CIM-Approved Level 4 | 18 Months | Funded through your levy
Delivered in partnership between the College Marketing Network and Activate Business School.
This is the FE Marketing Apprenticeship created specifically for Further Education marketing teams. Designed with FE practitioners, refined through a successful pilot cohort at Activate Learning, and now open to colleges across the sector.
Programme at a glance
- Duration: 18 months (13 months learning + 5 months End Point Assessment)
- Funding: Up to £6,000 per apprentice via your college levy
- Accreditation: CIM-Approved Level 4
- Cohort size: 10–15 marketing professionals from colleges across the UK
- Delivery: 9 interactive online workshops, employer-led projects and a Dragons’ Den-style bootcamp
- Assessment: 3 mock End Point Assessments plus final EPA
Pilot cohort results: 90% retention and 100% EPA pass rate with distinction.
“From clearing campaigns to strategic growth projects across Apprenticeship and Higher Education markets, our apprentices rapidly built project management and advanced marketing capability. Sector-specific training delivered immediate organisational value.”
— Pete Reynolds, Chief Marketing Officer, Activate Learning
Why this apprenticeship is different
Built for FE reality
A programme designed around the unique pressures and complexity of college marketing — not a generic corporate course.
Future-ready skills
Practical learning in AI, automation, and AR/VR for customer engagement, alongside core marketing capability.
Closed FE cohort
Apprentices learn with peers from other colleges, creating strong professional networks across the sector.
Who is this for?
This apprenticeship works in two ways — you can either upskill your existing team or create clear career pathways into marketing.
Suitable for:
- Marketing Executives seeking career progression
- Marketing Officers wanting formal qualifications
- Communications Specialists aiming for CIM accreditation
- High-performing staff from admin or customer service roles ready to move into marketing
Apprentices must be working in a marketing role or project and able to complete an 18-month workplace project. They earn while they learn and deliver value throughout the programme.
“Having witnessed first-hand how apprenticeships transform careers in FE, I’m thrilled to partner with Activate Learning on this bespoke programme. It’s specifically designed to fast-track marketing capabilities in the Further Education sector — exactly what our community needs.”
— Emma Wilde, Director, College Marketing Network & FE Marketing Specialist
What you’ll master in 18 months
- Marketing automation tools
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) in marketing
- Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) for engagement
- Data-driven decision making
- Market research and customer segmentation
- SMART campaign and event planning with ROI measurement
- Marketing regulations, law and compliance
- Brand positioning and CRM
A strong partnership for FE
College Marketing Network provides:
- Access to the FE marketing community
- Industry-focused workshops and events
- CMN Conference entry for Apprentices
- Annual Apprentice of the Year Award recognition
Activate Business School provides:
- Full programme design and delivery
- Expert CIM-accredited teaching, coaching and administrative support
- Quality assurance and End Point Assessment management
- Access to the global CIM Marketing Club student community
Empowering FE marketing teams
This programme creates a clear pipeline from your apprentice levy to skilled, qualified marketing professionals:
- Invest: £6,000 per apprentice covers full programme costs
- Cohort: 10–15 apprentices from colleges nationwide
- Develop: 18-month CIM Level 4 Marketing Apprenticeship
- Return: A stronger, more confident marketing team with recognised qualifications and up-to-date sector expertise
Why now?
FE marketing is increasingly complex. Teams are:
- Marketing to 16–18s, adults, employers and parents simultaneously
- Navigating GDPR and learner data
- Responding to LLE rollout and BTEC defunding
This apprenticeship builds sector-specific expertise and professional credibility, including:
- Free access to the CIM Marketing Club
- Free CMN Conference access
- SMART Assessor
- Activate Learning Online
On completion, apprentices achieve a CIM-recognised Level 4 Marketing Executive certification, strengthening the standing of marketing teams within their colleges.
Next steps
Next cohort: May 2026
Register by: mid-March
Book a 15-minute discovery call to find out more! Complete the form below: