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Senior Leader Apprenticeship

  • Level(s) of Study: Professional
  • Start Date(s): September 2023 / January 2024
  • Duration: 23 months part-time
  • Study Mode(s): Part-time
  • Campus: City Campus
  • Entry Requirements:
    More information

Introduction:

The Senior Leader Apprenticeship (SLA) is designed for specialists who want to or have moved into a managerial role and wish to propel their career. The apprenticeship offers the opportunity to consolidate your managerial and leadership experience so far to be able to work more effectively across functions.

The apprenticeship will support you as you expand your network and gain a broad knowledge of business management and cover topics such as data driven decision making and change management. The ability to personalise your learning and apply it directly to your organisation puts you at the heart of our learning model and ensures both you and your organisation benefit directly from your studies.

The SLA is accredited by the Chartered Management Institution (CMI), upon completion you will also receive a Level 7 CMI award.

Upon completion of the SLA, you have the choice to be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma or progress onto the Top Up Executive MBA where you will have the chance to undertake a live global consultancy project abroad and work with a global organisation as well as understand digital transformation and understand governance. By undertaking your EMBA with NBS we offer you the opportunity to expand your reach as a leader within your organisation and sector.

Whichever route you choose, you will acquire the knowledge you need to work effectively at a senior, strategic management level, empowering organisations to achieve their objectives.

Find out more about our routes to qualification.

Nottingham Business School have both EQUIS and AACSB accreditation.

  • Upon completion of the Senior Leader Apprenticeship, you have the opportunity to be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma or progress onto our Executive MBA Top Up programme.
  • Since the introduction of the End Point Assessment, Nottingham Business School has a 100% success rate.

Course accreditation

  • EQUIS logo

What you’ll study

At the start of the course, you will undertake some pre-study activities, induction and a short residential trip where you will get to know your tutors and peers.

As part of your onboarding,  we will meet with you to identify your learning needs, you will undertake some pre-study activities and induction. Induction is a short residential, usually held off campus, to allow you, your fellow learners and tutors to get to know each other.

Successful completion of the SLA End Point Assessment (EPA) provides you with the opportunity to be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma or progress onto the EMBA Top Up programme, you can find out more below.

Since the introduction of the EPA, Nottingham Business School have a 100% success rate.

Developing Mindset

  • Customer Centric Marketing
  • Leading People and Organisations
  • Leading Responsible and Sustainable Organisations
  • Leading Strategy
  • Leading Innovation

Leading Agile Transformation

  • Finance for Strategic Decision Making
  • Operations and Supply Chain Management
  • Data Driven Decision Making
  • Change Management
  • Strategic Business Planning

On-going learning

Professional Leadership Development

This module is taught throughout the course develops professional, strategic transferable skills which students can deploy in the workplace.

The purpose of the module is to increase students understanding of how to manage their own continuous professional development in order to be a more effective leader and to enable sustained career success.

Specifically the aims of the module are to:

  • Enable an understanding and appreciation of the importance of effective continuous learning in realising potential.
  • Develop an understanding of key competencies and attributes relating to development as a leader.
  • Develop students’ ability to use reflective practice to improve their performance and continuous development.
  • Enable an understanding of how to identify ongoing development needs for continuous career management.

The module content can be grouped into three core themes:

  1. Developing core personal and professional competencies
  2. Developing leadership capability
  3. Reflective practice, development planning and career management.

Following successful completion of the Senior Leader Apprenticeship, you may choose to complete the EMBA Top Up. This eight month route will allow you to gain an EMBA qualification.

Building and Leading a Resilient Organisation

  • Governing Organisations
  • Digital Transformation
  • Global Consultancy Experience
  • Business Research Project

Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves

Student Profiles

Colette Doherty

NBS placed great emphasis on using real-world experiences and international perspectives to support my learning, which I felt would add significant value in applying the theoretical knowledge within my current and future roles.

How you’re taught

How will I learn?

Teaching will take place through a range of delivery methods including on-campus teaching, online learning and one-to-one mentoring.

The course is delivered in modular blocks of two-three days each. Each teaching period is typically five to six weeks apart.

The programme incorporates a mix of classroom modules, independent supported learning and work-based consultancy projects. It includes an international study visit and action learning group meetings.

The SLA experience is characterised by personalisation, achieved through the delivery of the Professional Leadership Development module which will include opportunities for personal diagnostics, mentoring, executive coaching, careers support and individual personal and professional development based around each senior leaders own situation and needs.

You'll also use our virtual learning environment, NOW, which is a flexible web-based system that gives you 24-hour access to module learning materials and reading lists. It allows you to discuss work with tutors and submit coursework electronically from anywhere in the world.

The course is delivered in modular blocks of two-three days each. Each teaching period is typically five to six weeks apart. The course also includes workshops to develop professional, strategic and transferable skills.

The EMBA Top Up also includes a series of workshops to develop professional, strategic and transferable skills.

How will I be assessed?

For both the Senior Leader Apprenticeship and EMBA Top Up, there are no examinations, you will be assessed through a range of assignments, applied projects and presentations.

