About the Qualification: Senior Leader Level 7

The Senior Leader Level 7 Apprenticeship is designed for individuals who are, or aspire to be, key components in any business model that involves leading, managing, and supporting a workforce. The broad purpose of this standard is to equip you with the skills to provide clear, inclusive, and strategic leadership and direction within your area of responsibility within an organisation.

As a Senior Leader, you will typically be involved in setting, managing, and monitoring the achievement of core objectives that are aligned with your organisation’s overall strategic goals. In smaller organisations, you may also contribute directly to the execution of these strategic objectives. This role demands influencing at a higher organisational level, setting the culture and tone, and demonstrating a high level of flexibility and adaptability across diverse work environments (office, onsite, or remote).

Key Responsibilities of a Senior Leader:

• Setting direction, vision, and governance, providing a clear sense of purpose for your area.
• Providing clear and inclusive leadership.
• Identifying longer-term opportunities and risks using internal and external data.
• Developing sustainable, ethical, innovative, and supportive cultures that empower people.
• Strategic management of resources including budgets, people, assets, and facilities.
• Keeping pace with and responding to change by leading agile transformation.
• Leading and promoting sustainable business practices.
• Responding to and managing crisis situations effectively.

What You Will Learn: Senior Leader Standard Modules

The apprenticeship curriculum is structured around key modules designed to develop comprehensive strategic leadership capabilities:

• Building a High-Performance Team: Strategies for fostering effective and productive teams.
• Strategic Leadership: Principles and practices for leading at a strategic level.
• Strategic Change Management: Guiding organisations through periods of significant change.
• Organisational Values & the Strategic Context: Aligning leadership with core values and broader strategic goals.
• Strategic Influencing & Negotiating: Developing advanced skills to influence stakeholders and negotiate effectively.
• Strategic Data Analysis: Utilising data to inform strategic decision-making and opportunities/risks.
• Strategic Workforce & Logistics Planning: Planning and optimising human resources and operational logistics.

Additional Training & Support

In addition to the core apprenticeship standard, your programme with Prostart includes comprehensive support and training:

• Level 7 Diploma for Senior Leaders: You will work towards this recognised professional qualification.
• Bespoke Training Sessions (Monthly): Tailored sessions specifically designed to prepare you for your End Point Assessment.
• Monthly Portfolio Building Days: Dedicated time and support for compiling your evidence portfolio.
• One-to-One Support Sessions: Regular personalised guidance from your allocated Learning & Development Coach.
• End Point Assessment Preparation Sessions: Focused training and mock assessments to ensure you are fully ready for EPA.
• Weekly Functional Skills Training (If Applicable): Dedicated sessions for English Level 2 and Maths Level 2, if required (optional for 19+ apprentices).
• E-Learning Resources: Access to interactive e-learning modules, an online portfolio, workbooks, and quizzes to support your learning.

Your Learning & Development Coach will issue monthly action plans and conduct regular workplace visits to complement your off-the-job training. Progress Reviews will take place every 12 weeks with you, your manager, and your coach to monitor progress and ensure you are on track.

Professional Recognition

Upon successful completion of this standard, you will be eligible for professional recognition, enhancing your standing in the industry:

• Chartered Management Institute: Eligibility for Chartered Manager or Chartered Fellow individual member grade.
• The Institute of Leadership for Management: Eligibility for Fellow member grade.

Requirements & Eligibility

To enrol on the Senior Leader Level 7 Apprenticeship, you will typically need to meet the following entry requirements:

• Completion of the Level 5 Operations Departmental Manager Apprenticeship or an equivalent qualification.
• Alternatively, a degree-level programme or other relevant qualifications and significant experience in a leadership or management role.

Programme Duration & Funding

• Duration: This Apprenticeship typically runs for 30 months.
• Funding/Cost: The typical cost for this apprenticeship is £14,000, which includes the cost of the End Point Assessment. Please note, funding is dependent on employer status/banding.

End Point Assessment (EPA) Requirements

The final, End Point Assessment is completed in the last 5 months of your apprenticeship. It comprises two distinct assessment methods, designed to comprehensively evaluate your strategic leadership capabilities:

• Strategic Business Proposal, Presentation with Questioning (50%): You will complete a relevant and defined piece of work with a real business benefit. You will then prepare and deliver a presentation based on this proposal, followed by questioning from an independent assessor. This method assesses key Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours related to strategic thinking and communication.
• Professional Discussion Underpinned by a Portfolio of Evidence (50%): This is a formal, two-way discussion with an independent assessor, allowing you to proactively demonstrate your competency across the KSBs mapped to this method, supported by your comprehensive portfolio of evidence built throughout the apprenticeship.

To successfully pass the overall assessment, apprentices must achieve a minimum of 50% in each of the two assessment methods. Grades awarded will be Fail, Pass, or Distinction. Our training activities, including mock EPA methods, are specifically designed to prepare you for successful completion of all EPA activities.