Become a professionally accredited senior leader by combining this innovative apprenticeship with an aspiring or established leadership job role.

About the apprenticeship

Course length: Typically 22 months including end-point assessment

Start date: October and March

Course level: Level 7

University award: Postgraduate Diploma in Senior Leadership

How much it costs: Funded through the employer

Accredited by: Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) subject to confirmation

Course summary

• The senior leader apprenticeship is for current senior managers, executives and those aspiring to senior leadership roles.
• You will develop insights into strategy, sustainability, marketing, leadership, change, innovation, and operations.
• You will also critically develop, challenge and evaluate strategic and operational practice.
• You will learn how to lead change that delivers significant impact in your organisation and beyond.
• You will become an inclusive leader who initiates responsible organisational practice and robustly evaluates its impact upon the triple bottom line (people, planet and profit).

This course meets the senior leader apprenticeship standard. 

If you have successfully completed the postgraduate diploma, you can apply to join our executive MBA programme top-up (self-funded).

How you learn

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

This course is highly practical. You will engage in projects in your workplace at every level of your course. Enabling you to develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviours you will need for your future career.

Our expert teaching team provides accessible, practical learning through workplace projects, developing essential skills for a future senior leadership career.

You’ll learn through:

• Study blocks
• Work-based projects
• Independent study
• Networking opportunities
• Peer collaboration 
• Digital learning

Your assessments will vary in format and will require you to apply your learning in the workplace as you demonstrate your new senior leadership knowledge, skills, and behaviours.  

You will also complete an end-point assessment towards completion of the apprenticeship. During the last month of the programme, apprentices will complete the final academic requirements to achieve the postgraduate diploma. 

Applied learning

The apprenticeship programme is applied in nature, with a curriculum structured to ensure learners apply their knowledge in the workplace with each module.

Each module includes 3-4 days of on-campus study leading to the end-point assessment. You'll complete an academic assessment reflecting on your apprenticeship learning and workplace experience. You'll apply your new knowledge, skills, and behaviours in the workplace.

Each module promotes collaboration and peer discussions on applying learning in different workplace settings. Integrated assessments allow learners to apply their knowledge in the workplace, considering intent, implementation, and impact.

Learners will have the opportunity to take part in: 

Networking
Learners can engage with apprentices and employers from other courses across Sheffield Business School. Learners will also be encouraged to take part in regional and national apprenticeship finals and Sheffield Hallam University’s Inspirational Student Awards. 

Apprenticeship showcase
After the first 12 months of study there will be an apprenticeship showcase where learners demonstrate their learning to their own employers.

Campus facilities

You'll study at our City Campus, with access to cutting-edge facilities and world-class teaching.

You will study at Sheffield Business School, ranked in the top 6% globally, and join a community of business leaders, researchers, and over 3,000 apprentices.

As part of our campus masterplan, we’re developing a brand new, net-zero-ready building right at the heart of the city centre. You’ll benefit from dedicated business facilities such as a business lounge, trading floor and languages hub, plus plenty of room to study in social learning spaces, seminar rooms and PC labs – all set in 400 square metres of stunning green space, where you can socialise, eat, relax and study.

Entry requirements

The senior leader apprenticeship can be existing employees looking to develop their careers, or new applicants to the business.

Applicants must:

• be over 18
• not be in full-time education
• have the right to abode in the UK
• meet the course entry requirements

GCSE (or equivalent)

Maths and English at level 2 or above (grade 4, or previously C).

If you don't have this yet, we will refer you to our functional skills training partner where you'll need to complete the relevant qualifications during the first year of your apprenticeship.

University grades

BSc (Hons) degree at 2:2 level is desirable but not essential.

Additional qualifications

If you are a non-graduate, you may be accepted into the course if you have at least 5 years’ experience in a leadership role and can demonstrate good knowledge of leadership skills.

Credit or prior learning will be considered on an individual basis. 

Modules

The course is designed so that learners will apply their learning back to the workplace as part of every module.

Year one

• Leading and developing people
• Strategy and marketing
• Sustainable innovation and operations improvement

Year two

• Leading change projects
• End-point assessment

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change.