Senior Leader Apprenticeship
The Senior Leadership Apprenticeship will allow apprentices to build on previous experience and acquire a theoretical background in business and management. Your apprentices will acquire more management expertise, leading to a widening of responsibilities, and learn about the sustainable issues in business which are applicable to private, public, and third-sector organisations.
During this apprenticeship, there will be a mix of taught sessions, research, and study time. The modules are scheduled over two years with individual timed assessment to build on your apprentices’ progress, they will also develop a portfolio of evidence which is used to shape their EPA Professional Discussion.
Towards the end of the programme, apprentices will carry out an independent project based on their professional experience and/or the industry sector they have been working in.
This intake is your last opportunity to draw down government funding via the apprenticeship route.
The Senior Leader Apprenticeship offers a Master’s-level qualification in Business and Management, designed for individuals with an undergraduate degree in another discipline who have substantial postgraduate experience in a management role.
The programme develops a systematic understanding of business and management knowledge, combined with critical awareness of current challenges and emerging insights, informed by both academic research and professional practice. Apprentices gain a comprehensive understanding of research techniques relevant to international business and management, alongside the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios. The programme encourages reflection on personal experience and current business practice to evaluate the impact of research and advanced scholarship. Apprentices will critically examine methodologies, develop reasoned critiques, and, where appropriate, propose new hypotheses. The course also focuses on developing transferable skills essential for leadership roles, including initiative, personal responsibility, and decision-making in complex and unpredictable environments.
- Develop relevant leadership and management skills, behaviour and knowledge.
- Develop critical reflection skills and engagement with organisational and professional theory to understand, and where appropriate, challenge existing individual and organisational perspectives and practice.
- Identify, develop, and implement solutions to current issues such as the growing need to better manage supply chain as well as create more effective talent acquisition and retention solutions.
- Develop into agile, well rounded and outward looking business leaders and managers with a high concern for customers and colleagues, capable of taking responsibility for themselves, their people, their areas of responsibility and their organisation.
Government funding rules require that an apprentice must:
- Have the right to live and work in the UK
- Be in employment, paid at least the legal minimum wage
- Have a written and signed agreement for the apprenticeship with their employer.
The minimum duration periods for an apprenticeship set in each Apprenticeship Standard, is based on an apprentice working a minimum of 30 hours per week. Where the apprentice works fewer than 30 hours, the University will need to be satisfied the apprentice can find the time in work to meet the set out for learning and development in their contracted working week.
We expect all applicants to have an established role with their employer, who is supportive of their management development, this would be discussed before an application is commenced. The University of Cumbria will require a formal application, which it will assess according to the programme entry criteria.
Please note to qualify for this as an apprenticeship the following exclusions apply:
- 50% of your work must be in England (include remote and hybrid work)
- You must be on your organisation’s PAYE as an employee, with a contract of employment for the duration of the learning.
- You cannot be a sole trader (business consultant etc.)
- You cannot be a shareholder / director with no separate identifiable line manager to undertake the role of the employer.
