Skip to main content
National Careers Service

beta How could we improve this service? Your feedback will help.

  1. Home
  2. Explore careers
  3. Supervisor

Supervisor

Alternative titles for this job include Team leader, first line manager

Supervisors manage teams of staff and organise their workload. They also encourage staff to meet company standards and performance targets.

Average salary (a year)

£24,000 Starter

to

£34,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 42 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends on shifts

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Team Leader Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

This can take between 1 and 2 years to complete. You'll do on-the-job training and spend time with a college or training provider.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

Work

You could move into a team leader or supervisor role within your current workplace through training, promotion, or on a temporary basis.

In a larger organisation, you might need to complete a management trainee scheme.

Direct Application

You could apply directly for team leader or supervisor roles.

You'll usually need at least 1 or 2 years' experience in a job to apply directly.

Employers might also want you to have work based qualifications and training certificates for the industry you're working in.

More Information

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) for professional development opportunities and events.

Further information

Find out more about careers and qualifications in supervisory management from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • leadership skills
  • the ability to motivate and manage staff
  • the ability to organise your time and workload
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • business management skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a supervisor, you could:

  • plan workloads, rotas and tasks for team members
  • brief teams on targets, initiatives and policy changes
  • carry out performance reviews with team members and create reports
  • advise team members on how to improve their skills and knowledge
  • handle complex customer enquiries or complaints
  • keep up to date with standards and regulations in your industry

Working environment

You could work in an office, in a contact centre, in a factory, at a store or in a hotel.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With training and experience, you could move into middle management and then senior management positions.

You could also use your skills and experience to move into a managerial role in a different industry.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Pharmacy Team Leader Apprentice

  • Wage: £25,896 a year Annually
  • Location: Abbeydale

Apprentice Retail Supervisor

  • Wage: £23,860.20 a year Annually
  • Location: Enfield
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Are you interested in becoming a supervisor?

Search for training courses near you.

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Search further careers

Related careers

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

Speak to an adviser

You can call 0800 100 900 or use webchat to speak to an adviser.

We're open:

  • 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday
  • 10am to 5pm Saturdays and bank holidays

We're closed on Sundays, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Is this page useful?

Yes No

Thank you for your feedback.

Thank you for your feedback. Click here if you'd like to let us know how we can improve the service.