Production manager

Level 6/7 apprenticeship (non-degree qualification) · Creative and design route · Standard ST1483 v2.0

Level: 6
Typical duration: 18 months (about 1.5 years)
Max funding band: £14,000
End-point assessment: 2 months
Route: Creative and design

Takes responsibility for the organisational aspects of production schedule and or budget.

About the role

A production manager is the person who takes responsibility for all the organisational aspects of production schedule and or budget. They can work across all genres in film, television, commercials, VFX, post-production, animation, audio and live performance and live event production. They may be work in a production office, in a venue, on site, on set or stage, in a studio or on location in the UK or internationally. A production manager may be employed by television or film production companies, VFX or post-production facilities, or theatres, arts organisations and live events organisations. The role varies according to the type of production process they are working on.

Their role in production is to support the realisation of the creative team’s vision. They have responsibility for the practicalities of running a production; including the preparation of production documentation, managing the productions resources and compliance with legislation and industry standards.

Production managers need to be fluent in the complexities of the creative process, apply negotiation skills, and to be able to identify and offer solutions to problems as they occur.

Depending on the type of production, the creative team, management structures and reporting line can evolve or differ due to the transient and often freelance nature of the workforce.

This role may involve out of hours or irregular working or travel.

This is a core and options apprenticeship standard; all learners will undertake the core duties of the apprenticeship and then will specialise in one of three creative production areas depending on the organisation they are in which are listed below:

Option 1: Junior production manager - screen and audio

The junior production manager working in screen or audio productions, oversees all operational and logistical elements of the production. They lead the production team and in some cases may manage production co-ordinators and junior production co-ordinators. They plan out the production workflow process from pre-production to delivery of the final content which could be a film, television programme or commercial, radio, podcasts, audio visualisation.

Option 2: Junior post-production manager

The junior post production manager works closely with the producer and supervisors on a project to create, implement and run the schedule, tracking and managing the workflow through departments and ensuring that the project meets both internal and external deadlines. The junior production manager leads or schedules the post production team on a day-to-day basis and may manage junior line producers, bookings assistants and production co-ordinators. In some facilities the junior production manager may take on budgetary and client facing responsibilities. In post production and VFX, they provide the link between production company and the supplier to deliver people and resources to complete the project.

Option 3: Assistant production manager - live performance

The assistant production manager working in live performance art or live events production, supports the technical director to ensure the most effective use of resources and systems to realise all the technical elements of designs for productions, within the agreed budget, time and technical parameters. This may include live performance art productions held in theatres, national and international touring venues and non-traditional venues.

How it compares

At 18 months (about 1.5 years), it is shorter than average for a degree-level apprenticeship (the average across all 172 Level 6+ standards is 39 months).

The funding band — the maximum an employer's levy can contribute to training costs — is £14,000, below the £21,500 average for degree-level standards. Apprentices never pay tuition either way.

It has 3 specialist options, so two apprentices on this standard can follow noticeably different paths.

Typical job titles

Bookings manager
Junior production manager
Line producer
Live events production manager
Post producer
Post production manager
Production coordinator - audio
Production manager

Specialist options

Junior production manager - screen and audio
Junior post production manager
Assistant production manager - live arts

What you'll learn

The official standard defines 7 core duties, 33 knowledge areas, 31 skills, 7 behaviours. This is the actual assessed content of the apprenticeship — worth reading before an interview, because competency questions are usually written straight from these lists.

Core duties 7

Determine the resourcing requirements for a production. Apply procedures and processes to procure and contract the resources such as staff, logistics, equipment, catering.
Manage within the production team, acting as first point of contact. Liaise with the creative team as required; delegate tasks, set goals and accountabilities, provide clear guidance and monitor progress on productions.
Establish and manage complex relationships with multiple colleagues, customers, suppliers and professional networks. Work collaboratively to build rapport and trust with the production crew to ensure the production is on schedule and on budget.
Provide financial control and management of budgets on productions, providing regular cost reports, timely and expert advice on budgetary control including potential overspends to the wider production management team.
Comply with legislation, regulations and codes of practice that apply to production and creation to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of self and others at all times.
Work within sustainability and environmental requirements. Report in a timely manner any non-compliance to the appropriate person.
Practice continuous self-learning to keep up to date with technological developments to enhance relevant skills. Take responsibility for own professional development.

