Senior Leader Apprenticeship | Leadership (+MA)
- Designed for senior managers
- Available as a closed cohort only (subject to a minimum of 35 learners) - it allows organisations to work with Henley to contextualise the learning to the needs of the business
- Draws on extensive research with leading employers across industry sectors
- Provides employees with a deep, multi-faceted understanding of modern leadership
- Balances interactive teaching sessions with widely applicable practical experience
- Features the option to progress onto Stage 3 of the MA Leadership
What you need to know
Overview
Senior Leader Apprenticeship | Leadership (+MA)
Organisations need to mobilise staff to lead their teams and the wider organisation in new ways. Faced with this uncertainty and disruption, today's organisations are turning to new types of leaders: those that instil leadership in others with their transparency, vision, passion and integrity.
The Senior Leader Apprenticeship | Leadership enables your employees to develop their leadership capability and maximise team performance.
Faced with uncertainty and disruption, today's organisations are turning to new types of leaders. Employees need people who instil leadership in others through transparency, vision, passion and integrity. This Level 7 programme can transform your apprentice into a self-aware and analytical leader who is able to drive the organisation forward with confidence.
Benefits for businesses
- Set your managers on a path to taking on senior leadership duties.
- Accelerate your organisation's management and leadership development.
- Shape senior leaders who influence from the top down, to set the culture and tone across their area of responsibility.
Benefits for individuals
- Learn how to lead within rapidly changing organisations.
- Understand how to make individuals and teams thrive.
- Learn how to drive performance within your organisation through complex collaborative and strategic activities.
- Join Henley's alumni network, which includes over 92,000 individuals in 160 countries.
"I feel that I am fundamentally different since commencing the course; I have evolved my thinking beyond what I could have ever anticipated."
Entry requirements
As the employer, you need to formally nominate learners before they can apply to our apprenticeship programmes. You must also enter a three-way agreement with the apprentice and Henley Business School / the University of Reading. Find out more about the application process
Entry requirements for the individual
Learners on this programme typically have several years of management experience. However, in their baseline assessment, they will need to demonstrate the need for new learning of the knowledge, skills and behaviours as outlined in the apprenticeship standard. In their online application for this programme, they will need to demonstrate that they have the required management experience.
Other qualifications
Applicants will typically have a good degree (2:1 or higher) and a minimum of three years' management experience. If they have no prior degree, five years' management experience is expected. Our Admission Panel reviews all non-standard applications for suitability.
Fees
The Senior Leader Apprenticeship | Leadership (+MA) costs £14,000. You can fund this with your organisation's apprenticeship service account. All employers must have an account to access the apprenticeship service.
Please contact our apprenticeships team for further information.
Additional fees for progression onto other qualifications
- Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership - £500
- Stage 3 of the Henley MA Leadership - £4,950
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
Programme director
Phil Courtenay
Programme Director – Senior Leader Apprenticeship | Leadership
Phil is an experienced apprenticeship professional with over seven years in the work-based learning sector, following over ten year’s management and leadership experience in the retail industry.
Phil holds a First Class BA (Hons) in Business Management from the Open University, which was achieved whilst studying part-time alongside full-time employment.
He is a qualified apprenticeship assessor, having completed his Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement in addition to the Award in Education & Training qualification.
Phil has worked extensively to support and lead much of Henley’s apprenticeship provision across a wide range of higher-level apprenticeships.
How we teach you
The Senior Leader Apprenticeship | Leadership programme will be taught using a blended learning method that combines face-to-face workshops with online and off-the-job learning. Apprentices will have the opportunity to learn from international academic staff at the cutting edge of their disciplines.
You can opt for your organisation to join open, closed and/or consortium cohorts:
Open cohorts (max. 9 learners per organisation) are available throughout the year. These enable a small number of learners from an organisation to join with others from a range of organisations and backgrounds. Top-up fees on these cohorts may apply.
