Businesses across the Liverpool City Region can now develop their managers and team leaders at no cost, with national training provider Realise offering two fully funded management and leadership qualifications to eligible employees and residents.
Employers in Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral can put staff forward for either the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Diploma or the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Certificate, both of which are Level 3 qualifications. Individuals looking to sharpen their own skills can also register directly.
The nine-month CMI Diploma and three-month ILM Certificate are suited to employees who have recently stepped into management roles, as well as more experienced leaders looking to build their skill base – giving businesses a practical way to strengthen leadership and plan for succession without the cost of external training.
Both courses focus on the practical skills managers need to lead people, improve performance, communicate more effectively and prepare for greater responsibility – skills that translate directly into stronger teams and better business results.
Businesses with eligible staff, and individuals interested in taking part, are advised to register as soon as possible to secure free places. While multiple cohorts are available for the ILM Certificate, there will only be one cohort for the CMI Diploma, which begins on Wednesday 28th October.
The courses are fully funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority through its Adult Skills Fund, which helps residents aged 19 and over gain the skills they need to get into work or to progress in their careers – supporting the region’s employers to build the skilled workforce they need to grow.
Both courses are delivered remotely by Realise’s sector-expert trainers who provide real-world insight, offer personalised guidance and share practical tools to help learners become confident, effective managers.
The training includes a combination of interactive live workshops, dedicated one-to-one trainer support and independent learning. The format is flexible, allowing learners to fit the courses around their working week and existing commitments, with minimal disruption to the business.
Karen Matthews, Director of Business Skills at Realise, said:
“Both the Diploma and Certificate courses are designed to help people become more confident managers, developing practical skills that can be used in the workplace.
These courses are ideal for anyone new to leadership or management and looking to formalise their experience, build confidence in decision-making and people management, and improve how they lead and motivate others.
Once completed, learners will have a recognised qualification and a set of practical management tools to help lead people, improve performance and make a positive contribution to their organisation.
Because of the length of the course, the CMI Diploma will only be run through a single cohort which starts later this month, so we’re keen to ensure that anyone interested in taking part in this or the ILM Certificate registers their interest as quickly as possible.”
To be eligible to take part in either course, learners – including employees put forward by their employer – must be aged 19 or over as of 31st August 2026, live in the Liverpool City Region, be ordinarily resident and with the right to live and work in the UK, and meet one of the following:
- Be unemployed and earning less than £26,800 per year
- Be employed and earning below £37,144.00 per year
- Be aged 19 to 23, without a full Level 3 qualification
To learn more about the courses and register interest, visit realisetraining.com/courses/liverpool-city-region/business-skills-solutions
For more information on Realise and the full range of courses that it offers, visit realisetraining.com