Knowledge 33

Methods to analyse and interpret a creative concept into a production schedule and budget.
Organisational vision, culture and values and the impact on the production manager’s role.
Structures of production teams and departments, and the interdependencies between these, both internal and external, such as reporting lines and information sharing.
Strategies to build engagement, improve motivation and develop a high performance, collaborative culture both internally and externally; including managing conflict within a production environment.
The legal and ethical policies and practices for different types of employment contracts and the implications of these such as working time directives, pay rates, remote workers, union requirements.
The legal and regulatory requirements which may apply to productions such as copyright, intellectual property rights, use of technology, safeguarding.
Financial governance and legal requirements, and production procurement strategies such as tendering processes.
The risks and issues that may arise for production and the ways in which they may be mitigated or resolved.
The importance of environmental sustainability and departmental processes for working on a production. For example, Albert Carbon Calculator for screen, Theatre Green Book Theatre or the Purple Guide.
The logistical requirements for working in different locations, such as when to work with local authorities, local experts, time zones.
End-to-end production workflow from pre-production through to distribution, and how the stages of production and departments interact.
Key issues and challenges relating to multiplatform and or media asset management in production management.
The effects of production activities such as acquisition, studio production, outside broadcasting, location filming, editing, processing and visual special effects .
The role of production finance. How to produce greenlight documents and progress reports to include analysis of key cost drivers and the use of forecasting strategies.
The importance and legal requirements of, production insurance policies and completion financing.
The post production process for delivering to a variety of broadcasters, and how to produce post production schedules for a variety of series and genres.
The elements of channel, brand or franchise identity and how they are applied.
International production requirements such as language versioning and delivery standard conversions.
The moral and ethical issues and recommended best practice when incorporating technology such as AI within productions .
End-to-end production workflow from pre-production through to distribution, and how the stages of production and departments interact.
Methods to produce and maintain a project plan that delivers client objectives whilst setting internal targets.
The workflow of both live-action and CG based projects and the functions of relevant departments within that workflow.
The capabilities and utilisation of project management tools, databases and software such as Shotgun, Filemaker, MS Project, Excel or scheduling systems etc.
Specialist technology and software used for post production workflows.
Approaches to vendor, client and internal colleague (including global sites) relationship management including negotiating, influencing and effective networking.
The importance of client management and the potential impact on reputation and brand.
The individual challenges posed by different forms of live performance including plays, musicals, dance, opera, festivals, circus, performance art.
The live arts production process from concept through to delivery of a production or event to an audience.
The contribution of the technical departments associated with the production and interactions between them during the production process such as lighting, sound, video, stage management, automation and staging.
The materials used to construct scenery or staging. The opportunities and challenges posed by them such as cost, durability, environmental impact, availability, specialist installers and regulations.
The processes followed to undertake technical surveys of a venue or performance location, to ensure suitability for a production. Methods to communicate the findings.
The logistics involved with touring productions including preparing technical riders, carnets and manifests . Methods for liaising with venue staff.
Organisations and industry bodies associated with live arts and the ways in which a junior production manager might interact with them.

