The ILM Level 5 Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring in Management and the ILM Level 5 Diploma for Professional Management Coaches and Mentors aim to provide practising managers with the knowledge, skills and confidence to perform effectively as coaches or mentors as part of their normal work role. In addition the Diploma aims to equip participants seeking to move into a development role within their organisations or to freelance as a management coach or mentor.

The Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring in Management is made up of three mandatory units which enable participants to understand, develop and demonstrate knowledge and skills in workplace coaching and mentoring. In the first mandatory unit participants explore the characteristics of effective coaches and mentors, going on to present a business case for using coaching or mentoring in their organisation. In the second unit participants review their own ability as a management coach or mentor, exploring their ethical and moral views as well as communication skills. During the final mandatory unit participants plan and deliver a short coaching or mentoring programme in line with their organisational, divisional or team goals.

The Diploma for Professional Management Coaches and Mentors is aimed at participants who will be significantly involved in management coaching/mentoring – within an organisation or as a freelancer. Participants complete the same three mandatory units as in the Certificate above but also complete an additional unit, ‘Undertaking an extended period of management coaching or mentoring in the workplace’. In this practical unit participants will develop and improve their performance as management coaches or mentors, taking around 100 hours to plan, organise and evaluate an extended period of coaching or mentoring. (Please note participants are not required to undertake the Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring in Management as a prerequisite and may join the Diploma for Professional Management Coaches and Mentors directly.)

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements but participants will normally be practising managers. They should normally have successfully completed an ILM Level 3 qualification in First Line Management, or an ILM Level 5 qualification in Management, or equivalent. Exceptional learners, who have no formal qualification in management, but who have several years’ experience and have completed some formal training in the role, may also participate.