Develop project professionals who can also make sound commercial and procurement decisions. This levy-funded apprenticeship combines the Associate Project Manager standard with the CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma, delivered by a CIPS Centre of Excellence.
14-18
CIPS L5
£7,000
Months
Advanced Diploma
Maximum levy funding per apprentice
14-18
Months
CIPS L5
Advanced Diploma
100%
The Level 4 Project Management Apprenticeship follows the government’s Associate Project Manager standard. It is a funded programme for people who help plan, run and control projects. SRSCC’s version also includes the CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma, so apprentices finish with a project management apprenticeship and an advanced procurement qualification.
Associate project managers work out what needs to be done, how it will be done, how long it will take and what it will cost. The apprenticeship develops that capability across governance, planning, budgets, risk, quality and stakeholder management, and apprentices apply it to real projects in their organisation.
Most projects spend money with suppliers, and many succeed or fail on their contracts. Adding the CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma gives apprentices the commercial depth to manage supply chain risk, contractual risk and supplier performance inside the projects they deliver.
SRSCC already delivers CIPS Level 3, Level 4 and Level 6 through apprenticeships. Until now, CIPS Level 5 was usually paid for by the learner or employer.
This programme brings Level 5 into apprenticeship funding, giving employers a complete apprenticeship route from CIPS Level 3 to Level 6 and MCIPS chartered status.
The programme suits people already working in procurement, commercial or supply chain roles who are taking on project responsibility.
Buyers and category specialists who run tenders, supplier transitions, system implementations or cost reduction programmes and want formal project management skills.
People managing contracts, suppliers or commercial change who need to plan, budget and report on delivery with more control.
Learners who have finished the CIPS Level 4 Diploma or the Level 4 Procurement and Supply Chain Practitioner Apprenticeship and want to continue to CIPS Level 5 with apprenticeship funding.
Organisations in construction, infrastructure, healthcare, the public sector and manufacturing that need people who can deliver projects and manage the supply chain behind them.
One programme develops two sets of expertise that most organisations need in the same person.
Build people who plan, control scope, manage risk and report clearly, so projects land on time and on budget.
Gain advanced procurement capability through CIPS Level 5, reducing supply chain and contractual risk across your projects.
Fund a project management apprenticeship and a CIPS Level 5 qualification from one apprenticeship budget, instead of paying for CIPS separately.
Achieve the Level 4 Associate Project Manager Apprenticeship and the internationally recognised CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma while earning your salary.
Develop practical project, leadership and communication skills you can use in any organisation that runs projects.
Build a career in project delivery and procurement, with a clear next step to CIPS Level 6 and MCIPS.
The apprenticeship has three stages: a practical period of learning and workplace application, a gateway review, and the apprenticeship assessment.
Total duration
14–18 months
Qualifications
Level 4 Associate Project Manager Apprenticeship and CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma
12-14 months
Apprentices study the CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma alongside the project management content of the standard, applying both to projects at work with support from a skills coach and tutors.
| When | CIPS Level 5 study | Project management focus |
|---|---|---|
| Months 1–2 | Induction, skills scan and personal training plan | Project context, governance and lifecycles; business cases |
| Months 2–4 | L5M1Managing Teams and Individuals | Stakeholder engagement, communication, conflict and negotiation |
| Months 4–7 | L5M2Managing Supply Chain Risk L5M3Managing Contractual Risk | Risk and issue management; scope and change control |
| Months 7–10 | L5M4Advanced Contract and Financial Management L5M5Managing Ethical Procurement and Supply | Budget control and earned value; quality; sustainability and compliance |
| Months 10–13 | Three electives, such as L5M8Project and Change Management | Planning, scheduling and resources; digital tools; work-based project |
Indicative timetable. Module order can change to fit CIPS examination series. [Confirm module order, timings and elective choices]
Around 1 month
The employer, apprentice and SRSCC confirm the apprentice is ready for assessment. This includes checking CIPS Level 5 progress, workplace evidence and, for apprentices aged 16 to 18, English and maths.
