Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management

1. Strategic People Management Foundations: Alignment of people strategy with organisational objectives and performance.

2. Employment Law and Employee Relations Practice: Managing employment relationships, disputes, and compliance obligations.

3. Talent Management and Workforce Planning: Attraction, retention, succession planning, and capability development.

4. Performance Management and Reward Systems: Designing and managing performance frameworks and reward approaches.

5. Learning and Development Strategy: Organisational learning needs analysis and development programme design.

6. Equality, Diversity, and Inclusive Leadership: Advancing inclusive cultures and fair people practices.

7. Change Management and Organisational Development: Supporting change initiatives and organisational effectiveness.

8. People Analytics and Evidence-Based Practice: Using data to inform people management decisions and outcomes.

9. Health, Wellbeing, and Sustainable Work: Promoting employee wellbeing, resilience, and sustainable performance.

10. Professional Ethics and Governance in People Management: Ethical decision making, accountability, and professional standards.

• Develops advanced competence in people management practice.

• Enhances capability to manage complex employee relations issues.

• Supports compliance with employment law and professional standards.

• Improves organisational performance through effective people strategies.

• Strengthens progression toward senior HR and leadership roles.

• HR officers, advisors, and people management professionals.

• Line managers with significant people management responsibilities.

• Supervisors transitioning into people management or HR roles.

• Learners preparing for senior people management qualifications.

• Assessment Type: Knowledge-based and applied professional assessment

• Assessment Format: Multiple-choice examination and structured case-based assignment

• Total Questions: 50

• Passing Score: 65 percent

• Duration: 120 minutes

• Certification: HiQual UK Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management upon successful completion

To deliver this Qualification, HiQual UK Approved ATPs must demonstrate the capability to deliver, assess, and internally quality assure qualifications in line with recognised regulatory principles and the expectations of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

Approved centres must operate effective systems to ensure the validity, reliability, fairness, consistency, and security of assessment.

1. Centre Recognition and Legal Compliance

Centres must be formally recognised by HiQual UK prior to the delivery or assessment of any qualification. To maintain recognition, centres must: Be a legally constituted organisation operating in compliance with applicable legislation and regulatory requirements. Demonstrate effective governance, management oversight, and clear lines of accountability. Comply with all HiQual UK policies, procedures, and conditions of centre recognition. Notify HiQual UK promptly of any material changes that may affect delivery, assessment, or internal quality assurance arrangements.

2. Resources, Facilities, and Learning Environment

Centres must ensure that sufficient and appropriate resources are in place to support learning and assessment. This includes: Learning environments appropriate to the mode of delivery, including classrooms and, where applicable, specialist or practical facilities. Access to learning and assessment resources that enable learners to meet qualification outcomes. Secure systems for managing learner data, assessment records, and certification claims. Arrangements that support equality of access and reasonable adjustments for learners where required.

3. Staff Competence and Occupational Expertise

Centres must ensure that all staff involved in delivery, assessment, and internal quality assurance are competent and suitably qualified. Centres must: Appoint tutors with appropriate subject knowledge, teaching competence, and relevant occupational or professional experience. Ensure assessors are trained and competent in applying HiQual UK assessment requirements and standards. Appoint a qualified Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) responsible for monitoring assessment practice and decisions. Maintain records of staff qualifications, experience, training, and continuing professional development (CPD).

4. Assessment Practice and Internal Quality Assurance (IQA)

Centres must operate robust internal quality assurance systems to ensure assessment integrity. Centres must: Ensure assessment is valid, fit for purpose, and conducted in line with HiQual UK requirements. Implement effective IQA procedures to monitor assessor performance and confirm the consistency of assessment decisions. Maintain accurate, complete, and auditable records of learner registration, assessment evidence, and outcomes. Carry out regular internal reviews and standardisation activities to support continuous improvement.

5. Integrity, Risk Management, and Malpractice

Centres must take appropriate measures to protect the integrity of assessment. Centres must: Maintain policies and procedures for the prevention, identification, and management of malpractice and maladministration. Ensure secure handling, storage, and retention of assessment materials and learner evidence. Report any suspected or confirmed malpractice to HiQual UK in accordance with published procedures.

6. Health, Safety, Safeguarding, and Learner Protection

Centres must provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment. Centres must: Comply with applicable health and safety and safeguarding legislation. Conduct risk assessments for learning activities, particularly where practical or technical work is involved. Maintain procedures to safeguard learner welfare and wellbeing.

7. Learner Information, Support, and Fair Treatment

Centres must ensure learners are informed, supported, and treated fairly. Centres must: Provide clear and accurate information on programme requirements, assessment methods, and certification. Ensure learners receive timely and constructive feedback on assessment outcomes. Operate transparent complaints and appeals procedures aligned with HiQual UK requirements. Manage learner information securely in compliance with data protection legislation.

Successful learners who achieve the Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management may progress to:

• CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management or other relevant Level 7 people-practice and HR qualifications.

• Higher education programmes in Human Resource Management, Employment Relations, Organisational Development, Business Management, or related disciplines, subject to the admission requirements of the receiving institution.

• Professional development in Employee Relations, Talent Management, Workforce Planning, Reward Management, Employment Law, Learning and Development, Diversity and Inclusion, and People Analytics.

• Employment or career advancement in roles including HR Adviser, HR Business Partner, HR Manager, People Analyst, Employee Relations Manager, Talent Manager, or Reward and Benefits Manager.

• Continuing professional development towards strategic HR leadership, organisational transformation, workforce strategy, people analytics, and senior people-management responsibilities.

The current CIPD qualification consists of core study in organisational performance and culture, evidence-based practice, and professional behaviours, together with specialist areas such as employment relationship management, talent and workforce planning, and reward.