Duration: 18 months, part-time
Fee: £14,000
Entry Points: April and October
Delivery Method: Blended (in-person and online)
Status: Subject to Validation
The Senior Leader Apprenticeship (SLA) is designed for leaders who need to understand and operate their business at a strategic level. The SLA is an investment in the organisation as much as it is in the employee. Upskilling and empowering provides the organisation with an asset no matter what business environment you operate in.
Armed with right Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours the University of Lincoln can make a difference to your future as a leader.
For those employers that are looking to find an apprentice to recruit into their organisation, the government have a portal from which you can advertise your requirements.
There are many great reasons why our students and staff are proud of the University of Lincoln, including our inspirational teaching, world-leading research, and close links with industry.
When you come to study with us, you can be confident that you are joining a university that places the quality of the student experience at the heart of everything it does.
Employers are increasingly looking for individuals who can make a difference in today’s global workplace. With our expert staff, modern facilities, close links with business, and pioneering research we aim to provide the tools you need to achieve your career aspirations.
To drive medium to long-term organisational growth, senior managers must shift from an operational focus to a strategic one, leveraging their creative problem-solving skills and diverse leadership styles to tackle complex challenges. The SLA is ideally placed to provide practical application to help the transition.
Have a capable and competitive workforce
Achieve organisational long-term goals
A positive and productive work environment
Staff enabled to focus on strategic initiatives effectively
Make organisational change with new technologies and market conditions
Critical decision making, impacting organisational long-term goals
Increased employee engagement and productivity
Enhanced innovation and creativity
Improved adaptability and resilience
Stronger organisational performance
The SLA comprises five core units that drive personal growth and organisational impact. Each module explores key universal themes with contemporary leadership challenges, informed by cutting-edge research.
Click here to view the SLA programme structure
Apprentices will be expected to attend 5 days in-person or online for each module and group tutorials with the Programme Leader twice per year online. The apprentices can take part in other enrichment activities. The training assessor will provide one to one support, group tutorials and quarterly reviews. The National Apprenticeship Week usually in February each year will provide an opportunity to take part in a study week and to join us at our celebration event. And of course, the employer will be invited to graduation at the Lincoln Cathedral after the successful completion the programme.
Either online or a blended model.
Apprentices can choose to attend each module either in-person or online, confirming two weeks prior to module delivery, a typical apprentice will attend Monday – Friday on the first week of the module, followed by two online webinars and two tutorials per module. The diverse cohort structure allows apprentices to gain insights and perspectives from various sectors, fostering a rich learning environment. This structure also promotes collaboration and networking among peers.
The Portfolio will include a combination of the degree assessments and the formative assessments.
The End Point Assessment is reflective of the learning journey and ties up the knowledge, skills, and behaviours through a strategic work-based project. This will be through a presentation of the apprentice’s strategic plan, followed by a professional discussion.
The apprentice will be required to prepare a 4,000-word research proposal for a work-based project with a report and presentation element, in preparation for the end point assessment.
The preferred end point organisation by the University of Lincoln is the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). The EPA includes the level 7 CMI and the Chartered Manager status. This recognition from the CMI and Chartered Manager Status provides apprentices with valuable credentials that can enhance their career prospects and open doors to higher-level management positions.
Upon successful completion of the SLA, you will have the opportunity to attain:
Each apprentice will have a dedicated training assessor for each module, as well as an experienced module tutor and a Programme Leader. There is also a dedicated administration team for apprenticeships. Additionally, each apprentice will be assigned a work-based mentor from their own organisation and will have regular meetings with all staff involved in the program.
Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship: £14,000 (funded by the apprenticeship levy)
Optional MBA top-up £3,280 (not subject to levy funding)
Employers with a payroll in excess of £3 million will pay a 0.5% levy on the organisations payroll.
Smaller employers who do not pay into the apprenticeship levy will share the cost of training and assessment with the government called 'co-investment'. The employer will be liable for a contribution of 5%, the government will pay 95% up to the maximum funding band.
How to set up your apprenticeship service system: Apprenticeship Service set up
The employer must formally submit an expression of interest to the University of Lincoln with full details of employees who they are nominating.
The eligibility criteria is aligned to the ESFA funding rules. An apprentice must meet the following:
Employees interested in the Senior Leader Apprenticeship will need to gain prior approval from their employer. Once confirmed, the employer will need to submit an expression of interest.
Progression Route
On successful completion of the Senior Leader Apprenticeship, there is the option to progress to 'top-up' to the full MBA, which is a self-funded route, either by the individual or by sponsorship from the employer. Speak to us today: sla@lincoln.ac.uk
Obtaining an MBA can provide apprentices with a broader skill set and a deeper understanding of business principles, further equipping them for success in their chosen field. The additional cost for the MBA Leadership top-up is £3,300.
Lincoln International Business School
University of Lincoln
Brayford Pool Campus
Lincoln
LN5 7AT