Senior Leader Apprenticeship | Business Administration (+MBA)
- Unlock the full potential of your workforce by embedding best practices across your organisation.
- Apply learning to real-work challenges by tackling work-based assignments that address real-world business operations.
- Equip leaders with comprehensive business insights and develop a holistic understanding of every critical function of the organisation.
- Nurture and retain top talent by investing in your people to build a motivated, future-ready workforce that drives organisational success.
- Enable further professional development with the opportunity to progress to Stage 3 of Henley's Flexible Executive MBA.
What you need to know
Overview
Senior Leader Apprenticeship | Business Administration (+MBA)
Meet our academics
Henley's Senior Leader Apprenticeship | Business Administration programme is designed to equip professionals with the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for todays manager and leaders to drive organisational success. Combining reflective personal development with collaborative group work and peer-based learning, this dynamic course explores critical business themes, empowering leaders to excel in today’s fast-paced, ever-evolving business landscape.
Changes are coming to the apprenticeship levy
So now is the time to choose our Level 7 programmes as a gateway to success. We’re maximising spaces on this programme before funding opportunities end on 1 January 2026.
We are providing a unique opportunity to ‘top up’ to Henley's MBA upon completion of the Senior Leader Apprenticeship | Business Administration.
Key benefits for businesses
- Develop your employees' management and leadership skills, enabling them to better contribute to your organisation.
- Assignments are linked to real-life challenges within your organisation.
- Encourage managers to think strategically about business and management in a global context.
- Help managers understand the value of community, networking and developing their peers.
Key benefits for individuals
- Join an enriching programme that can provide you with new outlooks.
- Grow your confidence through better self-awareness and a logical approach to leadership.
- Practise more informed decision-making that balances financial gains with the long-term impact on society and your organisation.
- Explore challenges within your organisation and gain the opportunity to influence strategic review and change.
- Understand the role of context in leadership and how different situations require alternative approaches.
- Join Henley’s alumni network, which includes over 87,000 individuals in 165 countries.
"The apprenticeship has developed my people leadership skills, and I have created a diverse, motivated, and efficient team that boosted my team’s morale, leading to higher productivity."
Insight sessions
Have your questions answered at the next Insight Session on 20 August.
Discover how the Henley Senior Leader Apprenticeship can be a transformative step in your leadership journey. During this session, our Apprenticeship Engagement Team will:
- Outline the key features of the programme: Learn about the unique aspects that make our programme stand out.
- Highlight career benefits: See how this apprenticeship can significantly enhance your career
- Share success stories: Hear from past participants who have achieved remarkable growth and success.
We will also host a Q&A Session at the end, so bring your questions along. This is your opportunity to gain valuable insights and clarity about the next steps.
"I was very naïve and thought apprenticeships were more for school leavers in vocational subjects, but was taken aback by the breadth and depth of programmes that were on offer."
Start dates for open cohorts
Cohorts running throughout the rest of 2025.
| Programme start date | Nominations due by |
|---|---|
| 21 October | 29 July 2025 |
| 5 November | 13 August 2025 |
| 4 December | 11 September 2025 |
Contact the Apprenticeship Engagement Team for the latest programme schedule for your chosen start date.
Entry requirements
For employers
Nomination and agreement
- Employers must formally nominate learners before they can apply for our apprenticeship programmes.
- A three-way agreement is required between the employer, the apprentice, and Henley Business School/University of Reading.
Funding information
- The government funds the apprenticeship through the employer's apprenticeship levy.
Find out more about the application process.
For Individuals
To apply for an apprenticeship programme you must be formally nominated to Henley by your organisation.
Entry requirements
Eligibility
- Must meet the Skills England Apprenticeship eligibility criteria.
- Check eligibility for apprenticeship funding through your employer.
Professional experience
- At least three years of managerial experience.
- Must hold a role that allows for the application of Senior Leader Apprenticeship criteria and provides opportunities for substantial new learning.
