CQM Expands Leadership Development Routes as Apprenticeship Funding Changes Take Effect

NSAFD Industry Approved Provider CQM Training & Consultancy is helping food and drink manufacturers navigate the withdrawal of government funding for Team Leader Level 3 and Operations Manager Level 5, with a range of funded and commercial development routes designed around different roles and organisational needs.

Changes to the funding of Team Leader Level 3 and Operations Manager Level 5 are prompting many employers to reconsider how they develop supervisors, first-line managers and operational leaders.

These programmes have played an important role in leadership development strategies across many sectors, including food and drink manufacturing. Their defunding therefore presents a genuine challenge for employers that still need to strengthen management capability, develop future leaders and create progression opportunities for existing employees.

CQM Training & Consultancy, an NSAFD Industry Approved Provider, has been working with employers to identify practical alternatives. Rather than treating any one programme as a direct replacement, CQM is encouraging manufacturers to start with the individual’s role, responsibilities and development needs before deciding which route provides the strongest fit.

Process Leader Level 4 for operational manufacturing leaders

For individuals with responsibility for leading production activities, people, processes and operational performance, CQM’s established Process Leader Level 4 apprenticeship can provide a particularly strong option.

The programme has been developed specifically around manufacturing environments and combines leadership and people management with operational planning, continuous improvement, change management, performance management, recruitment and the delivery of a live workplace improvement project.

It is important, however, that Process Leader is selected because the role fits the apprenticeship rather than simply because it remains funded. The programme is designed for people whose day-to-day responsibilities genuinely involve leading production or manufacturing operations, managing teams and improving the processes for which they are accountable.

CQM’s recently published Process Leader Level 4 Apprenticeship Showcase demonstrates what that combination can look like in practice. At Barfoots, Area Manager Rob Tett used his project to improve a High Care production process, resulting in a 136.9% improvement in throughput on full production runs and an annual labour saving of £11,980.

At AB World Foods, Danny Heslop began the programme as a Team Leader before being promoted to Team Manager during his apprenticeship. His workplace project achieved a 95% reduction in downtime associated with a key production issue while strengthening process control and the team's use of data to identify root causes.

These examples reflect the wider purpose of Process Leader: developing people who can lead teams, manage performance and drive improvement together, rather than treating leadership and operational improvement as separate disciplines.

A new funded route for team leaders

For first-line managers and supervisors whose roles do not meet the occupational requirements of Process Leader Level 4, CQM has also developed its Improvement Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship for Team Leaders.

Presented to NSAFD and its members recently, the programme uses the funded Improvement Technician Level 3 apprenticeship as its foundation while adding dedicated leadership and management development.

Participants develop capability across people and team management, performance, communication, coaching, decision-making and continuous improvement, while completing a workplace improvement project. The programme incorporates CMI Level 3 leadership and management development, with an optional Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt accreditation.

A shorter commercial option where an apprenticeship is not needed

CQM has also worked with clients to strengthen its shorter commercial leadership offer.

Its CMI Level 3 First Line Management and Leadership Diploma provides a six-day development route for new and existing first-line managers, covering organisational awareness, leading people and teams, stakeholder communication, delivery of organisational activities, professional development and supporting people throughout the employee lifecycle.

This provides employers with another option where the priority is focused leadership development rather than a longer apprenticeship programme.

Andrew Cheshire, Managing Director of CQM Training & Consultancy, said:

“The withdrawal of funding from these leadership standards doesn’t remove the need to develop strong supervisors, team leaders and operational managers. If anything, the capability challenge facing manufacturers makes that development even more important.

What we don’t want employers to do is simply move people onto another apprenticeship because funding happens to be available. The starting point has to be the role, the capability gap and what the organisation needs that person to be able to do.

For the right manufacturing role, Process Leader is an incredibly rounded programme because it brings together leadership, operational performance and continuous improvement. For somebody at a different stage or with different responsibilities, our Improvement Apprenticeship for Team Leaders or a shorter CMI programme may provide a much better answer.”

CQM’s broader approach combines apprenticeships and commercial development rather than treating them as competing options, enabling employers to build pathways appropriate to different roles and levels across their workforce.

Its food and drink capability portfolio spans leadership, Lean Six Sigma, continuous improvement and technical development including the Food Industry Technologist Level 3 apprenticeship. You can take a look at how CQM can support your business with its dedicated Building Capability in Food & Drink Manufacturing Guide.

Food and drink manufacturers reviewing their leadership development plans can explore CQM’s Process Leader Level 4 Showcase, Improvement Apprenticeship for Team Leaders and CMI Level 3 First Line Management and Leadership programme, or speak with the CQM team about which route best fits their workforce.