We have launched Leader Study Pro — a dedicated online platform for our ILM leadership and management qualifications, built and run by VQ Solutions Ltd.
Leader Study Pro is now where learners enrol on, study for and complete the ILM Level 3 Leadership and Management Skills and ILM Level 5 Operational Leadership and Management Skills qualifications. VQ Solutions remains the ILM (City & Guilds) approved centre delivering and assessing them.
Why We Built It
Portfolio-assessed qualifications live or die on one thing: whether the learner understands what each assessment criterion actually requires, and can connect it to the work they are already doing.
That is difficult to do well inside a general-purpose learning platform. Managers need to see the criteria, understand what good evidence looks like, upload it from wherever they happen to be working, and get feedback that tells them specifically what is missing. Leader Study Pro was built around that single job.
What Learners Get
- Unit-by-unit guidance explaining what each learning outcome and assessment criterion is asking you to demonstrate
- Evidence upload from phone or computer — documents, reflections, witness testimony, project outputs and notes captured while the context is still fresh
- Criteria mapping, so every piece of evidence is linked to the criterion it satisfies
- Assessor feedback and resubmission, with drafts, comments and versions kept visible rather than lost in email
- Progress tracking across units, so you always know what remains
- Guidance on authenticity, confidentiality and ethical use of AI, which matters increasingly for portfolio-based qualifications
Recognition of Prior Learning may apply where existing evidence meets the requirements — worth asking about before you enrol rather than after.
The Qualifications and What They Cost
Both qualifications are available in four sizes, so you can match the volume of study to your role and the evidence you can realistically produce.
ILM Level 3 Leadership and Management Skills (8723) — for supervisors, team leaders, first-line managers and those preparing for a first management role:
| Pathway | Qualification number | Credits | Typical completion | Enrolment fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Award | 8723-11 | 10 | ~3 months | £449 |
| Certificate | 8723-21 | 19 | ~6 months | £949 |
| Diploma | 8723-31 | 34 | ~9 months | £1,299 |
| Extended Diploma | 8723-41 | 83 | ~18 months | £1,599 |
ILM Level 5 Operational Leadership and Management Skills (8725) — for operational and middle managers, department heads and experienced leaders:
| Pathway | Qualification number | Credits | Typical completion | Enrolment fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Award | 8725-11 | 8 | ~3 months | £695 |
| Certificate | 8725-21 | 16 | ~6 months | £1,149 |
| Diploma | 8725-31 | 39 | ~12 months | £1,595 |
| Extended Diploma | 8725-41 | 118 | ~18 months | £1,895 |
Fees are one-time individual enrolment prices inclusive of UK VAT. Klarna and Clearpay instalments are selectable at checkout, subject to their own eligibility checks. Employer-funded and invoiced enrolments can be arranged — contact us with the learner name and pathway under consideration.
A Direct Route for Team Leaders and Operations Managers
Government funding for the Level 3 Team Leader Supervisor Apprenticeship and the Level 5 Operations Manager Apprenticeship has been withdrawn. These ILM qualifications cover the same core leadership and management ground, without apprenticeship funding rules, employer eligibility criteria or a minimum working-hours requirement. Anyone aged 18 or over can enrol, self-funded or employer-sponsored.
If you were considering either apprenticeship, our earlier post on what the funding withdrawal means sets out the comparison in detail.
What This Means If You Are Already Studying With Us
Nothing changes for learners currently on an apprenticeship programme with VQ Solutions — you continue to completion under your existing terms. Speak to your assessor or get in touch if you have questions about your specific programme.
Getting Started
- ILM Level 3 Leadership and Management Skills
- ILM Level 5 Operational Leadership and Management Skills
- Compare all pathways and pricing
- How portfolio assessment works on Leader Study Pro
If you are unsure which level or pathway fits your role, talk to us first. Choosing the right depth of qualification up front matters more than choosing the cheapest route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Leader Study Pro a separate company? No. Leader Study Pro is a trading name of VQ Solutions Ltd (company number 06504179) and the platform we use to deliver our ILM qualifications.
Who awards the qualification? The qualifications are awarded by ILM, part of City & Guilds. VQ Solutions Ltd is the ILM approved centre responsible for delivery and assessment.
Do I still enrol through vqsolutions.co.uk? Enrolment for the ILM Level 3 and Level 5 qualifications now takes place on Leader Study Pro. Our CIPD qualifications and apprenticeship programmes continue to run through VQ Solutions as before.
Are there exams? No. Both qualifications are assessed through a portfolio of evidence drawn from your real workplace activity, reviewed by an assessor against the ILM criteria.
Do I need to be employed to enrol? There is no employment requirement, but because assessment is evidence-based you will get the most from the qualification if you are in, or have access to, a leadership or management role.
Is Institute of Leadership membership included? Yes. Learners studying an ILM qualification with VQ Solutions receive complimentary studying membership from The Institute of Leadership during their programme.
