Senior leader
Level 7 · Degree (Master’s)Business and administration 2 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
A Senior Leader drives strategic direction, cultural change, and organisational performance at the most senior levels of an organisation - whether as a CEO, director, or equivalent. This level 7 master's-level apprenticeship is designed for those with significant leadership experience who want to develop their thinking, values, and impact. It leads to chartered manager or MBA-equivalent recognition and prepares leaders to operate on boards and in complex, uncertain environments.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Strategic leadership, organisational design, and transformational change
Ethics, governance, and leading with values at board level
Financial acumen - interpreting accounts, capital allocation, and business sustainability
Complex stakeholder management and influencing at a system level
Innovation, entrepreneurship, and leading organisations through disruption
Leading diverse, inclusive, and high-performing cultures
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Set and communicate a compelling organisational strategy and vision
Lead and influence at board, executive, or senior leadership team level
Drive whole-organisation cultural transformation initiatives
Make high-stakes decisions with incomplete information in complex environments
Build and develop a senior leadership team
Represent the organisation with regulators, investors, and external partners
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 7 (Degree (Master’s)) - roughly Master’s-degree level. Usually needs a relevant degree or Level 6 qualification, or significant experience.
What’s next: Leads into senior and chartered professional roles.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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