CMI Coach Training2026-04-20T12:00:44+00:00

CMI Level 5 Certificate in Professional Coaching

A CMI Level 5 coaching qualification for managers and leaders

✔️ Delivered live online in small, interactive groups

✔️ Real coaching practice you can apply immediately in your leadership

✔️ Ongoing supervision, feedback and support throughout

➡️ Next cohort starts October 2026 – early booking recommended

CMI Level 5 Certificate in Professional Coaching

A CMI Level 5 coaching qualification for managers and leaders

✔️ Delivered live online in small, interactive groups

✔️ Real coaching practice you can apply immediately in your leadership

✔️ Ongoing supervision, feedback and support throughout

➡️ Next cohort starts October 2026 – early booking recommended

Book a Free 30 Min Call

CMI COACH TRAINING FOR MANAGERS AND LEADERS

Grow Confident, Capable LeadersProfessional CoachingCMI Coaching TrainingTeam Development Workshops

We help organisations develop managers and leaders who bring out the best in their people, through coaching, training and practical support:

✔️ Accredited CMI coach training for leaders
✔️ 1:1 coaching for neurodivergent leaders
✔️ Practical leadership workshops for teams

Book a Free 30 Min Call

Turn managers into confident leaders who can coach, develop and empower their teams

This CMI Level 5 coaching qualification is a flexible, supported programme delivered through live workshops, real-world practice and ongoing support, designed to help you lead more effectively through better conversations you can apply immediately in your day-to-day role.

As a result, you’ll be able to:

✔️ Shift from doing to delegating with confidence

✔️ Stop firefighting and start supporting proactive development

✔️ Build ownership and accountability across your team

✔️ Handle difficult conversations and improve how your team works together

✔️ Make developing others part of how you lead day-to-day

Format

Six live workshop days over 6 months, combining teaching and coaching in a small cohort of up to 10 learners

Support

Addtional coaching supervision and assignment support plus feedback and guidance throughout

Delivery

Fully online, with all workshops and support delivered live via Zoom, designed to fit around full-time roles

Learning Resources

Access to CMI ManagementDirect — a comprehensive library of tools, articles and leadership resources

Qualification

Achieve a nationally recognised CMI Level 5 Certificate in Professional Coaching Practice

Who is this programme for?

Designed for managers, leaders and professionals looking to develop their skills through a CMI Level 5 coaching qualification

New & Emerging Leaders

Step into leadership with confidence, strong communication skills, and a clear approach to managing and developing others.

Experienced & Middle Managers

Move beyond day-to-day management and develop people who take ownership without constant oversight.

Project & Operations Managers

Get more from the people you rely on, improving performance, accountability and delivery.

HR & L&D Professionals

Develop coaching capability across your organisation that translates into real day-to-day impact.

Leaders Without Direct Reports

Develop the ability to influence, challenge and guide others without formal authority.

Aspiring Coaches

Develop professional coaching skills and gain a recognised qualification to support others more effectively.

Your journey through the programme

A six-month, structured programme combining live workshops, coaching practice and ongoing support

Pre-Start: September 2026

Before the programme begins, you’ll complete a short, structured induction to get clear on your starting point and what you want to get from the course.

What this includes:

– A welcome and programme overview from your course tutors Neil and Ali
– A short questionnaire to understand your role, experience and goals
– A coaching skills self-assessment (baseline)
– Introduction to the course structure, assignments and portfolio

By the time Workshop 1 starts, you’ll be clear on your focus and ready to get straight into practical coaching.

Workshop 1 sets the foundation for everything that follows, focusing on how coaching works in real leadership settings.

You’ll start by experiencing coaching before learning the theory, so everything you learn is grounded in real conversations from the outset.

This workshop covers the core elements of Unit 531 (Principles of Professional Coaching)

What you’ll cover:

Day 1 — Understanding coaching in practice
– What coaching is and how it differs from managing, mentoring and advising
– Where coaching fits in your leadership approach
– Your first coaching conversation in pairs
– Reflection and learning from real experience

Day 2 — Building your coaching approach
– How to structure effective coaching conversations
– Contracting: role, purpose and expectations
– Practising coaching in small groups with feedback
– Ethical and professional considerations

You’ll leave with the confidence to start using coaching in your day-to-day leadership straight away.

This is where you start applying what you’ve learned in real situations, building confidence through practice and reflection.

