Our first cohort of Operations Manager apprentices have successfully completed their programme and we are pleased to launch this apprenticeship again.  Quest apprenticeships allow colleagues to gain new skills, knowledge and nationally accredited qualifications.  Study is mainly online with Exeter college.  There is no change to your terms and conditions, and you study alongside your current role.  This apprenticeship will start in March 2024.

Who is the apprenticeship suitable for?

The Operations Manager apprenticeship is an in-depth exploration of management skills, responsibilities and challenges and is suited to colleagues already in a management role looking to develop their career to next level. 

In your current role, you will need to be working towards and achieve the following job role requirements before their End Point Assessment:

• Having responsibility for a team or multiple teams of at least four people
• Setting long term individual and team goals
• Developing and running own projects
• Completing staff appraisals/reviews
• Involvement in recruitment processes
• Chairing meetings with stakeholders
• Implementing new approaches to work
• Overseeing changes to working practices and methods

What does the apprenticeship involve?

The apprenticeship includes a Leadership and Management programme which aims to develop current managers with an emphasis on developing teams, creating operational plans, planning projects and change and managing a budget.  You will gain a nationally recognised qualification, learn new skills and knowledge and become more productive and effective.

Topics covered:

• Operational leadership and management in an organisational context
• Developing, managing and leading individuals and teams
• Managing stakeholder relationships
• Managing projects to achieve results
• Managing change
• Creating and delivering operational plans
• Managing finance
• Using reflective practice to inform development

What's in it for me?

You'll achieve the Level 5 Operations / Departmental Manager Apprenticeship standard.  Upon successful completion of the programme, you will be eligible for membership of the Chartered Management Institute.  If you have three years management experienced at the time of the EPA, you will be awarded Chartered Management status.  If you do not have three years of management experience at the time of the EPA, you will be awarded Foundation Chartered Manager, and can apply to be upgraded with the required experience.

Our delivery partner

The programme, lasting approximately 30 months will be delivered by Ofsted Outstanding Exeter College through taught mainly online sessions.  Once training has been concluded there will be an End Point Assessment undertaken by the Chartered Management Institute. 

You will be required to be released for learning for two days a month, and in addition you should also expect to study and complete assignments in your own time.

To enable learning, colleagues without Level 2 / GCSE grade C/4/5 or above (or equivalent) in English and/or maths will need to achieve Functional Skills Level 2 English and/or maths prior to taking the End Point Assessment.  Exeter College will support with this as required.

Applicants will be required to complete an application form and if short listed, a short on-line information session with the college tutor. 

Please note, as part of the short-listing process, your application form will be shared with Exeter College.

Remember

·       Study is online and you will only need to occasionally travel to Exeter college

·       There is no upper age limit for apprenticeships

·       Your terms and conditions don't change – you stay in your current role.

More information about the apprentice standard can be found here.

https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/operations-or-departmental-manager-v1-2

 For further information please contact:

Sarah Elkins, Coach and Mentor on 07788 153841

Adele Wheeler, Coach and Mentor on 07525 275374

Ekaterina Cherkasenko, Coach and Mentor on 07590 601119

Andrew Hughes, Regional Apprentice Manager on 07734 814939

 Please submit your application online via the internal FirstGroup careers website: https://internal-careers.firstgroup.co.uk/

 In case of technical difficulties when submitting your application, please contact the Recruitment Team at gwrrecruitment@gwr.com

We all belong at GWR. This is our vision for providing an inclusive environment for all our colleagues, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment. 

We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA, ethnicity, religion and disability. We maintain zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.

We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.

We review all roles and job descriptions to ensure they are accessible and, where possible, we support and provide flexible working options; we recommend that you refer to each vacancy description for further details.

If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below. We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.

https://exceptionalindividuals.com/neurodiversity/

https://www.healthassured.org/blog/neurodiversity/