first line manager training programme
1In-House and online options
A practical First Line Manager course designed to give new and accidental managers the confidence and core skills to lead people effectively
Stepping into management for the first time can feel like a big jump — especially if you’ve been promoted for being great at your job, rather than trained to manage others.
This First Line Manager course gives you a clear foundation in the essentials: communication, managing performance, delegation, planning and motivation.
It’s practical, fast-paced and designed for immediate workplace impact.
Whether you’re a new manager, supervisor or team leader — you’ll leave with tools you can use straight away, and a more confident approach to managing people day-to-day.
BY THE END OF THIS COURSE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO



Lead day-to-day with confidence — setting expectations, priorities and standards clearly
Delegate and manage performance more effectively — including feedback and difficult conversations
Plan, prioritise and communicate better — improving team productivity and motivation
CHALLENGE CHANGE
First line managers play one of the most important roles in any organisation — but it’s also one of the toughest. You’re expected to deliver results, manage people, and lead culture… often without formal training.
This course is designed around the real challenges first line managers face: motivating different personalities, handling underperformance, managing time and workload, and building credibility quickly.
You’ll learn a simple, repeatable management approach — and practise applying it to real workplace situations, so you can lead with clarity and confidence.



Practical and workplace-focused —
real scenarios, tools and techniques you can apply immediately
Delivered by experienced tutors —
engaging, supportive and built for real behaviour change
Flexible delivery and transparent pricing— classroom, Zoom or in-house options with no hidden costs
Meet our Head of Training, Dan Boniface
Real feedback. Real confidence. Real improvement.
Dan leads our training programmes and works with delegates to build confidence, clarity and delivery skills quickly — with practical coaching and direct, supportive feedback throughout.

