Manager

As a manager, you will be responsible for running teams, departments and organisations. This work often involves supervising people; you could also be managing work activities, processes, physical resources and information.

Work activities

Managers work anywhere where decisions need to be made about the development, care and most efficient use of people and physical resources.

Although management roles can be very different, they usually have certain things in common with each other. For example, you can expect to be responsible for other people. You will be expected to:

Maximise the skills of your staff.
Select new members of staff and build teams
Develop team and individual performance.
Maintain discipline and make firm decisions.

You might have quite a general role, coordinating the work of several departments, or you could specialise in one type of management, for example, managing finances, human resources, marketing, sales, IT or strategy. You must be able to make decisions based on financial reports and accounts, after listening to and understanding the advice of accountants or finance directors. In marketing, you will make decisions that improve the link between your organisation and its customers, for example, in issues such as pricing, advertising, distribution and analysis of sales figures. At higher management levels, you would usually be involved in strategic planning. This involves thinking about the direction in which your organisation is moving, including its strengths and weaknesses. You are likely to have to deal with a considerable number of regulations and guidelines, covering issues such as health and safety, environmental management and working practices.

Being able to read, write and speak Welsh may be an advantage when you’re looking for work in Wales.

Personal qualities and skills

To be an effective manager, you should have:

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Organisational skills to manage human and physical resources.
Good written skills.
Strong time-management skills.
Strong presentation and negotiating skills.

You should be able to:

Analyse problems and use objective judgement to make quick decisions.
Think strategically, considering the possible effects of your decisions in the longer-term.
Delegate.
Respond to and manage change.
Set and manage budgets.
Understand financial reports; you may also have to write them.

Pay and opportunities

Management salaries vary widely depending on the industry, qualifications and level of responsibility. According to job site Glassdoor, you can expect to earn between £36,000 and £69,000 (43,000 salaries, December 2023). You could start on a lower salary – and earn even more.

Performance-related bonuses might be added to your salary. Depending on the employer and the post, you might receive additional benefits such as a company car or private health care.

Hours of work also vary. Some work office hours, Monday to Friday, while others work shifts. Early starts, late finishes, weekends and work on public holidays might be required. Managers at all levels are likely to work longer hours than other staff.

Where could I work?

Employers are organisations of every type, from small businesses employing just a few staff, to central and local government departments, and national and multinational corporations employing thousands of people. Opportunities for managers occur in towns, cities and rural areas throughout the UK. There are opportunities for some managers employed by UK-based organisations to work in other countries.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on job boards and employers’ websites, in local/ national newspapers and professional journals, and on the Government’s Find a Job service.

Entry routes and training

It is also possible to enter management by working your way up and getting promoted. Another route is through a graduate trainee scheme after obtaining a degree. Some employers, particularly in technical or specialised fields, ask for a relevant degree. For other training schemes, any degree subject is suitable. Those who have completed a student placement year might have an advantage. Graduate training programmes can cover general management, or a specialist management area, such as marketing, sales, human resources, or supply chain/distribution (logistics). Sometimes you might be able to join a training scheme after completing A levels, Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 National qualifications or equivalent. It might be possible to study either full-time or part-time for a foundation degree. They are offered in both general and specialist management areas.

You can even do an apprenticeship to enter a management career. On an apprenticeship, most of your training will be on the job, but you will also spend time working towards relevant qualifications. A number of programmes are available, the most relevant are:

Operations or departmental manager (level 5 / higher)
Chartered manager (level 6 / degree)

Once employed, your training will often be on-the-job, along with courses designed to develop your professional and interpersonal skills. Some training might lead to professional qualifications.

Managers can progress into senior management and director posts.

Qualifications

Employers might require qualifications to degree or HND/HNC level. For entry to a degree course in any subject, the usual requirement is:

Two to three A-levels.
GCSEs at grades 9-4 in two to three other subjects.

To get onto an higher or degree apprenticeship, you will need two relevant A-levels/equivalent as well as GCSEs in English and maths.

Alternatives to A-levels include:

Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 National qualifications.
International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Employers often select people with relevant qualifications and/or experience to undertake management training. Some provide training in the workplace to fill supervisory and other junior management positions. Many job sectors and industries have reported a shortage of qualified managers in their areas. They have made the recruitment of qualified and experienced managers a priority.

Access courses: If you don’t have the usual qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course could be the way in. These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education (HE). No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges.

Distance learning: The Chartered Management Institute and the Open University Business School both offer a range of general management qualifications by distance learning.

Funding: Some larger corporations and companies might offer sponsorship for higher education study of management-related degrees.

Related careers

Administrative officer – civil service
Bank manager
Betting shop manager
Catering/restaurant manager
Charity fundraiser
Chartered secretary
Countryside manager
Credit manager
Customer services manager
Direct marketing manager
Distribution manager
Dry cleaning/laundry manager
Entrepreneur
Estate manager
Event planner
Export sales manager
Farm manager
Fast stream civil servant
Fish farm manager
Forester
Garment technologist
GP practice manager
Health service manager
Horticultural manager
Hotel manager
Human resources manager
IT sales manager
Landscape manager
Local government administrator
Management consultant
Marketing manager
Museum/art gallery curator
Music manager
Operational researcher
Pensions consultant
Prison governor
Product manager
Production planner
Project manager
Publican
Recreation manager
Road surfacing manager
Road transport manager
Sales manager
School business manager
Site manager
Sports and leisure centre manager
Stage manager
Store manager
Studio/floor manager
Travel agency manager
Warehouse manager
Wholesale manager