2–3 months
An independent assessor confirms the apprentice is competent as an associate project manager. See how it is assessed.
CIPS Level 5 is not studied separately from the apprenticeship. Each core module reinforces areas of the Associate Project Manager standard, so apprentices build commercial depth in the same topics their projects depend on.
Most projects spend money with suppliers, and many succeed or fail on their contracts. Adding the CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma gives apprentices the commercial depth to manage supply chain risk, contractual risk and supplier performance inside the projects they deliver.
| CIPS Level 5 module | Apprenticeship areas it reinforces |
|---|---|
| Core modules | |
| L5M1Managing Teams and Individuals12 credits | Leading project teams, stakeholder management, conflict and negotiation |
| L5M2Managing Supply Chain Risk6 credits | Identifying, analysing and responding to project risks and issues |
| L5M4Advanced Contract and Financial Management12 credits | Budget monitoring, financial analysis and contract performance |
| L5M5Managing Ethical Procurement and Supply6 credits | Legislation, ethics, sustainability and compliance |
| Elective modules | |
| L5M8Project and Change Management6 credits | Project lifecycles, planning and managing organisational change |
| L5M9Operations Management6 credits | Resource planning, quality management and continuous improvement |
| L5M15Advanced Negotiation6 credits | Influencing and negotiating with stakeholders and suppliers |
The apprenticeship standard sets out the knowledge, skills and behaviours an associate project manager needs. SRSCC’s programme develops all of them, with extra depth in procurement and commercial awareness.
With CIPS Level 5 now available through this apprenticeship, every CIPS level can be achieved through levy-funded training with SRSCC. Each stage below is numbered by the CIPS qualification level it includes.
Builds foundational skills in supplier liaison, purchase order management, and quotation/tender evaluation. Includes the embedded CIPS Level 3 Advanced Certificate.
Develops mid-level commercial capability across contracting, ethical sourcing, negotiation, and supplier relationships. Includes the embedded CIPS Level 4 Diploma.
Combines project delivery with advanced risk, contract and financial management. Includes the embedded CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma.
Strategic leadership focus covering corporate strategy and global supply chains. Includes the CIPS Level 6 Professional Diploma and pathway to MCIPS Chartered status.
Apprentices are assessed on the CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma during the programme and through an independent apprenticeship assessment at the end.
Computer-based exams for each module, using objective response (multiple choice) and constructed response (written) papers.
A report on a real work project that benefits the employer, followed by questions from an independent assessor.
Such as a professional discussion, presentation, or portfolio of evidence with questioning, depending on the assessment plan in place.
A revised assessment plan for the Associate Project Manager standard, approved under the 2025/26 apprenticeship assessment reforms, applies to new starts from 28 January 2027. SRSCC confirms the plan that applies to each apprentice at enrolment.
The apprenticeship costs up to £7,000 per apprentice, paid through apprenticeship funding. Apprentices pay nothing. How the cost is split depends on whether the employer pays the levy and the apprentice’s age at the start of training.
| Employer type | Apprentice aged 16–24 | Apprentice aged 25+ |
|---|---|---|
| Levy-paying employer | Paid from your levy funds | Paid from your levy funds |
| Levy payer whose funds have run out | Government pays 100% | Government pays 75%, employer pays 25% |
| Non-levy employer | Government pays 100% | Government pays 95%, employer pays 5% |
Rates apply to apprenticeships starting from 1 August 2026 and are based on the price up to the £7,000 funding band maximum.
New levy funds entering accounts from August 2026 expire after 12 months instead of 24. Starting an apprentice now puts funds to work before they are lost.
