The Corndel People Professional Diploma Guide

Designed for ambitious HR and people professionals, this programme builds the skills to enhance your people management capabilities, drive organisational success and lead confidently in a complex and fast-changing world of work. In partnership with Imperial Executive Education and recognised by CIPD.

Welcome to your next big step

You’re here because your employer sees real potential in you. And so do we. HR is a driving force behind successful, future-ready organisations. This programme helps you grow that influence by building the skills to lead change, support your people and shape a culture where everyone can thrive. With strategic tools, expert coaching and personalised support, you’ll develop the confidence and capability to make a lasting impact. Led by experts who’ve been where you are, alongside peers who are going where you’re going.

The essentials

People Professional

Is this programme for me?

For HR and people professionals ready to deepen their expertise, influence change and shape inclusive, high-performing cultures. Gain the skills to lead strategically, support your people and earn a qualification that moves your career forward.

End-Point Assessment

At the end of the programme, you’ll showcase the knowledge, skills and behaviours you’ve built - reviewing your CPD answers, reflecting on your learning, and preparing for a professional discussion.

Qualifications

On completion, you'll gain: The People Professional Level 5 Apprenticeship Standard, the CIPD Associate Diploma in People Management, and the Corndel People Professional Level 5 Diploma.

Is this programme for me?

End-Point Assessment

Qualifications

On completion, you'll gain: The People Professional Level 5 Apprenticeship Standard, the CIPD Associate Diploma in People Management, and the Corndel People Professional Level 5 Diploma.

Skills gained

Evidence Based Decision-making

Employee Relations and Voice

Resourcing and Talent Management

Data and People Analytics

Managing Performance

Progressing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Reward and Recognition

Stakeholder Engagement and Influence

Change and Culture

Reflective Practice and Professional Development

A programme that changes everything

Your journey begins by understanding how organisations function and the role people professionals play in shaping culture and driving performance. You'll explore organisational structures, strategy formulation and the external environment, alongside human behaviour, workplace culture and change. Learn how to align people practice with business goals, support wellbeing and engage stakeholders. This unit also introduces the fundamentals of AI in HR. 

From a strong foundation in organisational understanding, the next step is using evidence to inform impactful decisions. This unit covers evidence-based practice, decision-making processes and ethical considerations. You'll learn to apply organisational diagnostics, use analytical data tools and AI, and apply principles of critical thinking to interpret findings. Explore how to measure performance, assess impact and present business cases that influence stakeholders with clarity and confidence. 

With evidence informing your thinking, you'll explore how to shape productive, fair employment relationships. This unit covers employee involvement, participation and representation, and how employee voice supports organisational performance. You'll learn to manage employee relations, stay on top of emerging trends and apply legislation in practice. Topics also include the causes of grievances, third-party conciliation, and effective approaches to resolution and mediation. 

Planning and resourcing the right workforce is essential for sustainable success. This unit explores labour market strategies, resourcing decisions and workforce planning techniques. You'll cover recruitment and selection, onboarding, retention and the impact of turnover. You’ll also examine contractual arrangements and how to reduce dysfunctional turnover through data-led insight and planning. 

To lead with impact, people professionals must model the behaviours they champion. In your final unit, you’ll explore what it means to be a people professional today - from ethics, influence and inclusive leadership to professional development. Topics include working inclusively, building strong relationships, self-reflection and continuing professional development (CPD), and designing strategies that are rooted in your values and long-term growth. 

Imperial Masterclasses

Exclusive live and on-demand Masterclasses from Imperial's world-class academics and industry experts.

17 transformative sessions are brought to you per year, throughout your programme. Helping you make sense of global trends, hone technical skills, and sharpen how you think, lead and grow.

Digital Transformation

Daniel Rowles explores key factors driving successful digital transformations and the pitfalls that lead to failures, providing a framework for implementation.

Part of the Global Trends series: the shifts shaping tomorrow’s business world.

Digital Transformation

Daniel Rowles explores key factors driving successful digital transformations and the pitfalls that lead to failures, providing a framework for implementation.

Part of the Global Trends series: the shifts shaping tomorrow’s business world.

Corndel coaches

Mind-expanding mentorship

From day one, we’ll pair you with your own Coach. An expert in their field, ready to guide, support and challenge you through the programme.

And they aren’t just a name you’ll see at the start of the programme. They’re part mentor, part sounding board, part catalyst, putting you at the centre of everything they do. Through monthly one-to-one sessions, they’ll help you stay on track, get the most from your learning and open your mind to all sorts of ideas on the way.

Eligibility

We’re not one for box ticking, but there are a few factors we need people to meet. Discover for sure that this is the right Corndel programme for you by taking a moment to look at the criteria below.

Time well spent, built around you

On average, you’ll invest around 7-8 hours a week in the programme. Every minute is designed to count, fitting naturally around your working day and applying directly to your real tasks and challenges.

By the end, you’ll have a practical record that shows exactly what you can do and where your new skills can make the biggest impact. Each month, you’ll log your learning time – an important step towards completing your programme and progressing to your final assessment. And throughout, we’ll be right there to guide and support you.