You’ll be coaching regularly, logging your sessions, and beginning to build your portfolio as you go.

What this looks like:

– Facilitated peer coaching session with rotating partners
– Group coaching supervision (live, online) to support your development, build confidence and deepen your coaching practice
– Assignment Q&A drop-in session
– Time and guidance to begin drafting your Unit 531 written assignment

Every coaching conversation you log contributes towards your portfolio, so you’re building evidence as you go rather than leaving it until the end.

By the time you reach Workshop 2, you’ll have real coaching experience to reflect on and develop further.

By Workshop 2, you’ll have already coached real people and started building your portfolio.

This session helps you make sense of your experience so far, giving you the models, structure and confidence to coach more effectively.

This workshop covers key elements of Unit 532 (The Role of the Professional Coach).

What you’ll cover:

Day 1 — Developing your coaching approach
– Understanding your strengths and areas for development as a coach
– Communication skills: questioning, listening and feedback
– Coaching models you can use in real conversations
– Reflecting on your coaching practice so far

Day 2 — Managing the coaching relationship
– Building trust and rapport with those you coach
– Managing boundaries and stakeholder expectations
– Working through challenges in coaching conversations
– Continuing to build your portfolio through practice and reflection

You’ll leave with a clearer coaching approach and the confidence to handle more complex conversations in your leadership role.

This is where your coaching becomes more consistent and your confidence continues to build.

You’ll be using coaching models more naturally, and your conversations will start to feel more fluid and effective.

What this looks like:

– Peer coaching sessions, helping to build your portfolio
– Group coaching supervision (live, online) to support your development, build confidence and deepen your coaching practice
– A personalised mid-programme progress review to support your learning and keep you on track
– Deadline to complete and submit your Unit 531 written assignment

You’ll move into Workshop 3 with stronger coaching experience and a clearer sense of your own style.

By this point, you’ll have been coaching consistently for several months and built meaningful experience. This final workshop helps you integrate your learning, refine your approach, and prepare to use coaching confidently in your role.

This workshop covers advanced elements of Unit 532 (The Role of the Professional Coach).

What you’ll cover:

Day 1 — Deepening your coaching practice
– The value of supervision to support your development as a coach
– Working through real ethical challenges and complex situations
– Observing and learning from live coaching demonstrations
– Strengthening your approach through reflection and feedback

Day 2 — Integration and next steps
– Full coaching practice sessions, bringing together everything you’ve learned
– Final guidance on assignments and portfolio submission
– Reviewing your progress and development as a coach
– Preparing to continue using coaching beyond the programme

You’ll leave with the confidence, capability and experience to use coaching effectively in your day-to-day leadership.

All taught content is complete, and your focus shifts to finishing your work.

You’ll continue to receive support while completing both your written assignment and coaching portfolio.

What this looks like:

– Final group coaching supervision (live, online) to support your development, build confidence and deepen your coaching practice
– Assignment Q&A drop-in session
– Facilitated peer coaching to help complete your portfolio hours
– Review of your initial coaching questionnaire and skills baseline to reflect on your progress
– Complete and submit your Unit 532 written assignment and coaching portfolio

By the end of this period, you’ll have a recognised coaching qualification and a portfolio that evidences your ability to coach effectively in real-world contexts.

How the CMI Level 5 coaching qualification is assessed

You’ll be assessed through written assignments and a coaching portfolio based on your real practice, with guidance and support throughout

Written assignments are designed to help you apply coaching in real-world leadership situations.

You’ll complete one written assignment for each unit (approximately 4,000 words each).

These focus on how you understand and apply coaching in practice, drawing on your real coaching conversations and leadership experience.

Submission timeline:
– Unit 531 assignment: January
– Unit 532 assignment: April

Support throughout:
– Guidance, examples and feedback
– Dedicated Q&A drop-in sessions
– Access to CMI ManagementDirect (a comprehensive online library of practical tools, templates, articles and leadership resources you can use during and beyond the programme)

Your coaching portfolio demonstrates your real coaching experience in practice.

Alongside your assignments, you’ll build a portfolio based on your own coaching conversations.

What this includes:
A minimum of 10 hours of coaching from:
– Peer coaching sessions within the programme
– Coaching conversations in your day-to-day leadership role

For each session, you’ll complete a short reflection on your practice, supported by recognised coaching standards (European Mentoring and Coaching Council competencies).

