OTMA’s Level 5 People Professional Apprenticeship is designed for HR and people professionals who want to develop the practical knowledge, confidence and expertise needed to support both employees and wider organisational goals.
People professionals play an important role in shaping how organisations recruit, develop, engage and retain their workforce. This HR apprenticeship develops skills across areas including employee relations, recruitment, learning and development, workforce planning, performance, wellbeing and people data, helping learners make informed decisions and deliver effective people practices.
Alongside the apprenticeship, learners will also complete the Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management, supporting their wider professional development.
What the People Professional Apprenticeship covers
The People Professional Apprenticeship develops the knowledge and practical skills required to work confidently across a modern HR or people function.
Rather than focusing solely on HR processes, learners develop an understanding of how effective people practices support wider organisational performance. They learn how to work with managers, employees and other stakeholders while balancing individual needs, employment requirements and business priorities.
Throughout the programme, apprentices will develop their capability across areas including:
- Recruitment, onboarding & workforce planning
- Employee relations & people management
- Learning, development & performance management
- Equality, diversity, inclusion & wellbeing
- Employment law, ethics & organisational compliance
- People data & analytics
- Stakeholder management & professional communication
- Organisational culture & employee engagement
- Change & continuous improvement
- HR processes & effective people practices
- Problem solving & supporting business objectives
- Confidentiality & ethical professional practice
These areas reflect the curriculum within OTMA’s programme and are designed to help learners apply their development directly within their workplace.
The role of a People Professional
People Professionals help organisations get the best from their workforce while creating fair, effective and positive working environments.
Depending on the organisation, they may work across a broad HR function or specialise in areas such as recruitment, employee relations, learning and development, talent, wellbeing or workforce planning.
A key part of the role is providing informed advice and support to managers and employees. People Professionals need to understand organisational priorities while also considering employment law, internal policies, ethical practice and the experience of the people affected by their decisions.
They increasingly use people data and insights to identify trends, support decision-making and improve HR processes. This could include exploring workforce needs, employee engagement, performance, retention or other measures that help an organisation understand and develop its people.
Who Is This Apprenticeship For?
The Level 5 People Professional Apprenticeship is suitable for people already working within HR, people management or a related role who are ready to deepen their expertise and take on greater responsibility.
Typical roles could include:
- HR Advisor
- People Advisor
- HR Officer
- People Officer
- HR Consultant
- People Consultant
- HR Business Partner
- People Business Partner
- Employee Relations Advisor
- Learning & Development Advisor
- Talent or Recruitment Professional
It may also suit employees progressing from an entry-level HR course or HR apprenticeship who now need a broader understanding of people strategy, employee relations and organisational performance.
The programme is particularly valuable for organisations looking to develop existing HR talent rather than recruit externally, giving employees the opportunity to build their professional capability while continuing to apply their learning in the workplace.
Developing effective people practices
Good HR is about far more than policies, paperwork and processes.
People Professionals need to understand how the organisation operates, what it is trying to achieve and how its people practices can support those goals. This apprenticeship helps learners develop that wider perspective.
They explore how recruitment, development, performance management, engagement, wellbeing and workforce planning connect, enabling them to make better-informed decisions rather than treating each area of HR in isolation.
Learners also develop the professional judgement needed to balance organisational requirements with fair and ethical people practices, building trusted relationships with managers, employees and stakeholders.
Using people data to support better decisions
Modern HR teams have access to more workforce information than ever before, but having data is not the same as knowing what to do with it.
The People Professional Apprenticeship develops learners’ ability to use people data and analytics to support decision-making and continuous improvement.
Learners develop an understanding of how data can help identify patterns, challenges and opportunities across the workforce. This can support conversations around recruitment, retention, performance, employee engagement and workforce planning.
By combining people insight with professional judgement, learners can contribute more effectively to evidence-led HR decisions and demonstrate the wider impact of good people practice.
Supporting organisational culture & change
HR teams often sit at the centre of organisational change.
Whether a business is growing, restructuring, introducing new systems or simply trying to improve how its teams work together, People Professionals can help employees and managers navigate that change effectively.
The programme develops skills in stakeholder communication, organisational culture, employee engagement and continuous improvement, helping learners understand both the practical and people-related implications of change.
This allows them to contribute constructively to change initiatives while helping organisations maintain engagement, communication and effective working relationships.
How the apprenticeship is delivered
The programme is designed to fit around the learner’s role, allowing them to develop their knowledge while continuing to apply it within the workplace.
Learners receive:
- Flexible group delivery sessions
- Monthly one-to-one coaching with a Skills Coach
- Progress reviews every eight weeks
- Assignments & learning resources through Aptem
- Functional Skills support where required
- Initial assessments before enrolment
The apprenticeship programme lasts approximately 22 months, followed by an End-Point Assessment period that typically lasts around three months.
Funding
The People Professional Apprenticeship has a funding value of £11,000, and eligible employers can use apprenticeship funding towards the cost of training and assessment.
For employers who do not pay the apprenticeship levy, the government currently funds 100% of eligible training and assessment costs for apprentices aged 16 to 24. For apprentices aged 25 and over, the government contributes 95%, with the employer paying the remaining 5%, up to the apprenticeship funding band maximum.
Employers who pay into the apprenticeship levy can use the funds available in their Apprenticeship Service account towards the programme. Funding rules vary depending on the employer and learner circumstances, so our team can help you understand the options available and how the apprenticeship could be funded within your organisation.
Find out more about apprenticeship funding and support here.