Levy payers can transfer up to 50% of their annual funds to other employers, including suppliers, to fund apprenticeships like this one.
| Item | At a venue | Remote |
|---|---|---|
| CIPS resit, objective response exam | £102.00 | £116.50 |
| CIPS resit, constructed response exam | £140.00 | £157.00 |
| CIPS membership renewal after 12 months | £161.00 | |
All prices exclude VAT, charged at 20%. SRSCC fully supports any apprentice who needs a resit. Resit and membership fees are set by CIPS and may change.
SRSCC specialises in procurement and supply chain training, supporting individuals and employers across the UK. Tutors include MCIPS and FCIPS-qualified practitioners who bring real commercial experience into every session.
Learn from experienced procurement and supply professionals who bring real-world commercial knowledge into their teaching. Our tutors include MCIPS and FCIPS-qualified practitioners.
Delivering procurement and supply chain training since 2007, supporting learners and employers across a wide range of sectors.
Choose a learning method that fits around your role and organisation, including classroom delivery in Preston, live virtual classrooms and SRSCC’s Independent Learning Zone (ILZ).
SRSCC is an Ofsted-rated ‘Good’ training provider and a CIPS Centre of Excellence, providing recognised standards of apprenticeship and professional procurement training.
Hear from apprentices who have successfully completed the programme and employers who trust SRSCC to develop their teams.
“SR Supply Chain’s mentors and tutors have massively helped during my studies. They share their knowledge and experiences, which is invaluable because it really puts the context into what we learn.”
“SRSCC and the Apprenticeships they provide have, without a doubt, helped develop our Procurement Team.”
Barry Leighton
Head of Commercial Services
Cumbria Constabulary
“Having a progress mentor has supported me because they believe in you more than you believe in yourself. There’s constant reassurance, they help you organize your time better, and offer regular check-ins. I love my progress mentor.”
Ready to speak to our Team? Get in touch.
Got questions? We’ve got answers. Find out everything you need to know about apprenticeships.
The Level 4 Project Management Apprenticeship follows the government’s Associate Project Manager standard (ST0310). It is a funded programme for people who help plan, run and control projects, covering governance, planning, budgets, risk, stakeholder management and quality. SRSCC’s programme also includes the CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply.
For most people with real project responsibility, yes. Training is funded, apprentices keep earning their salary, and everything they learn is applied to live projects at work. SRSCC’s programme adds a second recognised qualification, the CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma. It delivers most value when the apprentice has projects to work on and protected time for off-the-job learning.
No. SRSCC’s programme includes the CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply instead. The current Associate Project Manager standard does not require a separate project management qualification, so apprentices achieve the full apprenticeship without APM PMQ or PRINCE2. The programme is designed for people whose projects involve suppliers, contracts and commercial decisions.
A Level 4 apprenticeship is equivalent to a Higher National Certificate (HNC). The CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma included in this programme is equivalent to the second year of an undergraduate degree.
Yes, when it is studied as part of this programme. The CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma, first-year CIPS membership and initial CIPS examination fees are included in the apprenticeship price of up to £7,000 per apprentice, which employers can pay using apprenticeship funding. Studied on its own, CIPS Level 5 is normally paid for by the learner or employer.
Yes. Apprentices do not pay for their apprenticeship training, and they continue to earn their salary while they learn.
For apprenticeships starting from 1 August 2026, levy-paying employers use funds in their apprenticeship service account. Where an employer does not pay the levy, or a levy payer has used all its funds, the government pays the full cost for apprentices aged 16 to 24. For apprentices aged 25 and over, the government pays 95% for non-levy employers and 75% for levy payers whose funds have run out, and the employer pays the rest.
SRSCC’s programme takes 14 to 18 months in total, including the apprenticeship assessment. The exact length depends on the apprentice’s starting point, progress and CIPS examination series.
Applicants should normally hold the CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply or have completed the Level 4 Procurement and Supply Chain Practitioner Apprenticeship. They must also be employed in a role where they can demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the Associate Project Manager standard.
