CMI Level 5 in Consultancy

Overview

This Austin Elliot Consultancy Skills course leads to a CMI Level 5 Certificate in Professional Consulting and is designed for current and aspiring professional consultants. It equips learners with the practical tools, frameworks, and interpersonal techniques necessary to operate effectively as consultants. The course not only addresses structured consultancy approaches but also focuses on developing the mindset and behaviours required to build client trust and become a valued advisor. Delivered by experienced consultants, the programme encourages reflective learning through real-world practice and feedback.

Prerequisites

This course does not require formal qualifications but is best suited to professionals who:

• Are working in or aspiring to work in consultancy roles
• Are seeking to build practical consulting skills and approaches
• Are comfortable participating in reflective learning and discussion

Target audience

This course is ideal for:

• Professionals currently in a consultancy role
• Individuals seeking to transition into consultancy careers
• Those responsible for leading internal consultancy initiatives or advisory functions

Objectives

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Understand the purpose, ethics, and principles of consultancy
• Structure and manage consultancy interventions from initiation through to disengagement
• Develop effective client relationships and communicate persuasively
• Demonstrate enhanced interpersonal and emotional intelligence skills
• Apply consulting tools to solve complex business challenges
• Collaborate effectively in team environments
• Conduct structured research and gather meaningful data
• Analyse problems and present findings in professional formats
• Design and deliver sustainable change interventions

Outline

Being a consultant

• Defining the purpose of consultancy
• Consultant roles and integration
• Operating principles and professional ethics
• Structuring consultancy projects

Business acumen for consultants

• Securing consultancy work
• Developing action plans and work breakdown structures
• Estimating project costs
• Contracting and commercial agreements

Interpersonal skills for consultants

• Developing a consultant’s mindset
• Building rapport and trust with clients
• Influencing and negotiating techniques
• Managing the client relationship
• Emotional intelligence and Core Strengths SDI 2.0 assessment
• Resilience and stress management
• Personal productivity strategies

Planning and managing consultancy projects

• Environmental and contextual assessment
• Planning methodologies and tools

Working in a team

• Understanding team development stages
• Characteristics of high-performing teams
• Integrating effectively within new teams

Research and data collection

• Research principles for consultancy
• Designing data collection strategies
• Understanding cognitive bias and thought processes
• Designing and conducting interviews and surveys

Analysis and problem-solving

• Workshop design and facilitation
• Using the DMAIC framework for structured problem solving

Presenting findings and recommendations

• Structuring consultancy reports
• Designing and delivering client presentations

Implementation

• Planning for change delivery
• Conducting stakeholder analysis
• Selecting implementation approaches
• Managing and supporting change

Communicating change

• Creating a Government Communication Service (GCS) standard plan
• Measuring communication impact
• Addressing human reactions to change

Disengaging from the project

• Sustaining implemented changes
• Project closure procedures
• Ensuring effective knowledge transfer
• Identifying opportunities for follow-on work

Exams and assessments

There are no formal exams in this course. Learners are assessed via two scenario-based written assignments that reflect real-world consultancy challenges.

Hands-on learning

This course is delivered in two face-to-face blocks, each lasting four days. Between blocks, learners are expected to apply new skills and reflect on their experiences. The programme includes:

• A Core Strengths SDI® personal assessment
• Practical fieldwork exercises
• Scenario-based tasks for skill application
• Team collaboration and consulting simulations