Closed cohorts (30-64 learners) allow the programme content to be contextualised around your organisation's objectives and may be taught at a convenient location for your nominated learners. Programme start dates can be planned together.
Sponsored cohorts (min. 5 learners per organisation) enable you to partner with complementary organisations working on similar strategic challenges. You may choose to join one of our open sponsored cohorts, or create a closed consortium cohort working with other organisations of your choosing e.g. those within your supply chain or from within your industry.
Course structure
This apprenticeship begins with an induction to introduce learners to the course. The induction outlines the programme and its structure, as well as Canvas, our online learning platform. It also covers apprenticeship tutors, support for learners and assessment.
Developing strategic leadership capability
Foundations of leadership (MQM1FLP)
20 [10 ECTS credits]This module forms part of the PGDip Leadership (Senior Leader Apprenticeship) programme and, as such, sets out to provide the knowledge, skills and behaviours required by senior leaders in today’s world. The module covers the foundations of leadership, giving a broad introduction to the latest research, thinking and application of leadership.
Leading personal transformation (MQM1LPT)
20 [10 ECTS credits]The module covers a range of topics relating to personal leadership transformation and is designed to meet the learning outcomes of the Apprenticeship Standard, specifically leading people development, and coaching, and mentoring arrangements for people within their area of responsibility. In addition, this module includes promoting an ethical, inclusive, innovative and supportive culture that generates continuous business improvement.
Leadership of Change and Complexity (MQM1LCH)
20 [10 ECTS credits]This covers the challenges of leadership in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world, including leading and influencing projects to deliver change and transformation programmes. It also includes how to find solutions that meet the needs of the stakeholders in a responsible and ethical way.
Strategic and inclusive leadership
Strategic leadership and innovation (MQM2SLI)
15 [7.5 ECTS credits]The module covers the leadership challenges of setting strategic direction, including the vision and purpose of an organisation. This includes analysing the external environment and the impact of organisational structures and marketing strategies.
Inclusive leadership (MQM2ILP)
20 [10 ECTS credits]This explores the challenges of leading in an ethical, inclusive, supportive and collaborative culture, demonstrating responsibility to key internal and external stakeholders. This includes an introduction to neuroscience, reporting to relevant boards and influencing decision-making.
Finance for leaders (MQM2FFL)
10 [5 ECTS credits]The module covers essential financial understanding for people in leadership roles, including contributing to decisions about organisational resource requirements (budgets, people, technology) and ensuring that their area of responsibility is compliant with internal and external governance, such as any regulatory and statutory requirements.
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 be awarded:
- a Henley Postgraduate diploma in Leadership
- the Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship | Leadership.
For employers that choose the CMI as the end-point assessment organisation, apprentices may also achieve:
- a CMI Level 7 Award 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).
Progression onto the MA Leadership
MA Leadership Stage 3
Where the requirements for the Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership have been met, learners can progress on to Stage 3 of the Henley MA in Leadership. If Learners choose to proceed onto the Master's, they will not graduate with the Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership as the credits will instead be awarded towards Stages 1 and 2 of the MA in Leadership. If Learners choose to graduate with the Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership award but later wish to complete the Master's, they must return to start the MA in Leadership within 3 years of being awarded the Postgraduate Diploma, at which point the Postgraduate Diploma certificate will be rescinded. The MA in Leadership requires further study and additional fees.
Please note: a Stage 3 cohort may not be immediately available, and a learner may need to wait for 6–12 months following their Senior Leader Apprenticeship. 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.
MA Leadership Stage 3 fee: £4,950
MA Leadership Stage 3 fees:
Find out more about Stage 3 of the Henley MA Leadership
The MA Leadership programme is subject to approval by the University of Reading (as of February 2023).
Location and facilities
Location
With 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.
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.
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
For more information about Henley’s apprenticeship programmes please contact
Email: apprenticeships@henley.ac.ukTelephone: (0)118 378 4030