It is the application of the knowledge you have acquired during the course that will enable you to think strategically and bring about change within your organisation.

End Point Assessment

The End Point Assessment consists of two distinct assessment methods:

Presentation with questioning

Apprentices will present their strategic business proposal and be asked a series of questions to clarify and assess the depth and breadth of their understanding.

Professional discussion

Based on review of a portfolio, the Professional Discussion takes place between the apprentice and their independent assessor. The independent assessor must prepare areas for discussion following the review of the apprentice’s portfolio and based on the range of knowledge skills and behaviours that the programme is required to deliver.

Academic Mentors

Every postgraduate student will be allocated an Academic Mentor at the beginning of the academic year and you will meet with them regularly throughout the year. Academic Mentors help you make the most of your time at NTU. They will support you in developing and enhancing the qualities and transferable skills necessary for your studies, career progression, professional and personal development.

Staff Profiles

Julie Rosborough

Principal Lecturer

Nottingham Business School

Julie currently is the MBA Portfolio Lead and is responsible for the design, recruitment, delivery and external client and alumni engagement of the Executive MBA and Full Time MBA courses. Prior this role Julie lead the MSc…

Angela Enright

Senior Lecturer

Nottingham Business School

Angela is an Academic Mentor and Lecturer working as part of the personalisation initiative for postgraduate students in Nottingham Business School. She supports students and helps them to develop the…

Matt Dunn

Senior Lecturer

Nottingham Business School

Matt Dunn is a module leader for the Director’s Perspective (EMBA/SLA) and Leading & Managing Strategy (CMDA) at Nottingham Business School.

Case Studies

Andrew Hunter

Andrew Hunter, 43, works for an information technology company called SAM Software Solutions based in Nottingham. Andrew mentions how his apprenticeship has been significant to not only his own performance but to his company as well. Providing him with the “necessary tools” to develop SAM Software Solutions, read more to find out how the Senior Leader Apprenticeship has impacted Andrew and his employer.

Read more

Joy Weldin

Joy Weldin, 45, is an apprentice on the Senior Leader apprenticeship working for the East Midlands Ambulance Service. The apprenticeship has enabled her to enhance her skills as a leader and successfully apply it to her business with confidence due to the knowledge she has learned in the executive MBA. Joy described the apprenticeship as an “insightful” and “invaluable” experience, both supporting her organisation and future career prospects.

Read more

Careers and employability

Who is the SLA aimed at?

  • High-performing managers with broad-level aspirations
  • Healthcare and public sector managers working in complex political and government organisations
  • Entrepreneurs who want to understand the ways to grow a business
  • Successful leaders who need formal and qualifications to underpin their vast experience

Since the introduction of the EPA, Nottingham Business School have 100% success rate.

Campus and facilities

At Nottingham Trent University, we provide first-class learning facilities for our students. The transformed Newton building is the home of Nottingham Business School and marks the next phase in the School’s development. In Newton, students have an abundance of teaching space, a range of lecture theatres of different sizes, and masses of space for social learning.

Dryden Centre

A short walk from the Newton building and Boots library, the Dryden Centre facilitates on-campus teaching for Nottingham Business School’s postgraduate and executive education courses. Benefit from the newly built NTU Dryden Enterprise Centre next door that provides dedicated support for entrepreneurs, start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises.

Entry requirements

You will need the following:

  • A good first degree (typically 2:2 or above) or equivalent professional qualifications and 3-5 years professional experience
  • If you do not have an undergraduate degree we can accept 8+ years of professional experience
  • GCSE 4 (C) in English and Maths (applies to Senior Leader Apprenticeship)

As part of the application process, you will be supported in identifying your individual training needs to help us provide a personalised learning experience. You will have an Academic Mentor who will be with you throughout the duration of the course to help you achieve your training and learning objectives.

    Please note, Top up to EMBA requires successful completion of SLA End Point Assessment.

We will review your identity documents / immigration status to verify residency eligibility in line with the apprenticeship funding rules, at application stage.

Fees and funding

Fees for 2023 entry are to be confirmed.

Visit our apprenticeship page for more information on the Apprenticeship Levy.

Progression to the PGDip or EMBA Top Up is not covered by the apprenticeship levy. This can be self-funded, funded by the employer, or co-funded. For more details on course fees, funding available and any additional support please visit our fees and funding page.

Please note, the fees listed above are for the year of entry and not the year of application. Fees are subject to an annual increase.

NBS EMBA Third Sector Fee Discount

Nottingham Business School are pleased to provide a 50% fee discount for the EMBA Top Up for those in the third sector. This includes but is not limited to employees in the NHS, social enterprises and not for profits. More information, including terms and conditions to follow.

Alumni Discount

We’re happy to be able to offer a 20% alumni discount to most current NTU students and recent NTU alumni. This discount is currently available for those starting an eligible postgraduate taught, postgraduate research or professional course.

If you have graduated from NTU with a qualifying award from NTU during or after the 2017/18 academic year and you’re progressing onto this course you will be eligible for our alumni discount.

How to apply

Ready to join us? Apply through our NTU Applicant Portal.

Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.

Application closing date for September 2023 entry is 14 July 2023.

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