BOOK NOW:
13 MARCH 2026
11 MAY 2026
Training location: Reading
This is a highly practical First Line Manager course — built around real workplace situations.
You’ll learn proven tools you can apply immediately to lead people with confidence and improve day-to-day team performance.
ANYTIME
Training location: ONLINE
Study online at your own pace — with the reassurance of our expert led content you'll learn with flexibility and confidence.
Each module supports first-line managers to build strong foundations in self-awareness, communication, and day-to-day leadership effectiveness, enabling them to lead themselves and others with confidence and clarity. This programme equips first-line managers with the confidence, skills, and self-awareness required to lead people effectively from day one.
Each unit in this qualification focuses on a specific set of skills and knowledge:
Module 1: 8607-522 Becoming an Effective Leader
- Evaluate own ability to use a range of leadership styles, in different situations and with different types of people, to fulfil the leadership role.
- Use theories of emotional intelligence to review the effect of emotions on own and others’ performance.
- Review own ability to set direction and communicate this to others.
- Produce a personal development plan to improve own ability to lead.
Module 2: 8607-504 Leading Innovation and Change
- Explain the importance of innovation for own organisation.
- Explain the importance of managing change within own organisation.
- Assess an opportunity for innovation and improvement in own organisation.
- Justify the improvement identified, in the context of organisational objectives.
- Use a range of techniques to generate innovative options to deliver the improvement identified.
- Evaluate options for generating the proposed improvement to determine feasibility and viability.
- Understand how to create a change management plan that is designed to meet stakeholders’ expectations.
- Be able to implement the change management plan, monitoring progress against agreed targets
Module 3: 8607-418 Understanding the Organisational Culture and Context
- Evaluate the organisation within its broader environment using appropriate environmental and organisational analysis techniques.
- Examine the implications of the policies, procedures and legal requirements that are relevant to your area of work.
- Evaluate the cultural and ethical behaviour present in the organisation.
- Evaluate own cultural and ethical behaviour in relation to the organisation.
- Propose how to uphold the ethical standards across the organisation.
MODULE 1
FOUNDATIONS OF FIRST-LINE LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT
This module focuses on the transition into management and the foundations for leading effectively at a first-line level. Participants explore psychological contracting, leadership styles, and the importance of self-awareness in shaping behaviour and impact.
MODULE 2
MOTIVATION, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND COMMUNICATION
This module develops the interpersonal skills essential for managing people day to day. Participants explore motivation, emotional intelligence, and communication techniques that build engagement, accountability, and performance.
MODULE 3
OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS AND PERFORMANCE DEVELOPMENT
The final module focuses on managing workload, priorities, and performance—both for the manager and their team. Participants develop practical skills in time management, prioritisation, and delegation, ensuring work is distributed effectively and progress is sustained.
TESTIMONIALS
Please find below a selection of testimonials for our ILM Level 5 Coaching and Mentoring courses.
To see all of our reviews on Coursecheck, please click here.
Charlie Welch
Nandos
Laura was very engaging and tailored the course to suit not only our personal objectives and needs but also allowed space and time for group discussion, learning and enhancements. We have got such valuable group learnings to go along with our personal learnings. From concept to content to delivery - the course nailed it.
Todd Whymark
Kensa
This course was much more than I expected, I thought it was going to be a PowerPoint heavy tick box, like most of the courses I have completed, it developed me as a trainer giving me confidence in my own delivery style and approach to content creation. Darren was encouraging and engaging and showed a real passion for this course. I didn’t realise how much I was going to look into my own approach to the training I deliver guided fantastically by Darren his feedback was understandable and relatable to my own journey. Thanks so much.
Carly Williams
Liberation Group
I was really nervous about presenting to people before the course but Dan was so friendly and made me realise that I already had a lot of the skills necessary and I just had to tap into those. Then the practice really cemented things. I also got a lot of theory behind why what works actually works which was also super interesting.
TRUSTED BY
Dan Boniface
Head of Training and Executive CoachWith more than two decades in the training and coaching industry, Dan has worked with major clients including the NHS and Octopus Energy coaching hundreds of people on overcoming anxiety, personal development, emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills and operational performance. Away from work, Dan is passionate about rugby, cricket and most of all family.
Darren Draper
Leadership and Management TrainerDarren specialises in leadership, coaching and continuous improvement. As a process manager at John Lewis Partnership with expertise in food retail and change management, he optimised operations and transformed customer experiences. His approach empowers people to drive positive change. Darren has the misfortune of supporting Tottenham Hotspur.
Laura Bridgeman
Head of Assessment and TrainerLaura uses her experience from the world of education, and her passion for self-development, to enrich our delegates' training experience. She has managed large and complex teams and contributed to organisational change projects. At the BCF, Laura manages the post-course process, looking after assignments and certification for our training delegates.
Emma Bowler
Training AdministratorAs a mum to two young children our training administrator Emma is well versed at spinning all the plates, using her strong background in administration, customer service and sales to make sure all our courses hit the mark. Outside of work you’ll likely find her on a long walk with a good cookery podcast for company.
Darren Draper
Leadership and Management Trainer

Darren specialises in leadership, coaching and continuous improvement. His empathetic approach empowers people to drive positive change.
Laura Bridgeman
Head of Assessment and Trainer

Laura manages the post-course process, looking after assignments and ILM certification. She'll be your single point of contact, guiding you through the process of achieving your qualification.
Emma Bowler
Training Administrator

Emma will ensure that you have everything you need before, during and after the training. Whether that is a helping hand in booking hotels, some reassurance on our process or just a lovely cuppa and biscuits on the day.
Sasha Owen
Senior Account Manager

If you need a bespoke course for your team or organisation, then you need Sasha. With her extensive and varied experience in marketing, customer service and operations, Sasha leads our account management team. Outside of work she lists keeping fit and travel among her favourite pursuits.
Dan Boniface
Head of Training and Executive Coach

With more than two decades in the training and coaching industry, Dan has worked with major clients including the NHS and Octopus Energy coaching hundreds of people on overcoming anxiety, personal development, emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills and operational performance. Away from work, Dan is passionate about rugby, cricket and most of all family.
This course is designed for new managers, supervisors, team leaders and accidental managers — especially those who have moved into management without formal training.
Yes. The course is designed to give you the foundations you need — with practical tools and plenty of examples you can apply immediately.
It’s highly practical but underpinned by researched training methodology and best practice. You’ll work through real workplace scenarios and leave with tools you can use straight away.
Yes — we can deliver this course at your premises and tailor it to your organisation’s needs.
