Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship for Public Sector Organisations

Public Sector Transformational Manager Programme (Level 3)

Build strong first-line management capability, strengthening people management, commercial acumen and AI literacy across public services.

Level 3
Level 3

Team Leader Apprenticeship

Duration
Duration
12 months + end point assessment
Qualification outcomes
Qualification outcomes

Level 3 Team Leader Management Apprenticeship
Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals certification
CMI professional membership eligibility

 

Audience
Audience

Emerging talent, aspiring managers, entry-level employees progressing into management and early-career supervisors taking on first-line management responsibility 

Funding
Funding

Fully fundable via the Apprenticeship Levy - funding band £5,000
 

Time commitment
Time commitment
Approx. 4 hours per week protected learning time

Programme overview

Delivered through the Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship, the programme develops practical management, human-centred and AI-enabled capability for aspiring managers, emerging talent and first-line management roles.

The programme is aligned to University of Birmingham’s 21st Century Public Servant research on the importance of digital confidence, adaptability, communication and relationships in modern public service work.

Skills and capabilities developed

People management
Team performance
Communication
Commercial awareness
AI literacy
Problem solving
Project discipline
Decision-making
Coaching and feedback
Inclusive management

Evidence & outcomes

Our programmes deliver measurable improvements in management capability and organisational performance.
FTL-Microsft

Microsoft AI Certification Included

Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals included
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Ofsted rated "good"

With 53% of participants promoted during or after the programme

award

100%

Participants report improved management capability and AI literacy

award

85%

Distinction rate across all programmes, and 100% pass rate

Programme positioning

Who is this
programme for?

This programme is designed for emerging talent, entry-level employees progressing into management, early-career supervisors and aspiring managers across public sector organisations.

It is especially relevant where organisations want to build stronger progression routes into first-line management while developing confidence, communication, judgement and day-to-day management capability.

Emerging talent and aspiring manager roles
• Aspiring managers
• Emerging team leaders
• High-potential employees 
• Employees stepping into people responsibility

Entry-level and frontline management roles
• Team leaders
• Supervisors
• Shift leaders
• Frontline managers

Specialist and support roles progressing into management
• Service supervisors
• Operations coordinators 
• Customer or resident service team leaders
• Delivery support coordinators 

Technical and specialist roles
• Technical specialists with team responsibility
• Subject-matter experts leading others
• Engineering managers
• IT team managers

Where this
programme fits

This programme builds the first-line management capability public sector organisations rely on to improve team performance and create stronger progression routes into management.

It forms part of Future Talent Learning’s broader approach to building human, transformation and AI capability across the workforce.


Core first-line management pathway

Foundation for AI-enabled and data-informed team management

Supports stronger team performance and operational consistency

Strengthens confidence, communication and day-to-day management judgement

Progression route into wider management, change and AI pathways

Capabilities developed

This programme develops the management capability required to support people, coordinate delivery and strengthen team performance. Participants build capability across six domains organisations rely on for effective first-line management.


Human capability - People management
Operational capability - Team performance

Management capability – Planning, prioritisation and judgement

AI capability - AI literacy and AI-enabled productivity

Collaboration capability – Stakeholder awareness and communication

Transformation capability – Problem solving and continuous improvement

Organisational outcomes

Public sector organisations typically use this programme to strengthen first-line management capability and build more confident progression into management.

Improved management confidence in aspiring and new team leaders

Stronger team coordination and accountability

Better quality communication and feedback

Improved operational consistency and problem solving

Stronger progression pipelines into future management roles

Why this programme?

Our programme helps emerging managers build the confidence and capability they need to support people, improve performance and coordinate delivery effectively across public services.

It provides practical first-line management development with a strong human-centred core, alongside AI literacy for modern workplace management.

Levy-funded management & AI capability

AI-enabled learning platform

Microsoft AI Fundamentals certification

Applied first-line management development

Time-efficient:
learning fits the working week

The real constraint with professional development is rarely funding — it is time.

Our programmes are designed to work with the flow of real work, not compete with it.

Participants typically commit around four hours per week, combining structured learning, coaching and applied missions directly linked to their role.

This ensures development strengthens day-to-day performance while building capability for the future.

12 month programme overview

Explore the programme’s curriculum, events and study groups, or download the programme prospectus for more detail.

