Why Invest in Leadership Now? Building Stronger Teams Through Apprenticeships
Why Invest in Leadership Now? Building Stronger Teams Through Apprenticeships
Strong leadership is essential for any organisation that wants to grow, retain talent and stay competitive.
In the UK print and packaging sector, these challenges are even more pressing. The industry faces an ageing workforce, skills shortages and rapid technological change. To remain resilient, businesses need to develop their next generation of leaders. These are people who understand the shop floor and can guide teams through transformation.
Apprenticeships are one of the most effective ways to make this happen.
Why Leadership Development Can’t Wait
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Boost productivity and retention. Research from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) shows that UK employers gained over £100 million in additional revenue from management apprenticeships in a single year. This equates to an average of £20,900 per apprentice.
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Close the leadership gap. The CMI reports that 82% of UK managers are “accidental managers” with no formal training. This often leads to poor team performance and high turnover.
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Future-proof your workforce. Leadership apprenticeships create a pipeline of skilled managers who are ready to take on greater responsibilities as your business grows.
Why Apprenticeships Work in Print
The print and packaging sector requires leaders who combine technical understanding with strong people and process management skills. Apprenticeships are an effective way to build this capability.
They provide structured development that blends on-the-job learning with formal training, ensuring that managers not only gain leadership knowledge but also know how to apply it within a print environment. This practical approach helps businesses develop leaders who understand production workflows, quality standards, and the unique operational challenges of the sector.
Apprenticeships also create clear pathways for progression, allowing individuals to move from technical or supervisory roles into more strategic positions. For employers, this means developing talent from within, improving staff retention, and safeguarding valuable industry expertise.
BPIF Training: Building Leaders at Every Level
BPIF Training provides leadership pathways designed for every stage of a manager’s journey.
| Programme | Level | Best For |
| Team Leader / Supervisor | Level 3 | Aspiring or new managers leading small teams |
| Process Leader | Level 4 | Supervisors in operations, production or quality |
| Operations / Departmental Manager | Level 5 | Experienced managers driving strategy and change |
Each programme blends on-the-job learning with structured development. This means apprentices can immediately apply their skills in the workplace.
Programmes are fully fundable through the Apprenticeship Levy or government co-investment.
The Benefits for Employers
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Real workplace impact. Apprentices deliver measurable improvements in processes, efficiency and team performance.
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Stronger staff retention. Clear career pathways reduce turnover, especially as apprentices progress through Levels 3 to 5.
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Tailored training. Programmes are aligned to business needs, ensuring direct relevance to your organisation.
Why Now?
The print industry cannot afford to wait. As experienced staff retire, leadership apprenticeships ensure knowledge transfer while preparing successors for the challenges ahead.
By investing now, you develop leaders who understand your business, inspire their teams and help future-proof your organisation.
Build Your Leaders Today
Applications are now open for our September 2025 intake:
Team Leader/Supervisor (Level 3)
Duration: 15 Months
For first-line managers and those stepping into their first leadership role, the Team Leader apprenticeship provides a practical foundation for leading people and managing projects. It covers 24 key knowledge, skills, and behaviours, including communication, problem-solving, and performance management.
Who is it for?
Supervisors, team leaders, shift managers, project officers, and aspiring junior managers.
Process Leader (Level 4)
Duration: 18 months
Funding: Up to £11,000
The Process Leader apprenticeship is aimed at those managing teams and processes, helping them deliver on departmental KPIs while fostering continuous improvement. Learners explore leadership theories, build analytical skills, and develop the confidence to lead change.
Who is it for?
Process leaders, production leads, section leaders, and those managing technical teams.
Operations/Departmental Manager (Level 5)
Operations Leader – Mini Leaflet
Duration: 24 months
Funding: Up to £9,000
For senior managers, the Operations/Departmental Manager programme builds the skills to deliver strategy, lead complex projects, and manage cross-functional teams. It covers 25 knowledge, skills, and behaviour areas, from financial planning to coaching and mentoring.
Who is it for?
Operations managers, departmental managers, regional managers, and senior leaders seeking to develop strategic capability.
Find out more and secure your place, or use the form below to register your interest and we’ll be in touch:
📧 [email protected]
📞 01676 526 060
🌐 https://bpif.training/contact/