ILM LEVEL 5 Business coaching
In-House Option AvailableILM Accredited

This course prepares leaders and managers to overcome the challenges presented by the modern workplace.
An ILM Level 5 coaching and mentoring programme giving managers the practical skills to develop people and improve performance
Our ILM Level 5 Coaching and Mentoring programme equips managers with practical skills to develop people, improve performance and build stronger working relationships.
You’ll learn how to coach and mentor with confidence — including how to structure coaching conversations, ask better questions, give constructive feedback, and support others through change and challenge.
Ideal for first-line, middle and senior managers, team leaders and aspiring mentors who want a recognised qualification and tools they can apply immediately in the workplace.
BY THE END OF THIS COURSE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO



Coach others with confidence using proven frameworks and questioning techniques
Hold better performance and development conversations that build ownership and accountability
Mentor individuals effectively — supporting growth, capability and progression in the workplace
CHALLENGE CHANGE
The modern workplace is moving fast — with changing expectations, hybrid teams, and constant pressure on performance and wellbeing. In this environment, managers don’t just need to manage tasks — they need to develop people.
This ILM Level 5 Coaching and Mentoring programme gives you practical skills to support, challenge and grow others through better conversations. You’ll learn how to coach individuals to think clearly and take ownership — and how to mentor effectively to build long-term capability.
Alongside real workplace application, you’ll gain a recognised ILM qualification that strengthens your leadership and the performance of your team.



Work on real workplace coaching and mentoring scenarios — so every session is relevant to your day-to-day challenges.
Achieve your ILM Level 5 qualification with full post-course support — including guidance, feedback and help with submissions.
Transparent pricing with no hidden costs — includes ILM fees, pre- and post-course support, plus lunch and refreshments.
Meet our Head of Assessments, Laura Bridgeman
What happens after the course? We don’t just say goodbye.
Every delegate receives dedicated post-course support from Laura and her assessment team — guiding you through the ILM requirements, providing clear feedback, and helping you complete your qualification with confidence.
You’ll know exactly what’s needed, what good looks like, and how to get there — with structured support at every step.

BOOK NOW:
24 - 25 MARCH 2026
16 - 17 JUNE 2026
Training location: Winnersh (Reading)
This is a practical ILM Level 5 Coaching and Mentoring programme — designed to help you develop others through better conversations. You’ll learn proven frameworks, practise coaching techniques, and apply everything directly to real workplace situations.
10 - 11 MARCH 2026
19 - 20 MAY 2026
Training location: REMOTE via Zoom
Join the programme live on Zoom and get the full classroom experience — without the travel. You’ll be guided by an experienced facilitator, take part in practical coaching activities, and receive the same content, structure and support as our in-person course.
ANYTIME
Training location: ONLINE
Study online at your own pace — with the reassurance of expert post-course support. You’ll complete the same ILM Level 5 Coaching and Mentoring qualification pathway, with guidance from Laura and our assessment team to help you finish with confidence.
Each module builds capability and confidence in coaching and mentoring practice, progressing from core understanding through to applied skills and real-world coaching impact. This qualification equips learners with the practical skills, psychological insight, and confidence to coach and mentor effectively across a range of professional contexts.
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
CORE PRINCIPLES OF COACHING AND MENTORING
This module introduces the fundamental concepts, principles, and psychology that underpin effective coaching and mentoring. Participants explore the differences and connections between coaching and mentoring, develop strong psychological contracts, and gain insight into how the brain and behaviour interact to create meaningful change.
MODULE 2
COMMUNICATION, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND POSITIVE PRACTICE
This module focuses on the interpersonal skills that make coaching and mentoring effective. Participants develop emotional intelligence, communication skills, and a deeper understanding of positive psychology to support growth, motivation, and sustainable performance.
MODULE 3
APPLIED COACHING PRACTICE AND IMPACT
The final module brings coaching and mentoring into practice. Participants learn how to guide clients from insight to action by identifying clear “first next steps” and evaluating the effectiveness of coaching interventions. The module culminates in live coaching practice allowing learners to integrate theory and build confidence in real coaching conversations.
TESTIMONIALS
Please find below a selection of testimonials.
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.
Yes. This programme is ILM accredited and leads to the ILM Level 5 Certificate in Effective Coaching and Mentoring, subject to successful completion of the required assessments.
To achieve the qualification, you’ll complete a set of work-based activities after the course. These are designed to evidence how you apply the coaching and mentoring techniques from the programme in real workplace conversations.
You’ll be fully supported throughout. Our Head of Assessments, Laura Bridgeman, and her team will guide you through what’s required, provide feedback, and help you complete your submissions with confidence.
To get the most from the programme, we ask you to come prepared with two or three real workplace scenarios you’d like to explore through coaching practice — for example a performance conversation, a development challenge, a stakeholder relationship, or a team dynamic.
You’ll use these scenarios during the course to practise coaching techniques, receive feedback, and build confidence in conversations you’re having right now.
Before the course, we’ll also send you a short preparation document with a few questions and exercises. This helps our facilitators understand your goals and tailor the training to your needs.
To achieve the ILM Level 5 Certificate in Effective Coaching and Mentoring, you’ll complete a set of structured, work-based activities after the taught programme. These are designed to evidence how you apply what you’ve learned in real coaching conversations.
You will complete:
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Three work-based written assignments
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18 hours of logged coaching, working with 2–3 people
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Additional tutor-guided learning, including short book and video reflections linked to the programme content
Support and timelines
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We offer support for the duration of your qualification, included in your course price, to help you complete the assignments.
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You have up to three years from registration to submit your work to ILM
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Support is available via phone, Zoom or face-to-face, with clear guidance and feedback throughout
After the two-day course, you’ll receive access to our online refresher area, which includes templates, guidance and details on how to book time with your assessor.
Every delegate receives a course workbook to support learning during the programme and to use as a reference afterwards. It includes coaching and mentoring frameworks, guidance and practical tools to support your sessions.
You’ll also receive one year’s membership of the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM).
To help you complete the qualification successfully, we provide templates and structured guidance for each of the three work-based assignments, alongside ongoing support from our assessment team.