Curriculum missions

The curriculum is structured around 12 practical monthly missions that build first-line management capability through real work.
01

How to develop yourself and your team

Build self-awareness, growth habits and confidence in others
02

How to manage people and relationships

Strengthen trust, communication and day-to-day people leadership
03

How to be inclusive

Create fairer, safer and higher-performing teams
04

How to use technology to create sustainable efficiencies

Use tools and AI more effectively to improve work
05

How to present with impact

Communicate clearly and influence with confidence
06

How to apply people policies and procedures

Work responsibly within policy, process and good practice
07

How to manage operations and resources

Coordinate work, priorities and resources effectively
08

How to analyse and solve problems

Use structured thinking to improve performance and decisions
09

How to forecast and plan for the future

Set direction, plan ahead and manage uncertainty
10

How to gather and benchmark data

Use evidence to understand performance and support action
11

How to review and reflect

Consolidate learning and improve future performance
12

How to manage change and budgets

Support change and make sound commercial decisions

Interactive live learning events

Live learning workshops allow participants to practise new approaches, discuss real workplace challenges and deepen understanding through guided discussion.
01

Active listening

Understand others deeply and improve communication in teams
02

AI and digital skills

Use AI tools confidently to enhance productivity and decision-making
03

Building resilience

Develop resilience to navigate pressure, setbacks and change
04

Coaching

Use coaching conversations to develop people and performance
05

Collaboration

Work effectively across teams and functions
06

Conflict management

Handle difficult conversations constructively
07

Delegation

Delegate effectively to develop others and increase capacity
08

Design thinking

Use structured creativity to solve problems and improve work
09

Effective prioritisation

Focus effort on the work that creates greatest impact
10

Feedback

Give and receive feedback that strengthens performance and trust
11

Financial literacy

Understand financial drivers and make commercially informed decisions
12

Gravitas

Build credibility, confidence and presence as a leader
13

Imposter syndrome

Recognise self-doubt and build confidence in management roles
14

Inclusion

Create inclusive teams where diverse perspectives can thrive
15

Influence

Influence stakeholders effectively without relying on authority
16

Management styles

Understand management styles and adapt your approach to context
17

Leading change

Support teams through change and everyday improvement
18

Managing anxiety

Support wellbeing and manage pressure in demanding environments
19

Problem solving

Use structured thinking to solve practical team problems
20

Public speaking for managers

Communicate ideas clearly and confidently in management settings

Live peer study groups

Monthly coach-facilitated sessions provide a structured space to exchange ideas, share challenges and explore how learning can be applied in real public service contexts.
01

Stepping up into management

Discuss how new managers build confidence and credibility
02

Building trust in teams

Explore practical ways to strengthen trust and team cohesion
03

Managing performance conversations

Share approaches for constructive performance and feedback discussions
04

Supporting teams through change

Discuss how managers help teams adapt during change
05

Managing up and across

Explore strategies for influencing senior colleagues and peers
06

Balancing delivery and development

Reflect on managing results while developing people
07

Decision-making in everyday leadership

Share how managers make sound decisions under pressure
08

Building inclusive, high-performing teams

Discuss practical ways to build inclusive, high-performing teams
09

Developing future talent

Explore how managers identify and nurture emerging talent
10

Collaboration across teams

Discuss overcoming silos and improving cross-team working
11

Sustaining energy and motivation

Share strategies for maintaining motivation in demanding roles
12

Continuous improvement in practice

Discuss how teams identify and implement everyday improvements

Weekly delivery model

Approx. 4 hours of protected learning time per week One of the most time-efficient delivery models.

Structured learning: approx. 4 hours per week

50%

AI-enabled learning + human coaching + interactive workshops


• Self-paced learning modules
• Interactive live workshops
• Guided exploration using AI learning tools
• Peer study groups and coaching support.

These sessions introduce practical frameworks, tools and approaches that can be applied immediately at work.

Applied learning in the workplace: approx. 4 hours per week

50%

Applied & project-based learning

Participants apply learning directly to real workplace challenges through monthly missions and work-based projects. Learning strengthens existing work.

This ensures development is:
• immediately relevant
• visible to the organisation
• embedded in day-to-day performance

The FTL learning experience

Development is designed around how adults learn most effectively at work — through applied practice, reflection, coaching and collaboration.
Find out more

Real workplace challenges drive learning.

Participants apply new skills directly to their role through structured monthly missions linked to real organisational priorities.

FTL-Applied-learning-missions
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An outstanding programme to accelerate the development of future leaders. — Roger Minton, Head of Leadership, Anglo American
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An outstanding programme to accelerate the development of future leaders. — Roger Minton, Head of Leadership, Anglo American
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An outstanding programme to accelerate the development of future leaders. — Roger Minton, Head of Leadership, Anglo American

Frequently asked questions — Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship

See our full FAQs page for more information or contact us if you have any questions.
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