ILM Level 5 Certificate in Leadership and Management
The ILM by City & Guilds Level 5 Certificate (8725-21) is a portfolio-assessed leadership qualification worth at least 16 credits, with 80 guided learning hours and 160 hours of total qualification time.
Guided learning hours
80 hrs
Total qualification time
160 hrs
Minimum credits
16
Price
£1,149
Rules of combination
Unit 501 plus at least three optional units.
You need a minimum of 16 credits to achieve the Certificate, made up of the mandatory unit plus at least three optional units of your choosing.
Mandatory unit (1)
Optional units (26 to choose from)
- 502Managing own continuing personal and professional development
- 503Managing people
- 504Leading people and organisational culture
- 505Coaching and mentoring in a leadership role
- 506Promoting equity of opportunity, diversity and inclusion
- 507Leading and managing wellbeing in the workplace
- 508Managing operational workforce planning
- 509Project management
- 510Managing operational finance
- 511Making a financial case
- 512Optimising the use of technology
- 513Managing business risk
- 514Problem-solving and decision-making
- 515Leading innovation and change
- 516Managing resources
- 517Business process engineering
- 518Managing quality
- 519Contributing to the delivery of organisational strategy
- 520Operational planning and reporting
- 521Organisational culture and ethics
- 522Organisational sustainability
- 523Data driven decision making
- 524Developing and managing collaborative relationships
- 525Managing stakeholder relationships
- 526Working with partners
- 527Developing products and services
Choose the Certificate if…
You want meaningful breadth across the management role without the volume of a Diploma. This is the most popular choice.
Worth considering
If your employer is funding you and you have the time, the Diploma covers substantially more for a modest increase in cost.
How you are assessed
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.
- Workplace documentation and records
- Video clips, up to a maximum of 15 minutes
- Projects
- Reflective accounts, journals and logs
What your certificate will say
City & Guilds Level 5 Certificate in Operational Leadership and Management Skills
We lead with the ILM name because that is what learners and employers recognise, and ILM is part of City & Guilds. The line above is the exact regulated title.
Frequently asked questions
How many units are in the Level 5 Certificate?
Unit 501 plus at least three optional units. You need at least 16 credits in total.
Is the Certificate harder than the other pathways?
No. Every pathway in this suite sits at Level 5, so the level of demand is identical. The pathways differ in how many units you take and therefore how much evidence you produce.
How is the Level 5 Certificate assessed?
Assessment is a portfolio of evidence, centre-devised and internally set and marked. There are no exams and no written assignments.
What will my certificate say?
Your certificate will read "City & Guilds Level 5 Certificate in Operational Leadership and Management Skills".
How long does the Certificate take?
Total qualification time is 160 hours, of which 80 are guided learning hours. Most learners complete in around 6 months alongside a full-time job.