Qualifications
- A 2:1 degree or higher from a UK institution (or equivalent)
- OR five years of professional experience with managerial responsibilities.
Baseline assessment
- As part of the application, a baseline assessment will determine suitability for the programme.
Need further guidance with your application?
Email the Apprenticeship Engagement Team OR Book a call.
Fees
Senior Leader Apprenticeship | Business Administration (+MBA): £14,000
- Funded via your organisation’s apprenticeship service account. (Employers must have an account to access the service.)
- Contact our apprenticeships team for more details
Progression to Stage 3 – Henley Flexible Executive MBA: £12,000
- Early bird discount available!
Learning and support
Integrated learning approach
- Combines on-the-job learning with formal and informal off-the-job training.
- Includes taught sessions, workshops, one-to-one mentoring, and self-study.
Off-the-job training
- Minimum 6 hours per week (equivalent to working hours).
- Delivered through activities both at Henley and work like attending workshops or meetings, taking on new responsibilities, shadowing, or attending conferences.
Workplace application
- Apprentices continue their day job, applying their new knowledge, skills and behaviours in real-time.
Line manager support
- Line managers play a vital role in the apprentice’s success.
- Engage with Henley tutors to facilitate training opportunities and work-based projects.
Read more on how to support an apprentice with the Henley Essential Apprenticeship Guides
Personal development
- Personal development is a cornerstone of this programme, seamlessly integrated into every stage of the course.
- Two focused workshop days designed exclusively for personal development.
- Reflect on personal strengths and areas for growth
- Develop a critical, structured approach to self-improvement
- Transform insights into actionable behaviours for lasting impact in professional and personal contexts.
"The programme offered a comprehensive range of topics, and that I knew could help enhance my personal development, transitioning me from being a manager to becoming a leader."
Sprints
- Location: Sessions are held at Henley’s Greenlands campus or external venues.
- Workplace integration: Most learning occurs on the job, aligned with role-specific objectives.
Learning sprints
- Learners will work at pace with the support of an apprenticeship learning coach, who will help them apply their learning to the workplace.
- Apprentices will share the action learning workshops with other learners to work through issues, share ideas and challenge perceptions.
The eight-week learning sprint
The programme is structured into eight weeks with unique purposes:
- Identify and agree work-based project with employer and learning coach.
- Study relevant content via Canvas, Henley’s digital learning platform.
- Explore scope and aims of work-based project with learning coach.
- Apply learning in the workplace.
- Action learning workshop.
- Development of the work-based project.
- Progress checks with the learning coach.
- Project submission and evaluation of learning.
Work-based projects
Learners will demonstrate key leadership behaviours:
- Collaboration: Work effectively with teams.
- Accountability: Take responsibility with integrity.
- Innovation: Embrace curiosity and new ideas.
- Diversity: Champion inclusivity and respect for differences.
- Growth mindset: Seek development opportunities for themselves and others.
Programme director
Clare Calderan
Associate Professor in Financial Management
Clare Calderan is an experienced lecturer and consultant in financial management and banking, with over 20 years’ experience in executive education.
She is a fellow of the ICAEW, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and holds a PGCLT. Clare has worked both in insolvency at Deloitte & Touche and Investment Banking at HSBC, before continuing her career in further education.
See full profileCourse structure
Developing strategy in a changing world
Strategy (MNM1STR)
The module examines the concept of leadership, its purpose and effectiveness, before exploring organisational mission, culture, values and diversity. The concept of strategy is examined, and organisational structures are discussed. The concept of strategic thinking is central to the module, along with the importance of the organisation’s value proposition.
Innovation and change (MNM1INC)
The module evaluates how innovation and disruptive technologies can impact organisations and understanding the drivers of change and new ways of working across infrastructure, processes, people and culture, and sustainability.
Ensuring responsible leadership and governance
Leading Responsibly: Reflections on Enterprise and Risk (MNM2LRE)
Enterprises need a deep understanding of how to devise ethical strategies and manage risk if they are to thrive in today’s challenging world. This module examines the concepts of ethics and values-based leadership, before exploring approaches to embedding corporate responsibility in organisations.