The fee of up to £7,000 per apprentice covers apprenticeship training, a skills coach, tutor support, gateway and assessment preparation, learning resources, the CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma, first-year CIPS membership and initial CIPS examination fees. Possible extra costs are CIPS exam resits (£122.40 for an objective response exam, £168 for a constructed response exam) and CIPS membership renewal after 12 months (£193.20). CIPS sets these fees and they may change.
Whether you’re an employer looking to develop your team or an individual exploring your next qualification, send us your details and we’ll be in touch to talk through eligibility, funding and start dates.
Progress Mentor
Bethanie began her career in the fitness industry, working as a personal trainer and gym instructor before becoming involved in coaching children through a triathlon club. This experience sparked her passion for working with young people and ultimately led her into a career in education. She initially worked in a nursery and later as a one-to-one teaching assistant in a primary school, before completing her teaching qualification and postgraduate studies. Since then, Bethanie has taught in both the private and state education sectors.
Her academic background includes a qualification in Sports Development, Fitness and Coaching at college, alongside a Childhood & Youth undergraduate degree (2:1). These studies have enabled her to combine her interests in sport, education, and child development, shaping her holistic approach to teaching and mentoring.
Bethanie is passionate about supporting learners to achieve their goals — educationally, personally, and in terms of wellbeing. She places strong emphasis on communication and relationship building, and takes great pride in helping individuals build confidence and overcome challenges. One of her proudest achievements has been supporting learners who initially doubted themselves to grow in confidence and achieve success.
Outside of work, Bethanie has always maintained a strong interest in sport. She previously competed in triathlons and now focuses on running and swimming. In 2023, she completed the London Marathon — an achievement she is particularly proud of. She also enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and their two dogs, which is where she is happiest when not working.
Skills Coach
Ola began her career in supply chain within fast-paced warehouse and logistics environments, where she developed a strong understanding of operations and people management. Her journey into the Supply Chain sector wasn’t planned, but through hands-on experience she discovered a passion for improving processes and supporting others – which naturally led her into training and development.
She has progressed through a range of roles across operations, recruitment, and training, including Programme Coach and L&D Lead. She designed and delivered apprenticeship programmes, supporting over 40 learners to successful completion and contributing to strong quality outcomes and inspection success. Her transition into mentoring was driven by a desire to make a direct impact on people’s confidence, growth, and career progression.
Ola’s mentoring style is supportive, structured, and empowering. She combines real operational experience with coaching expertise, helping learners apply knowledge in practical workplace settings. One of her proudest career achievements has been supporting learners who started with low confidence to achieve distinctions and progress into new roles within their organisations. She has also led a UK-wide Mental Health First Aider network, embedding wellbeing into workplace culture and supporting colleagues through challenging situations.
From day one, she shares a consistent message with every learner: “You’re more capable than you think – but you have to be willing to step outside your comfort zone to see it.”
Outside of work, Ola enjoys walking with her Border Collie, Luna, and cross stitching. She recommends Legacy by James Kerr to anyone in supply chain, for its powerful insights into leadership and culture. If she wasn’t working in mentoring and development, she would likely be pursuing a career as a Visual Merchandiser.
Operations Team Leader
In December 2023, Jack joined SRSCC as an Operations Coordinator and quickly established himself as a key member of the team.
Promoted to Team Leader in October 2024, Jack utilises his expertise in auditing processes and innovative problem-solving to identify and enhance growth opportunities.
Jack possesses a strong ability to analyse and refine systems and procedures, consistently uncovering chances for streamlining and automation that drive operational efficiency. He excels at communicating complex ideas with clarity and precision.
Detail-oriented yet big-picture focused, Jack applies his exceptional organisational skills to ensure the team adopts the most effective strategies for achieving both individual and collective goals.
His methodical approach and strategic mindset make Jack an invaluable asset to SRSCC, significantly contributing to the team’s success and the realisation of organisational objectives.
