ILM by City & Guilds · 8725

ILM Level 5 Leadership and Management

The ILM by City & Guilds Level 5 qualification (8725) is built for operational and middle managers. It sits at the same level as a foundation degree, 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

Foundation degree, or year 2 of a bachelor's degree

Entry requirements

None

Quick answer

ILM Level 5 Leadership and Management (City & Guilds 8725, Operational Leadership and Management Skills) is a foundation degree-equivalent qualification for operational and middle 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 5 — the level sets the demand, the pathway sets how much you cover. Larger pathways mean more units and more evidence, not harder work.

8725-11

Award

Unit 501 plus at least one optional unit.

GLH: 40 hrs
TQT: 80 hrs
Credits: 8+
Typical: 3 months

£695individual enrolment

Award detail

8725-21

Certificate

Unit 501 plus at least three optional units.

GLH: 80 hrs
TQT: 160 hrs
Credits: 16+
Typical: 6 months

£1,149individual enrolment

Certificate detail

8725-31

Diploma

Unit 501 plus at least eight optional units.

GLH: 175 hrs
TQT: 390 hrs
Credits: 39+
Typical: 12 months

£1,595individual enrolment

Diploma detail

8725-41

Extended Diploma

The specified extended-diploma mandatory unit set; additional optional units may be taken.

GLH: 485 hrs
TQT: 1180 hrs
Credits: 118+
Typical: 18 months

£1,895individual enrolment

Extended Diploma detail

How 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.

How portfolios work Reflective account examples

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

Operations, department and function managers
Managers who manage other managers
Experienced managers responsible for planning or improvement
Leaders who own stakeholder or partner relationships

What you will be able to do

Improve operational judgement and decision-making
Lead change, culture and collaboration across teams
Coach and mentor others as part of your leadership role
Build a stronger, evidenced professional leadership profile

Practical detail

Age groups: 18+ and 19+
Entry requirements: No formal entry requirements.
Mandatory unit: 501 — Assessing own leadership performance
Progression: Level 5 can lead on to Level 7 for genuinely strategic roles. A completed Level 5 can also support an application for Member (MIoL) grade 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:

8725-11
City & Guilds Level 5 Award in Operational Leadership and Management Skills
8725-21
City & Guilds Level 5 Certificate in Operational Leadership and Management Skills
8725-31
City & Guilds Level 5 Diploma in Operational Leadership and Management Skills
8725-41
City & Guilds Level 5 Extended Diploma in Operational Leadership and Management Skills

Wondering how the two names relate? Read ILM vs City & Guilds.

All 27 units

Unit 501 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.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an exam for ILM Level 5?

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 5 equivalent to?

It is equivalent to foundation degree, or year 2 of a bachelor's degree (rqf level 5).

Are there entry requirements for ILM Level 5?

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 5 Certificate in Operational Leadership and Management Skills".

How long does ILM Level 5 take?

It depends on the pathway. As a guide, the Award is around 3 months and the Diploma around 12 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.

Not sure Level 5 is right?

Compare ILM Level 3 Leadership and Management

See whether the other level fits your role and evidence better.

ILM levels explained

Every level and what it is equivalent to, in one table.

Award vs Certificate vs Diploma

How the pathway sizes differ, and which to pick.