Submission timeline:
– Submitted in April 2027, alongside your Unit 532 assignment

Support throughout:
– Supervision, feedback and guidance
– Q&A sessions to support your progress
– Ongoing support to build your portfolio as you go

This means you’re building real coaching experience throughout the programme, not just learning the theory.

Why organisations choose One Life Coaching

Led by experienced leaders and lecturers

Delivered by coaches with real leadership and teaching experience.

Alison brings senior NHS leadership experience, and Neil is a former psychology lecturer known for clear, engaging and practical delivery.

Experience coaching leaders from new managers to senior executives

We’ve worked with leaders at every stage of their development.

Everything you learn is grounded in real conversations, real challenges and what actually works in practice.

Quality assured and professionally delivered

As a CMI Registered Centre, we meet strict standards for quality and learner support.

You can expect a structured, professional and well-supported experience throughout.

Small cohort, high support

Each cohort is limited to 10 participants.

This means meaningful feedback, real interaction and support throughout, not just during the workshops.

Trusted by leading organisations and professionals

Selected work with organisations and leaders

Coaches delivering CMI Level 5 coaching qualification training

Leadership & team development – Lancaster University

Leadership coaching workshop as part of a CMI Level 5 coaching qualification

Resilience & wellbeing training – University of Manchester

Live coaching practice session in a CMI Level 5 coaching qualification

Coach training - NHS (Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB)

“Ali facilitated a workshop for one of the projects I’m leading and helped the team quickly clarify priorities and focus on what mattered most.

The session was practical, engaging and genuinely useful — I’d highly recommend her.”

Ceu Matteus, Professor of Health Economics at Lancaster University

“Neil has delivered several workshops for postgraduate researchers at Lancaster University as part of our wellbeing and resilience programme. His sessions are consistently well received and have become a valued part of our training offer.

He’s also been excellent to work with — collaborative, thoughtful, and with a strong understanding of the needs of postgraduate researchers.”

Simon Vaukins, Postgraduate Research Operations Manager, Lancaster University

“I’m hugely grateful to Alison for her skilful facilitation of the Lancaster Medical School Senior Leadership team at our recent away day.

She created the space for open, productive reflection, helping the team align on shared goals, take ownership and find practical ways to improve how we work together.”

Marina Anderson, Head of Lancaster Medical School

“To be honest, this was the best training I’ve done — at Lancaster and across other universities in the UK and abroad.”

“Fantastic session. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the questions and space created were genuinely helpful and inspiring.”

“Excellent workshop with a great mix of activities, small-group work and discussion. The focus on people-pleasing beliefs really stayed with me.”

A selection of feedback from our fabulous workshop attendees

“After my final session with Neil, I genuinely felt like a different person.

I thought I was self-aware going in, but I uncovered what was really holding me back — and now I’m clear on what to do next. I’m finally moving in the right direction.”

Andrew Harding, Lecturer in Management, Lancaster University

“Neil is exactly what I want in a coach — someone who holds me to high standards, helps me find solutions and doesn’t let me hide behind excuses.

His coaching has made me more focused, reflective and determined. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him.”

Martin Ennis, Health and Safety Manager, Cancer Research UK

“After just one session with Ali I felt completely at ease and quickly uncovered the thought patterns that had been holding me back.

Within three sessions my mindset had shifted — I stopped overthinking, made decisions more confidently and finally followed through on things I’d been procrastinating on for months. I’m now well ahead of where I expected to be.”

Lauren Keating, Founder & CEO of The Small Biz Sis

“After my ADHD diagnosis I felt completely overwhelmed trying to run a business and manage life as a single mum. I was stuck in fight-or-flight, drowning in paperwork and never getting to my own admin.

Ali’s coaching — especially the body-doubling sessions and regular check-ins — helped me finally make progress on things I’d avoided for months. The structure and support made a huge difference.”

Hayley Skinner, CEO of Eden Mortgages

Meet your tutors

Learn from experienced coaches who combine academic insight with real-world leadership experience

Practical coaching, grounded in behavioural science and real leadership experience.

Dr Neil McLatchie has PhD in social psychology and spent seven years as a university lecturer before moving into leadership development. He’s an ILM-certified coach and brings academic rigour and the ability to make complex ideas immediately applicable. With lived experience of ADHD, he has a particular interest in the mindset, motivation and executive function challenges that hold leaders back.

