certificate in Data (603/7882/7)

Data visualisation, modelling, data-driven decision making — the analytical foundation behind every AI-powered executive insight.

★ TESS Exclusive

NCFE Level 3

CQ: AI Prompt Mastery

Our bespoke NCFE-accredited qualification. Design effective prompts across AI models.

Microsoft

Certification

Microsoft AB-730 AI Business Professional

The official AB-730 certification. Globally recognised. No coding required.

TESS Group vs. Typical AI or Leadership Course

What You Get	Typical Provider	TESS Group ✦
Accredited Qualifications	1–2 at best	✓ 5 Qualifications
CMI Level 5 Leadership	✗	✓ Embedded
CMI Level 5 Coaching & Mentoring	✗	✓ Embedded
Microsoft AI Certification	✗	✓ AB-730
NCFE Data + AI Prompt Mastery	✗	✓ Both Included
Designed for Operations Leaders	Generic content	✓ Every module
Lean / Six Sigma with AI	✗	✓ Integrated
Boardroom Influence Skills	✗	✓ Throughout
Fully Funded (Levy / Co-invest)	£3k–£8k self-fund	✓ £0 Cost

13 Strategic Modules
for Operations Leaders

Build departmental AI roadmaps, master boardroom influence, and earn CMI Level 5 credentials

M01

The AI-Ready Operations Leader

Set your department's AI vision. Build the strategic case for AI adoption, establish governance principles, and position yourself as the bridge between C-suite strategy and front-line execution.

All Leaders Dept Heads

M02

Leading Cross-Functional AI Change

Drive digital transformation across departments. Manage resistance at scale, build coalition support, design change programmes, and lead human-centred AI adoption through ambiguity and complexity.

All Leaders Operations

M03

Strategic Coaching for AI Transformation

★ CMI L5 Coaching Part 1. Advanced coaching models for developing your managers and team leaders. Solution-focused coaching, systemic coaching, building coaching cultures that accelerate AI adoption across functions.

All Leaders CMI L5 Coaching

M04

Operational Excellence Meets AI

Cross-departmental process mapping using Lean and Six Sigma principles. Value stream analysis, strategic prioritisation matrices, and quantified business impact assessment. Uncover the highest-value AI opportunities others miss.

All Leaders Operations Dept Heads

M05

Your AI Toolkit

Select, evaluate, and deploy AI tools at departmental scale. No-code automation, API integration strategy, and vendor evaluation frameworks for decision-makers.

All Leaders AI Prompt Mastery CQ

M06

Data-Driven Strategic Decisions

Use AI-powered analytics for departmental strategy. Executive dashboards, data storytelling for board presentations, evidence-based resource allocation, and predictive workforce planning.

All Leaders Dept Heads NCFE Data L3

M07

The Business Case for AI

Build sophisticated ROI models, NPV calculations, and compelling investment proposals. Master boardroom influence — learn to present to senior leadership, win budget, and advocate for AI-driven transformation at enterprise level.

All Leaders Dept Heads Operations

M08

Piloting with Purpose

Lead AI pilots from concept to delivery across multiple teams. Manage risk appetite, run agile sprints, gather cross-functional evidence, and make confident go/no-go decisions using senior leadership judgement.

All Leaders Operations

M09

AI Governance for Operations Leaders

Navigate GDPR, EU AI Act, and UK AI regulation at departmental level. Build governance frameworks, compliance structures, and accountability models your organisation can trust. ★ CMI L5 Leadership Part 1.

All Leaders Dept Heads CMI L5 Part 1

M10

Managing AI Risk at Scale

Set organisational risk appetite. Conduct algorithmic impact assessments, manage bias across multiple AI deployments, and build enterprise-level resilience against AI threats. ★ CMI L5 Leadership Complete.

All Leaders CMI L5 Complete

M11

Developing AI-Ready Teams & Managers

★ CMI L5 Coaching Complete. Design departmental upskilling strategies, coach your managers and team leaders on AI, build champion networks across functions, and create a self-sustaining AI learning culture.

All Leaders Operations CMI L5 Coaching

M12

AI-Powered Leadership with Microsoft Copilot

Deploy Copilot across your department. Master executive productivity workflows, design team-wide Copilot adoption strategies, and prepare for the AB-730 exam.

All Leaders AB-730 Exam

MODULE 13

Your Department’s AI Roadmap & EPA Preparation

Apply everything to a strategic departmental AI project. Build your evidence portfolio, demonstrate enterprise-level impact, and prepare for Gateway and End-Point Assessment.

All Leaders Capstone

QUALS

5 Qualifications Built In

Embedded throughout: CMI L5 Leadership (M9–M10), CMI L5 Coaching (M3 + M11), NCFE L3 Data (M6), AI Prompt Mastery CQ (M5), and Microsoft AB-730 (M12).

5 Qualifications

15-Month Journey to AI Leadership

A structured path from strategic foundations to enterprise-level impact

Months 1–3

Strategic Leadership & AI Foundations — Advanced coaching, AI vision-setting, cross-functional change leadership. Building the strategic and coaching foundation.

Month 4

Operational Excellence Meets AI — Cross-departmental process mapping, Lean/Six Sigma, strategic prioritisation, quantified business impact.

Months 5–8

Building AI Capability — AI Prompt Mastery CQ, NCFE Data L3, executive data storytelling, business case mastery, agile piloting.

Months 9–12

Governance, Strategy & Advanced Coaching — CMI L5 Leadership (M9-10), CMI L5 Coaching Complete (M11), Copilot mastery. AB-730 exam.

Months 13–15

Your Department's AI Roadmap — Apply everything to a strategic departmental AI project. Build evidence. Demonstrate enterprise impact. Gateway readiness.

Post Month 15

Gateway & EPA — ST1613 v1.0 standard. Demonstrate mastery as an AI-ready operations leader.

Why Choose TESS

The only provider combining ST1613 with CMI L5 leadership and coaching credentials

"This programme changed how our operations team thinks about AI — it's not just technology training, it's leadership transformation."

— Head of Operations, NHS Trust

Market First

Only provider with AI + CMI L5 Leadership + Coaching

Real Skills Coach

Dedicated 1-to-1 coaching throughout the apprenticeship

Monthly Rolling Starts

Begin when it suits your team — no waiting for cohorts

Employer Engagement

Work closely with your team to maximise departmental impact

4.9/5 Rating

Trusted by operations leaders across the UK

Strategic Partnership

Co-designed with operations leaders and FTSE companies

AI for Operations LeadersBridge Strategy and Execution

Built for Operations Leaders,Not Junior Practitioners