8723-11
Award
Unit 301 plus at least one optional unit.
- GLH
- 40 hrs
- TQT
- 95 hrs
- Credits
- 10+
- Typical
- 3 months
£449individual enrolment
Award detailILM by City & Guilds · 8723
ILM Level 3 Leadership and Management
The ILM by City & Guilds Level 3 qualification (8723) is built for team leaders, supervisors and first-line managers. It is equivalent to A level, has no entry requirements, and is assessed entirely through a portfolio of evidence from your own workplace.
Assessment
Portfolio of evidence
Grading
Pass/fail
Equivalent to
A level
Entry requirements
None
Quick answer
ILM Level 3 Leadership and Management (City & Guilds 8723) is an A level-equivalent qualification for team leaders and first-line managers. It is available as an Award, Certificate, Diploma or Extended Diploma and is assessed by a portfolio of workplace evidence, graded pass/fail, with no exams or assignments.
Choose your pathway
All four pathways sit at Level 3 — the level sets the demand, the pathway sets how much you cover. Larger pathways mean more units and more evidence, not harder work.
8723-21
Certificate
Unit 301 plus at least three optional units.
- GLH
- 80 hrs
- TQT
- 210 hrs
- Credits
- 19+
- Typical
- 6 months
£949individual enrolment
Certificate detail8723-31
Diploma
Unit 301 plus at least six optional units.
- GLH
- 140 hrs
- TQT
- 390 hrs
- Credits
- 34+
- Typical
- 9 months
£1,299individual enrolment
Diploma detail8723-41
Extended Diploma
Units 301–310 and 312–317 are mandatory; unit 311 is an additional optional unit.
- GLH
- 370 hrs
- TQT
- 1010 hrs
- Credits
- 83+
- Typical
- 18 months
£1,599individual enrolment
Extended Diploma detailHow it is assessed
A portfolio of evidence. No exams, no assignments.
Assessment is a portfolio of evidence, centre-devised and internally set and marked. There are no exams and no written assignments.
All evidence for the skills learning outcomes must be generated in the workplace or a realistic working environment, and must be valid and attributable to you.
Evidence you can use
- Workplace documentation and records — team development plans, project implementation reports, meeting agendas and minutes, training materials
- Video clips, up to a maximum of 15 minutes
- Projects
- Reflective accounts, journals and logs
- Assessment observation
- Witness testimonies
This is not a definitive list — other sources are permitted where evidence is valid and attributable to you.
Best suited to
- Team leaders and supervisors
- Newly promoted or first-line managers
- Aspiring managers preparing for their first leadership role
- Experienced supervisors who have never formalised their skills
What you will be able to do
- Lead and communicate with more confidence
- Manage performance, wellbeing and change in your team
- Solve problems and make decisions with a clearer method
- Evidence your leadership skills from real work
Practical detail
- Age groups
- 16–18, 18+ and 19+
- Entry requirements
- No formal entry requirements.
- Mandatory unit
- 301 — Developing effective leadership skills
- Progression
- Level 3 is the natural stepping stone to ILM Level 5 once you take on wider operational responsibility. A completed Level 3 can also support an application for Associate membership (AIoL) of the Institute of Leadership, subject to their criteria.
What your certificate will say
We describe these qualifications as ILM because that is the name learners and employers know, and ILM is part of City & Guilds. Your certificate carries the exact regulated title for the pathway you complete:
8723-11
City & Guilds Level 3 Award in Leadership and Management Skills
8723-21
City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Leadership and Management Skills
8723-31
City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Leadership and Management Skills
8723-41
City & Guilds Level 3 Extended Diploma in Leadership and Management Skills
Wondering how the two names relate? Read ILM vs City & Guilds.
All 17 units
Unit 301 is mandatory on every pathway. You then choose optional units that suit your role, following the rules of combination for your chosen pathway. Each unit page sets out its learning outcomes and the evidence that satisfies them.
- 301Mandatory
Developing effective leadership skills
- 302Mandatory
Managing personal and professional development
- 303Mandatory
Managing the performance of others
- 304Mandatory
Supporting wellbeing in the workplace
- 305Mandatory
Effective recruitment
- 306Mandatory
Developing project management skills
- 307Mandatory
Managing and implementing change
- 308Mandatory
Problem solving and decision making
- 309Mandatory
The organisation and its environmental responsibilities
- 310Mandatory
Analysing data to make decisions
- 311
Organisational finance
- 312Mandatory
Effective communication
- 313Mandatory
Planning and leading structured workplace communication
- 314Mandatory
Supporting flexible working
- 315Mandatory
Developing a high performing team
- 316Mandatory
Legislation and compliance
- 317Mandatory
Managing external stakeholder relationships
Frequently asked questions
Is there an exam for ILM Level 3?
No. Assessment is a portfolio of evidence, centre-devised and internally set and marked, graded pass/fail. There are no exams and no written assignments.
What is ILM Level 3 equivalent to?
It is equivalent to a level (rqf level 3).
Are there entry requirements for ILM Level 3?
No formal entry requirements. You do need to be in a role where you can generate authentic workplace evidence for the skills learning outcomes.
What will my certificate say?
Your certificate carries the exact regulated title for the pathway you complete — for example "City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Leadership and Management Skills".
How long does ILM Level 3 take?
It depends on the pathway. As a guide, the Award is around 3 months and the Diploma around 9 months alongside a full-time job.
Can I use evidence from work I have already done?
Sometimes, through recognition of prior learning (RPL). It is not automatic — the evidence still has to demonstrate the current assessment criteria and be judged against them.