Skills 31

Manage the day-to-day running of the production activities ensuring deadlines are met, and putting measures in place for potential issues.
Record, process and monitor financial transactions using organisational tools and procedures.
Ensure Health and Safety legislation and guidelines are adhered to on productions such as documented risk assessments, safety and security policies.
Adapt presentation and communication styles to suit varied audiences,
Use techniques to influence and persuade others to achieve required outcomes for the production.
Operate within agreed organisational policies, standards and procedures such as EDI, recruitment, procurement and GDPR.
Provide reports or updates to stakeholders, flagging any issues with the production as and when they arise and presenting potential solutions.
Review the production or portfolio of work on an iterative basis to ensure continuous improvement such as budget efficiency informed by cost reporting, design process, technology, timelines.
Use and promote sustainable practices in line with industry standard recommendations.
Consider the logistical requirements for a production using multiple or different locations such as working with local experts, local authority requirements and time zones implications.
Plan the production workflow. Agree timelines and responsibilities with each department.
Plan and schedule content for projects in areas such as scripted, unscripted or multiplatform programme production.
Ensure that all content is cleared for the relevant and required rights such as music and archive material.
Monitor and evaluate key issues and risks relating to compliance, delivery standards, rights, finance, budgeting and editorial policy.
Identify, plan and source production and post production resources such as camera equipment, editing, technical remote working, sound and visual effects in a cost-effective and time-effective manner relative to the nature of the project.
Ensure the programme deliverables are produced to meet technical standards such as format and quality for domestic or international delivery.
Plan the production workflow. Agree timelines and responsibilities with each department.
Make informed and project critical decisions on resource allocations relating to post production.
Manage the production coordinator(s) and ensure the logistics of the project are well organised.
Communicate with the edit support team and edit assistants sharing information regarding any faults, ‘work arounds’ or upgrades.
Liaise with technical support and assist in the resolution of any issues which arise within the technical areas to ensure that a high service level is maintained at all times.
Actualise work orders to track completed work and prepare cost reports or invoices.
Ensure the content produced meets industry technical requirements and post production delivery standards such as format and quality.
Proactively manage the reputation between the project and client by identifying scheduling or budget issues that could harm it, and implementing changes to protect the studio's brand.
Analyse and interpret technical drawings and creative designs, for example, scale models, 3D visualisations and technical specifications.
Apply industry specific health and safety legislation including Construction Design and Management regulations (CDM) and the local authority requirements to secure the licensing of productions.
Liaise with technical, producing and creative departments as well as specialist contractors regarding the production requirements such as design, logistics, staffing and health and safety.
Produce and distribute technical design information to departments and contractors using digital design software such as AutoCAD.
Schedule, hold and chair meetings throughout the production process such as white cards or initial designs, model box and design sharings, production meetings, CDM and ‘toolbox’ talks, notes sessions and or debriefs.
Produce, distribute, discuss, maintain and implement the production schedule ensuring all departments are included and all aspects of the production build, fit up and technical rehearsal processes are clearly represented.
Manage the delivery of physical aspects of the production from concept through to delivery to an audience.

Behaviours 7

Adapts positively to challenging situations and changing work priorities and patterns, ensuring key production deadlines continue to be met.
Acts inclusively when collaborating with colleagues, clients and customers. Shares best practice and maintains professional conduct.
Promotes and upholds an environment of trust, respect and safeguarding for colleagues, clients and customers.
Acts with integrity, giving due regard to legal, ethical and regulatory requirements.
Conceptualises creative ideas and the creative vision for the production. Analyses problems, and uses initiative and innovation to provide creative solutions and opportunities for the production.
Demonstrates a commitment to continuous professional development; maintaining their knowledge and skills in relation to industry developments that influence their work.
Takes personal responsibility to ensure production outcomes are met in a sustainable way.

Live vacancies

No live vacancies for this course as of 2026-07-24 — new adverts appear on Find an apprenticeship daily, and many degree apprenticeship employers recruit on their own careers sites instead.

Universities registered to deliver it

No university is currently on the provider register for this standard — delivery is by specialist training providers. The full provider list is on Find apprenticeship training.

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Official sources

Occupational summary, duties, knowledge, skills and behaviours reproduced from the ST1483 apprenticeship standard (last updated 2026-04-28) — contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Always check the official page before applying: standards get revised.