Alison May CMI certified Coach and qualified coach supervisor, with a background in NHS leadership, psychology and behaviour change. Ali has trained hundreds of professionals in coaching skills, led complex work change and transformation programmes in high-pressure environments, and knows first-hand what it takes to get the best from people.

When he’s not coaching or training, Neil can usually be found on a jiu-jitsu mat or playing with the dog. Ali is most likely writing, dancing, or — let’s be honest — watching Married at First Sight.

Together, we use evidence-based methods and practical insight to help people lead more effectively in real, everyday situations.

FAQs

We want to make sure this programme is right for you. Here are the questions we’re asked most and if yours isn’t answered, let’s have a chat

Do I need prior qualifications?

No. CMI does not set formal entry requirements for this qualification. You need to be 18 or over and working in a role where you can apply coaching — typically a manager, team lead, HR/L&D professional, or someone stepping into leadership. We have a short conversation with every applicant before they join to make sure the programme is the right fit.

It’s designed for managers, team leaders, HR and L&D professionals, project and operations managers, people stepping into leadership roles, or aspiring coaches. If you lead or develop others — or want to build a coaching culture in your organisation — it’s for you. If you’re unsure, book a 30-minute call with us and we’ll tell you honestly whether it’s a fit.

No prior coaching experience is required. Many learners join having never coached formally. The programme takes you from foundations through to confident, ethical practice, with structured opportunities to coach and be coached throughout.

How much time will I need to commit?

The programme runs over approximately six months. Your time commitment breaks down as follows:

  • 6 workshop days — three two-day workshops, delivered live online
  • Monthly live group sessions between workshops — around 90 minutes each, alternating between peer coaching practice, assignment Q&A, and group supervision
  • Self-directed learning — we estimate 1–3 hours per week for assignment research and writing, coaching practice (minimum 10 hours), and portfolio reflections

Meeting CMI requirements

The CMI Level 5 Certificate in Professional Coaching Practice requires a minimum of 32 Guided Learning Hours (time taught directly by a tutor) and 140 Total Unit Time hours (guided learning plus self-directed study and assessment). Our programme goes beyond both minimums — because we want learners to leave as confident coaches, not just qualified ones.

Workshops: Attendance at all six workshop days is essential. The CMI Level 5 qualification requires us to deliver a set number of Guided Learning Hours, and the workshops are where that happens — alongside the practical, experiential learning that can’t be replicated through recordings. Final dates will be shared as soon as possible so you can block them out well in advance. Absences are only considered by absolute exception (for example, serious illness or bereavement). If this happens, speak to us immediately and we’ll work with you on a catch-up plan. If you know in advance you can’t commit to the full dates, talk to us before enrolling — we’ll help you decide whether this is the right cohort or whether to wait for the next.

Monthly group sessions: These are more flexible. We ask you to try not to miss them — they’re where you’ll get additional support for your development, plus valuable peer connection between workshops — but if life gets in the way occasionally, we understand. We’ll keep you in the loop on what was covered.

You’ll be supported throughout by:

— Three two-day workshops: live online teaching, hands-on coaching practice, and direct feedback from Neil and Alison
— Monthly group sessions between workshops: around 90 minutes each, alternating between peer coaching practice, assignment Q&A, and coaching group supervision
— One observed 1:1 coaching session: expert feedback from Neil or Alison
— One personalised progress review: a dedicated 1:1 to check in on your development and assignment progress
— Two live assignment Q&A drop-ins: one per unit
— CMI ManagementDirect: free access to 11,000+ articles and 9,000+ e-books
— Alumni coaching community: continued peer connection after graduation

Yes, both. Individuals can self-fund (payment plans available) or request funding through their employer’s L&D budget. Organisations can sponsor one or more managers, with group discounts for multiple participants. We also offer bursary places — get in touch if cost is a barrier.

  • Early bird (before 1 September 2026): £3,000 per person
  • Standard rate: £3,500 per person

This includes all six workshop days, group coaching supervision sessions, facilitated peer sessions, observed coaching, assignment Q&A drop ins, check-in calls, the CMI Affiliate membership and ManagementDirect access, alumni community access, and full CMI registration and certification.

Group discounts, payment plans, and bursary places are available.

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We’re Neil and Ali, founders of One Life Coaching. We help organisations develop great leaders, through coaching, workshops and CMI accredited training. Because great leaders build happy, high-performing teams.

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