People Practice (HR)

This qualification introduces the learner to a wide range of relevant knowledge and expertise in people practice. It is suited to individuals who:

• are studying for, aspiring to, or embarking on a career in people practice
• are working in a people practice support role and wish to develop their knowledge and deliver immediate value for their organisation
• want to develop the specialist knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a people professional

The course will develop learners’ knowledge and skills and inspire them to undertake tactical tasks that deliver benefit. Learners will build their confidence and expertise with the aim of being able to contribute to colleagues, customers and the organisation; supporting change and driving impact, to create immediate and short-term value. Modules that you will study are Business Culture, Core Behaviours, Analytics and the Essentials of People Practice.

Although there are no formal entry qualifications, you will need to have a good standard of spoken and written English and be able to read and interpret text and take notes. Prospective learners whose first language is not English must demonstrate a high standard of both spoken and written English to register onto a CIPD qualification. Acceptable assessment tools of assessing the English Language ability of prospective learners are detailed below. All assessments must have been taken within the last two years.

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – Foundation level programmes – a score of 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each category.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet based test – Foundation level programmes – a score of 71 overall with a minimum of 17 in each category.
• Pearsons Test of English – Foundation level programmes – a score of 50 overall with a minimum of 50 in each category.

All candidates will be interviewed (online, 30 minutes) and you are required to join the CIPD as a student member at the beginning of the course and remain in membership throughout the course.

This course is studied by a blended format, split between self-directed online study and classroom workshops, and on a modular basis. An overview will be provided at the start of your course confirming the exact dates you would be expected to attend College. You will be expected to perform self-directed study, attend classroom workshops and the occasional guest speaker session. You will be supported by two Virtual Learning Environments, the self-directed study will be via Mindful and further resources, guidance and assignment submission will be via Moodle.    

Assessment is mainly written work, including reports, creating presentations and answering questions, as well as one practical team activity, which involves a panel interview.

You will gain relevant experience to work in roles such as HR Administrator or Assistant, Recruitment Coordinator and Rewards Administrator.

You may choose to progress onto the CIPD Level 5 course. As your CIPD qualifications will equip you with the knowledge and skills that employers are looking for, this will enhance your career prospects and increase your earning potential. Entry-level salaries for CIPD Level 3 certified HR Administrators and HR Assistants, for example, start at around £25,000, a full £10,000 more than their unqualified counterparts (Reed, 2018).

As a City of Bristol College student, you may incur additional costs to attend your course. For example, it is likely you may need to pay for travel and stationery. 

There are CIPD registration and subscription fees that are not included in the College course fees shown and these have to be paid direct by you to the CIPD. If you are on a limited income, you may be eligible to receive help with these costs from our Learner Support Funding Bursary or reduced rates from CIPD.