

People Professional Apprenticeship
Our Level 5 People Professional/HR Apprenticeship is developed with input from industry experts to ensure the content stays current with emerging trends and key topics - giving you a qualification that’s relevant and tailored to today’s people management roles.

At a glance
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LevelLevel 5
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Duration18 months + EPA
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LocationWorkplace
About the course
Our Level 5 HR Apprenticeship is developed in partnership with industry professionals to ensure the content stays current with emerging trends and key topics thereby making this qualification relevant and valuable for your career.
As part of the programme, you’ll also receive free CIPD membership, giving you access to exclusive resources and professional networks to support and enhance your studies.
This programme is government-regulated and funded through the apprenticeship levy or other government schemes.
Is this course right for you?
This HR apprenticeship is ideal for individuals already working within the people profession who want to take their career to the next level by achieving a Level 5 CIPD qualification. Whether you’re in HR, talent management, learning and development, or organisational development, this programme will help you deepen your expertise and broaden your strategic impact.
We also offer the Level 3 HR Support Apprenticeship, which is designed for those starting out in HR or seeking to build core HR skills. While Level 3 focuses on foundational HR knowledge and day-to-day support tasks, the Level 5 People Professional apprenticeship prepares you for more strategic responsibilities and leadership within the people profession.
What you’ll learn
The apprenticeship is designed to help individuals broaden their skills, take on greater responsibility in people management, and deepen their knowledge.
Learning topics include:
- Business acumen
- Commercial awareness
- Evidence-based practice
- Digital working
- Analytics and insights
Upon completing the Level 5 HR Apprenticeship, you will also earn the CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management, a respected qualification that supports your professional development.
How you’ll learn
You’ll experience a blended learning programme delivered in cohorts, allowing you to learn alongside like-minded, skilled apprentices and build valuable networks and relationships.
Over the 18-month programme (plus End Point Assessment), our expert CIPD trainers will provide dedicated guidance, coaching, and mentorship to support you every step of the way.
Your learning experience will include:
- A dedicated specialist trainer providing ongoing training, guidance, and support
- CIPD-led webinars
- Interactive online workshops
- Guided learning tasks
- Online learning resources and support
- 1-to-1 support, including coaching and tailored advice
- Assignments and work-based research projects
- Regular progress reviews, including pre-gateway and final gateway reviews
- Preparation and support for your End Point Assessment (EPA)
Our blended learning approach ensures you gain practical, real-world skills while building the confidence and knowledge to excel in your HR career.
People Professional apprenticeship

The people that make it happen


I am an experienced HR and Learning & Development professional with over 20 years of cross-sector expertise in the UK and Nigeria. My experience spans Performance Management, Learning and Development, and HR Consulting.
My HR journey started in HR operations before I transitioned into Learning and Development, where I discovered my passion for helping individuals realise their career goals.
Throughout my career, I have been involved in major initiatives, including the rollout of HR systems and the design of competency-based learning frameworks. I enjoy driving impactful HR strategies and fostering talent development to support organisational growth.

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Bim Shitta-Bey
Trainer, Business SkillsI am a CIPD-certified HR and People Professional with over 14 years of international experience in talent and performance management. Prior to my career in HR, I spent seven years as a process engineer in the refinery sector.
I specialise in delivering generalist HR and business partnering solutions across a range of industries. My expertise lies in working closely with leaders and decision-makers to drive sustainable business outcomes. I’m passionate about building diverse, inclusive, and high-performance cultures where individuals and teams can thrive.


After graduating, I began my career in HR consultancy with a local Chamber of Commerce. One of my clients offered me my first HR Manager role (known as Personnel back then!), which marked the start of my journey in people management.
Several years later, I was eager to deepen my HR experience and transitioned into learning and organisational development. I held roles across both corporate and consultancy settings, culminating in nine years as a Learning and Development Manager.
Following a career break while my children were young, I joined Warwickshire College to lead HR apprenticeship coaching. I later moved to a smaller training provider, where I expanded my apprenticeship portfolio to include coaching at Levels 3 and 5 in Learning and Development, as well as launching pastoral support services for students.
Before joining Realise a year ago, I trained as an End-Point Assessor for HR and L&D at Levels 3 and 5. While this was a rewarding and insightful experience, I found myself missing the fulfilment that comes from coaching learners during such a pivotal time in their careers. The pull back to coaching was strong and I’m so glad I followed it.


I'm an HR professional with over 12 years’ experience in generalist roles across the Housing, Education, and Financial sectors. I hold a Level 7 CIPD Diploma and have developed a strong foundation in people management, employee relations advising, HR systems, employee wellbeing, and customer service.
After returning from maternity leave, I felt inspired to take my career in a new direction—one that allows me to share my knowledge and support others in their growth. For the past two years, I’ve worked as an HR Skills Coach, guiding apprentices through their learning journeys.
I take a supportive and collaborative approach to coaching, creating a safe space where learners feel heard, encouraged, and empowered to reach their potential.

FAQs
The People professional Level 5 apprenticeship has CIPD embedded throughout the programme. As well as achieving the apprenticeship, learners will also gain a CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Practice qualification.
Our partnership with ICS Learn Group, which comprises of DPG, Acacia and ICS Learn provides learners with access to the latest CIPD materials.
Apprenticeships are cost-free to the learner. The responsibility for funding lies with the employer. Employers can fund apprenticeships in one of two ways:
> Apprenticeship Levy: Larger employers who pay the apprenticeship levy can use these funds to fully cover the cost of training.
> Co-investment: Smaller employers who do not pay the levy typically contribute 5% of the apprenticeship cost, with the government covering the remaining 95%.
This means businesses can access high-quality training for their staff at a low or no cost, depending on their size and funding eligibility.

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