Our People Professional Apprenticeship L5 is 18 months with 3 months EPA but could be closer to 18 months total if the apprentice has previously completed the Level 3 apprenticeship (this is not mandatory).
City Skills provides top-notch, flexible HR training and development opportunities, accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), to foster the growth of dynamic HR professionals.
The People Professional Apprenticeship L5 is crafted to empower learners to offer HR expertise within a company or organisation.
A People Professional apprentice can use their HR expertise to lead the delivery of HR solutions to business challenges, together with providing tailored advice on a range of topics in a number of HR areas.
This HR apprenticeship can support a generalist role, where learners provide support across a range of HR areas; or a specialist role, where they focus on and have in-depth expertise in a specific area of HR, typically; resourcing, reward, organisation development, or HR operations.
With their newly acquired skills, an HR Consultant or HR business partner will frequently need to make decisions and offer recommendations regarding what actions the business can or should take in specific situations. They will influence the decisions of senior leaders as well as bring best practices into the organisation. They are also likely to lead the people related elements of business or HR projects.
As an HR Consultant, the apprentice will spend time understanding the business they work in to link their learnings to business priorities and become a bridge between the company and people, helping all to reach their full potential. As part of their apprenticeship they will complete their level 5 Diploma In people management with City Skills before entering gateway.
HR Consultant
HR Business Partner
HR Advisor
Employers set their own entry requirements which may include a Level 3 Human Resources qualification

The Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours covered during your apprenticeship training.

How we deliver the apprenticeship and how it is assessed in your end-point assessment.

View the overview document below that explains the apprenticeship in more detail.
Our flexible delivery model means HR staff can complete their training anywhere, including the office, training room or even from home. Participants must complete mandatory remote training sessions every two weeks, utilising secure web-based software.
Apprentices will attend their morning tutorials before completing guided study for the rest of that day.
Our courses start at various points in the year in January, April and September. All enrolments must be completed two weeks before the 1st Digital classroom session.
Following successful completion of the Gateway, a meeting to determine as to when you are ready to undertake the EPA, you will proceed to end-point assessment (EPA).
The EPA is undertaken by an independent assessment organisation chosen by your employer. The End Point assessment components are:
The End Point Assessment organisation will determine the overall grade as Fail, Pass, or Distinction.
Successful completion of this standard enables the apprentice to apply to become an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
You can achieve Chartered Membership by obtaining additional qualifications or undergoing an experience-based assessment.
The Apprenticeship includes the CIPD L5 Associate Diploma in People Management qualification which can be purchased as a standalone course.
Posted on Jenna CoombesTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’ve recently completed my Level 3 Team Leader / Supervisor Apprenticeship with City Skills Limited and I’m proud to say I achieved a Distinction. My coach, Anthony Hari, has been fantastic throughout the entire programme. He provided clear guidance, valuable feedback, and genuine encouragement at every stage. His support helped me not only understand the theory but also apply it directly to real workplace projects, which made the learning truly meaningful. The structure and resources from City Skills were easy to follow, and the feedback process was always timely and constructive. I always felt supported and motivated to aim for the highest standard. I would highly recommend City Skills Limited and Anthony Hari to anyone looking to complete a management or leadership apprenticeship — their professionalism, patience, and dedication genuinely make a difference.Posted on Daniel LaneTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am currently enrolled onto the L5 Learning and Development Consultant apprenticeship and really enjoying the course so far. The content is rich and I find the teaching style really engaging and accessible. The taught elements have helped me to develop my skills, particularly in designing learning interventions and facilitation, which I'm reaping the benefits of in my current role. I can't recommend City Skills enough!Posted on Sonia KhanTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’ve really enjoyed learning from Anthony during this course. He has explained the topics clearly and is always patient and approachable whenever I have questions. I appreciated how Anthony has made the lessons engaging and took the time to ensure everyone is keeping up.Posted on C SmithTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have just finished my L5 CIPD People Professional Apprenticeship with City Skills and was awarded a distinction! None of this would have been possible without the advice and support from my tutor, Jim Blythe, who was fantastic from start to finish. I have previously done the L3 Apprenticeship through City Skills with Jim and specifically wanted to be in the cohort he was teaching . Thanks Jim for everything :-)Posted on Katy BatchelorTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am studying my Level 5 People Profesional apprenticeship after completing my Level 3 with City Skills. City Skills has been a great choice for my apprenticeships and I have been supported throughout. I look forward to working through the Level 5 course. I would recommend them as a provider.Posted on Richard BrownTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’ve just completed my Level 5 Operations Management apprenticeship with City Skills, and I couldn't be happier with the entire experience. From start to finish, the support, structure, and quality of the programme have been outstanding. A huge thank you in particular to my tutor, Anthony Hari, who has been absolutely fantastic throughout. His knowledge, guidance, and encouragement made a real difference to my learning journey - he's a real credit to City Skills. I’d highly recommend City Skills to anyone considering an apprenticeship.Posted on maegan rossTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am currently in the middle of my EPA with City Skills, they have been nothing but supportive and motivating throughout the whole process. Excellent communication skills and go above and beyond to meet your learning needs and wants. I would highly recommendPosted on Bowen Hagger-UttingTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Such a fantastic organisation that has allowed me to achieve so much more than I could have ever imagined. Thank you to anthony Hari, Jim Blythe and the rest of the team. Unparalleled skill and excellence is all I can say!
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