Apply. Enrol. Get Started

Step 1

When enrolment opens, you’ll receive an email with everything you need to get started from Aptem, our secure learning platform. Then, you can follow these steps and our onboarding team will guide you through the rest.

Log into Aptem, your interactive learning platform.

Step 2

Complete your onboarding activities:

• Create your profile

• Take your initial English and maths assessment

• Complete your Skills Radar to map your current strengths

Step 3

Sign your apprenticeship documents via Aptem to finalise your enrolment.

Enhance your profile

From day one, you’re not just building skills – you’re building your professional profile. Share your progress on LinkedIn to:

Show your network you’re specialising in HR and People Management
Boost your credibility in a fast-moving industry
Highlight your commitment to growth

When you complete the programme, you’ll earn certification from both Imperial and Corndel to share on LinkedIn. If you’d like to raise your profile as an emerging people professional expert, speak to your Coach.

Share on LinkedIn

Questions?  Great. You’re curious.

Your place on this programme is fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy – a government initiative that helps employers invest in developing their people. Large organisations contribute a small percentage of their payroll into a fund that can only be used for professional development.

For you, this means your organisation has set aside budget specifically to support your growth. Instead of being a tax, the levy is an opportunity – a way for employers to build skills, strengthen capability and invest in the people shaping their future.

The Apprenticeship Levy is also evolving into the new Growth and Skills Levy. This shift reflects a bigger ambition: to give organisations more flexibility to respond to fast-changing markets, emerging technologies and new skills needs. For you, it means your development remains relevant – future-focused and designed to help you thrive in a world that’s constantly changing.

You’ll take part in a mix of guided learning and on-the-job application, designed to fit alongside your role and help you grow in real time.

• Work with your Corndel Coach – Through regular one-to-one sessions, your Coach will guide you, challenge your thinking and help you apply new skills directly to your role.

• Join live workshops – Interactive sessions with experts and peers where you’ll explore new ideas, share experiences and learn together.

• Engage with online modules – Flexible, on-demand content packed with case studies, tools and activities you can fit around your schedule. You’ll also have access to e-books, videos and audio content anytime, anywhere.

• Complete work-based projects – Apply your learning to real challenges in your organisation, creating measurable impact.

• Reflect and evidence your progress – Keep track of your development, capture CPD evidence, and prepare for projects, presentations and assessments with confidence.

Everything you do on the programme connects back to your role, so the time you invest builds both your professional confidence and your organisation’s success.

Everyone learns differently and that’s more than okay. If you ever feel like you might benefit from additional support, whether you’ve identified a specific learning need or just want to explore ways to make learning easier, we’re here to help.

Here’s how we’ll support you:

• 1-to-1 welcome session – Meet with a learner support expert to talk through any barriers to learning and explore adjustments that will help you thrive.

• Specialist advice and assessment – Access a short, confidential neurodiversity assessment (via Cognassist) or talk with an expert to better understand your strengths and support needs.

• Ongoing personalised support – Your Coach and our Learner Success Team will stay alongside you, adapting support as you progress. This could include memory strategies, assistive technology, time management tips, accessibility adjustments, or signposting to wellbeing resources.

• Your Cognassist dashboard – Practical, personalised tools and strategies to boost focus and confidence.

• Flexible extra support sessions – Book additional time when you need it, to work through challenges in a way that suits you.

• Reasonable adjustments – From adapted materials to extra time, we’ll make sure the programme works for you.

If something feels like it’s making learning harder, let us know. Together, we’ll find tools, strategies and approaches that give you the confidence to succeed.

Your line manager is an important part of your development journey. Their support helps protect your time, create opportunities to apply your learning and keep your progress on track.

Here’s how they’ll support you:

• Protect your learning time – Making sure you have space each week for study, assignments and reflection, while helping you put new knowledge into practice in your role.

• Make it part of your role – Embedding the programme into your objectives and appraisals so your development is recognised as a key part of your growth at work.

• Start strong together  – Your line manager will attend your first one-to-one coaching session with you and your dedicated Coach. Together you’ll review your Skills Radar, set a personalised curriculum, and agree areas for improvement, ensuring your development journey is tailored and supported from day one.

• Track and celebrate progress – Every quarter, you, your Corndel Coach and your line manager will come together for a progress review. These sessions are about celebrating achievements, reflecting on development and ensuring your learning connects directly to your role and wider business goals. They’re also a chance to identify any barriers to learning and, if needed, replan so you stay on track. Your manager will also take part in 360-degree feedback exercises with you and your Coach, showing their commitment to your growth and keeping your motivation high.

• Flag challenges early – If your workload or role changes, your line manager can raise this with your Coach so we can find solutions together.

• Enable new opportunities – Supporting you to take on projects and challenges where you can apply your growing skills and make a measurable impact.

With this support, your learning doesn’t sit apart from your job – it’s fully connected to your role, your growth and your organisation’s success.