Finance (MNM2FIN)
Identifying trends that impact financial strategy, applying relevant economic theory to decision-making, and understanding financial governance and legal requirements.
Leading through stakeholder relationships
Engaging employees (MNM3ENE)
Creating an inclusive culture, encouraging diversity and difference; learning to articulate and translate vision into operational strategies.
Leading and developing people
Building engagement and developing high performing, agile and collaborative cultures.
Developing and building collaborative relationships (Internal MNM3DBC)
15As the third and final of three Managing People modules, this module investigates developing and building collaborative relationships from a strategic perspective. The focus is on enabling learners to develop an understanding of the external context and environment, and how to build effective relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders, including at Board level and in an international context. Insights into brand and reputation management are also incorporated, as an important element of establishing collaborative relationships.
Strategic business proposal (MNM3SBP)
15 [7.5 ECTS credits]This module sets out to provide knowledge, skills and behaviours required by senior leaders in today’s world.
Modules or course content marked as optional are indicative and may be subject to change. Please note, constraints in timetable scheduling may mean you are unable to take some optional modules at the same time as others.
Assessment and awards
Assessment
Apprentices submit work-based projects at the end of each module to show the breadth and impact of their learning.
Awards
On successful completion of the programme, apprentices will receive the Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (subject to passing all work-based projects and Strategic Business Proposal)*
For employers that choose the CMI as the end-point assessment organisation, their apprentices may also achieve:
- a CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice
- Chartered Manager status (on successful EPA)
- CMI student membership (programme duration plus three months, with option for individuals to pay for full membership thereafter).
*An opt out option is available
Progression onto MBA
Progressing onto the MBA
Where the requirements for the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration have been met, learners can progress on to Stage 3 of the Henley Flexible Executive MBA.
If learners choose to proceed with the MBA, they will not graduate with the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration as the credits will instead be awarded towards Stages 1 and 2 of the MBA. If learners choose to graduate with the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration award but later wish to complete the MBA, they must return to start the MBA within 3 years of being awarded, at which point the Postgraduate Diploma certificate will be rescinded. This requires further study and additional fees.
Please note: a Stage 3 cohort may not be available immediately, and a learner may need to wait 6–12 months following their Senior Leader Apprenticeship | Business Administration. All workshop and assignment submission dates are subject to change by Henley Business School. Henley Business School reserves the right to postpone an intake start date if the minimum number of students is not reached.
MBA Stage 3 fee: £12,000
An early bird discount of 25% is available to all learners who express an interest in progressing onto the MBA before the end of Stage 1 of the Senior Leader Apprenticeship | Business Administration.
Location and facilities
Location
For clients wishing to run a closed cohort, we have the flexibility to deliver the programme at locations nationwide. If you do not wish to use your organisation's facilities, we are happy to arrange an alternative teaching venue that may be more convenient for your staff.
Open cohort workshops are typically taught at our Greenlands campus near Henley-on-Thames. Set in sweeping parkland on the banks of the River Thames, this beautiful campus provides an inspiring and reflective environment for focused work and study.
Facilities
Through the Henley Business School Library and the virtual learning environment, learners can access a multitude of resources including books, journals, market research reports, dissertations, working papers and company information.
Find out more about our facilities and how to find us
Why choose Henley?
For 80 years, Henley Business School has developed confident and resilient business leaders. Find out more about our approach to working with you
Our Apprenticeship programmes are rated Good by Ofsted across all areas - quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
To ensure that apprentices’ work and training are well co-ordinated and effective, Henley’s tutors and line managers collaborate fully with employers and apprentices.
At Henley, we offer a full portfolio of programmes from early career all the way up to board level, and it’s this broad experience that enables us to have a clear and complete vision for our apprenticeship provision.
Contact us
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our apprenticeship programmes, please contact:
Telephone: 0118 378 4030