Senior Leader Apprenticeship - Level 7

Kickstart your career

A route to a master’s qualification

Course content

A focus on team-based activities, problem-based learning, task-centred investigations and case studies

University support

Our central Academic Skills team provides group and one-to-one help to support your learning

This course has been designed to meet the requirements of the Senior Leader Apprenticeship standard. Senior Leaders are a key component of all types of business model where there is a workforce to lead, manage and support.

Depending on the size of their organisation, a Senior Leader is a key player in strategic decision making that may be responsible for reporting results relating to their area of responsibility to a Board, trustees, shareholders, executive team or to other senior management within the organisation. Externally, a Senior Leader acts as an ambassador for their organisation with wide-ranging networks typically involving customers or clients, supply chains and statutory/regulatory bodies. An employee in this occupation will be responsible for

  • Setting direction, vision, governance and providing a clear sense of purpose for their area of responsibility.
  • Providing clear and inclusive leadership.
  • Identifying longer-term opportunities and risks using data from internal intelligence sources and external influences.
  • Developing sustainable, ethical, innovative and supportive cultures that get the best from people and enable the delivery of results.
  • Resources that may include budgets, people, assets and facilities.
  • Staying up to date with innovation and championing its adoption.
  • Keeping pace with - and responding to change - by leading agile transformation.
  • Leading and promoting sustainable business practices.
  • Responding and managing crisis situations.

Who is it for?

Professional strategic leaders in the private, public or third sector and all sizes of organisation, who lead, manage and direct organisations. Specific job roles may include Senior Leader, Section Leader, Executive, Director, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Information Officer or a senior military officer.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following:

Master of Business Administration Executive (MBA, Executive), optional subject to an additional fee

Diploma in Leadership and Management

Chartered Manager Status

Senior Leader Apprenticeship Standard

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: Senior Leader apprenticeship certificate, accreditation of the Executive MBA is optional subject to additional fees.

Location
Stoke-on-Trent campus
Duration
Typical duration for this apprenticeship is 2 years.
Start date(s)

Typical start dates are September/October

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Course content

You will study a range of modules throughout the duration of this apprenticeship.

Modules

Topics include:

Year 1 Modules:

• Managing People and Culture

• Strategic Leadership

Year 2 Modules:

• Innovation and Change

• Organisational Performance

• Project Management 

Entry requirements

  • Level 2 maths and English (GCSE, functional skills or equivalent)
  • Ideally a level 3 or above qualification in a relevant subject

Fees

For levy-paying organisations the cost is paid from their digital account at a rate of £14,000 per apprentice. For non-levy paying organisations there will be a financial contribution on 5% which equates to £700 per apprentice.

Whilst the Masters element isn't embedded into the Senior Leader Standard, Staffordshire University are delighted to offer this as optional,  additional qualification for just £100. 

Delivery and assessment

Delivery

Apprentice's will be invited to attend a maximum of three face-to-face sessions each semester. These will be distributed at appropriate points during the semester. For the remaining weeks, live webinars, case study discussions and class debates will be conducted in our online learning environment.

Assessment

There are a number of elements that make up assessment for the Apprenticeship Standard including:

  • Formative ‘on-programme’ assessment, (assessments that do not contribute to the award, but provide an opportunity to develop and apply new skills and knowledge)
  • Summative on-programme assessment in the form of reports, reflections, portfolios, presentations etc. which contribute to achievement of the academic award
  • A strategic work-based project proposal (part of the award and an important element of the apprenticeship’s end point assessment
  • A summative professional interview

Learning support

In addition to the excellent support you will receive from your course teaching team, our central Academic Skills team provides group and one-to-one help to support your learning in a number of areas. These include study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills); written English (including punctuation and grammatical accuracy); academic writing (including how to reference); research skills; critical thinking and understanding arguments; and revision, assessment and examination skills (including time management).

Additional support

Our AccessAbility Services support students with additional needs such as sensory impairment or learning difficulties. You will also have full access to our support services such as Student Guidance.

Feedback

Examination feedback may take a variety of formats. However, as a minimum, generic feedback will be made available to all students who take written examinations.

Responsibilities

  • The employer must not ask the apprentice to contribute financially to the direct cost of learning
  • Ensure apprentices are given a minimum of 6 hours per week in off-the-job training
  • Enter into a contract with Staffordshire University
  • Participate in reviews with the apprentice and university, providing evidence and feedback on progress at work and success in meeting apprenticeship milestones
  • Provide a safe, healthy and supportive environment, which meets the needs of the apprentice
  • Provide apprentices with a contract of employment for the duration of the apprenticeship on the first day of their apprenticeship and be paid at least a wage consistent with the law for both the time they are in work and in off-the-job learning
  • Provide the apprentice with paid time to attend off-the-job training, including additional support for English and Maths, or support accessed for learning difficulties and/or disabilities
  • Recognise that the apprentice must complete the apprenticeship within their working hours
  • Support the apprentice to gain new skills
  • A citizen of a country within the European Economic Area (EEA) or have the right of abode in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the EEA for at least the previous three years on the first day of learning
  • Able to complete the apprenticeship in contracted working hours
  • Be an employee (have a contract of employment for the duration of the apprenticeship) on the first day of their apprenticeship and be paid at least a wage consistent with the law for both the time they are in work and in off-the-job learning
  • Be in a new job role (nine months or less), or in an existing job role, where significant new knowledge and skills are needed - employer statement of justification needed (relevant to the apprenticeship)
  • Be in full-time employment for at least 30 hours a week (37.5 for nursing apprenticeships)
  • Has the right to work in England
  • Maintain a safe, healthy and supportive environment, which meets your needs
  • Not be enrolled on another apprenticeship at the same time
  • Participate in reviews with the employer and university, providing evidence and feedback on progress at work and success in meeting apprenticeship milestones
  • Administer the funding and running of the apprenticeship standard to an acceptable standard of quality and in compliance with the ESFAs requirements
  • Agree jointly between the university, the employer and apprentice, an individual learning plan (ILP) ensuring that satisfactory progress is achieved and to ensure that the contents of the ILP fulfil the requirements of the apprenticeship standard
  • Provide a safe, healthy and supportive learning environment, which meets the needs of the apprentice
  • Provide off-the-job learning and assessment and oversee the on-the-job skills development as detailed in the ILP
  • Provide support on the selection of the endpoint assessor, if applicable. The endpoint assessment will be completed by the learning provider for all integrated degrees

Careers

You will have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team who support you with professional branding, career mapping and realising your potential.

After completing the Senior Leader Apprenticeship, you will be a credible senior management professional equipped to accomplish the diverse challenges senior managers face in the business arena today. You will have developed analytical and critical problem-solving skills in a variety of contexts that will serve to support you in driving innovation and change.

Enquire

To join a higher degree apprenticeship programme, enquire with us today.

Enquire now
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