Associate Project Manager

Level 4 Apprenticeship

Deliver projects with confidence — and lead change in an evolving, AI-enabled world. The Level 4 Associate Project Manager apprenticeship develops professionals who can successfully plan, manage and deliver projects across a wide range of sectors. At Aicura, we go further. As a specialist leadership and AI transformation provider, we don’t just teach project management tools — we develop individuals who can lead projects, influence stakeholders and deliver change in increasingly digital and AI-enabled environments. Because successful projects aren’t just delivered through process — they’re delivered through leadership, communication and the ability to adapt to new ways of working.

Overview

Who is it for?

This programme is ideal for employees who:

  •  Are responsible for delivering projects or workstreams
  • Want to develop their project management and leadership capability
  • Are involved in change, transformation or digital initiatives
  • Need to manage stakeholders, timelines, risks and outcomes

Typical roles include:

  •  Project support officer
  • Project coordinator
  • Junior project manager
  • Business analyst or transformation roles

What are the benefits?

Benefits for Employers:

  •  Improve project delivery consistency and success rates
  • Develop staff who can lead projects and influence stakeholders effectively
  • Strengthen capability to deliver change and transformation initiatives
  • Build internal expertise to support digital and AI-enabled projects
  • Reduce risk through better planning, governance and control
  • Increase accountability and ownership across project teams
  • Deliver measurable improvements in efficiency, performance and outcomes
  • Funded through the Apprenticeship Levy or low-cost co-investment

Benefits for Learners:

    •  Gain practical skills to plan, manage and deliver projects with confidence
    • Develop the ability to lead teams and influence stakeholders
    • Build experience delivering real workplace projects with impact
    • Strengthen skills in communication, organisation and decision-making
    • Understand how to support change and new ways of working
    • Develop capability to work in modern, digital and AI-enabled environments
    • Achieve a Level 4 apprenticeship qualification
    • Gain a CMI leadership qualification alongside the programme

Entry requirements

To enrol on this apprenticeship, learners must:

  • Be aged 16 or over
  • Be employed in a role relevant to AI, automation, or process improvement
  • Spend at least 50% of their working hours in England
  • Have the right to work in the UK
  • Not be enrolled on another government-funded apprenticeship at the same time
  • Have support from their employer to complete the programme

Prior qualifications:

  • Typically hold Level 2 English and Maths (or be willing to work towards this during the programme)
  • Ideally have prior experience in: operations, admin, or digital roles or a Level 3 qualification (e.g. Business Admin, Data, or similar)
  • No prior project management experience is required.

Employers must:

  • Provide learners with a role that allows them to apply project management in practice
  • Support off-the-job training (minimum 6 hours per week)
  • Allow time for: training sessions; project work and End Point Assessment

Find out more about our AI and Automation Practitioner Apprenticeship.

What does the programme cover?

Most project management programmes focus on methodology. We focus on impact. Our delivery combines three critical capabilities: the practical application of project management tools and techniques to deliver real business outcomes, the leadership and AI skills needed to engage stakeholders and drive change, and the ability to deliver measurable results through live workplace projects. Learners don’t just learn how to manage projects—they plan and deliver real initiatives, influence stakeholders, and support the adoption of new ways of working, including digital and AI-enabled changes. The result is not just project management capability, but professionals who can lead delivery and translate projects into meaningful organisational impact.

1. Project delivery excellence

  • Planning, scheduling and resource management
  • Risk, issue and change control
  • Managing budgets, timelines and outcomes
  • Understanding how digital and AI-driven changes impact delivery

2. Leadership and stakeholder management

  •  Influencing and engaging stakeholders
  • Communicating effectively across teams
  • Leading project teams and driving accountability
  • Supporting teams through change and new technologies

3. Delivering real business impact

  • Applying learning to live workplace projects
  • Managing change and embedding outcomes
  • Supporting the adoption of improved processes, including AI-enabled solutions
  • Delivering measurable improvements in performance
Delivery process for a L5 Management Apprentice illustrated as an oval with regular workshops.
Accipio C30 diagram (like a periodic table).

Learner journey and programme features

The Apprenticeship is structured into four key phases from selection and onboarding, to delivery and recognition.

What our apprentices and customers are saying…

  • The Leadership and Management apprenticeship has given me the opportunity reinforce my leadership knowledge as well as learn new leadership skills to importantly make me an effective leader, support my team through change and deliver an outstanding service to the people of Kent. My Leadership Skills Coach, Wendy has been brilliant, she was flexible, skilled and always available to talk through my thinking and how I will use my skills to impact continuous improvement for Kent Fire and Rescue service. I would highly recommend the apprenticeship route as a real way to develop leadership and management skills. Completing the apprenticeship provided me with a different option to the university route. It has also given me the professional accreditation of being a Chartered Manager with the CMI, through completing my End Point Assessment.

    - Mark Havell - Kent Fire and Rescue Service (Apprentice)

  • I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the coaching course this past year. Honestly, it’s been one of the best courses I’ve ever been on. Highly engaging, challenging (in a good way!), and genuinely impactful. The timing of the course couldn’t have been better for me. At this stage in my life and career, it’s helped me to re-align, re-focus, and sparked new energy in how I want to learn and develop. It’s even got me seriously considering a Masters in Coaching in the future. It’s changed the way I approach both work and home life. I’ve gained structure, tools, and adaptability, but most importantly, it’s pushed me to reflect on myself as a leader, keep improving, and seek feedback (even when it stings a little). As Carol Dweck says, “Becoming is better than being.” That idea really captures the spirit of what this course has given me a mindset of growth, reflection, and the drive to keep learning and developing, both for myself and for the people I lead.

    - Apprentice, Met Police

  • "We started working with Aicura by Accipio back in December 2017 to deliver the Operational/Departmental Manager level 5 Apprenticeship. They offer a high quality of service, are very responsive and the assessors are really professional who provide regular support to our participants and track their learning progress. They have also shown great flexibility to accommodate our requests to meet individual’s unique needs and help them to overcome any challenges. Our second cohort started the programme in August 2018, and this has proved that Aicura is constantly looking at improving the process which reflected in better learners’ experience and programme completion rate."

    - Maria, NHS Property Services

  • “I chose to participate in the management and leadership apprenticeship as I felt I was at a stage in my career when it depends on more than just technical skills and a willingness to work hard. I also realised I needed soft skills, not least of which is the ability to take on a leadership role. I am only two leadership disciplines into the apprenticeship, and I am already applying the skills I have learnt which is having a great impact on my current role. I have applied a strategy for a leadership style that is right for me, which has enabled me to be more disciplined in leading myself before I can lead others. Developing situational awareness, inspiring others and empowering teammates. It has also taught me to be a discerning listener in resolving conflicts. Good leadership skills are essential to advancing my career. What a fanatic opportunity of having a blended learning package to engage in. I look forward to progressing through the apprenticeship.”

    - Rachel (Apprentice)

  • "I feel more enlightenment and empowerment following our session. The coach’s diverse skills make them hugely proficient at this role, they themselves exude – leadership qualities, avid listing, ability to steer strategic discussions in the right direction in a gentle way."

    - Lead Business Analyst (Apprentice)

Investment

(per person)

£7000

Levy Funded

£350

Non-Levy (SMEs)

Find out more