The Senior Leader Apprenticeship (SLA) is delivered alongside the CMI Level 7 Extended Diploma in Management and Leadership as a work-based route towards developing professionally competent senior managers and leaders.

The Apprenticeship includes:

• Learning within the workplace
• Business Education
• Development of new Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs)

Apprentices completing this programme will receive:

• CMI Level 7 Extended Diploma in Management and Leadership
• Senior Leader Apprenticeship
• Fellowship of CMI (FCMI)

For existing senior managers or those moving into senior management positions

The UCQ SLA is designed for any individual working or moving into a senior or strategic management role, where the development of new Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours is required. This can include General Managers, Senior Managers, Section Leaders, Executives, Directors, COO, CFO, CEO, CIO roles, and senior military officers. The programme has been specifically developed, and is delivered, by our work-based academic specialists. They understand the realities of business because of their industry experience, gained working within industry; as a result, you can be confident that they will appreciate your needs, challenges and constraints, as well as those of your staff and will be able to deliver a programme to fully meet your organisational and staff needs.

Directly benefits the employer organisation

The UCQ SLA is delivered and assessed using a range of methods and activities using a hybrid model which includes live Teams webinar, academic assignments, projects, case studies, reports, work-product evidence, presentations, self-directed study, and interactive groupwork activities. The majority of activities focus on the role of a senior leader and employer business and are of direct and immediate benefit to the organisation.

The UCQ SLA at a glance

Awards: CMI Level 7 Extended Diploma in Management and Leadership Practice, Chartered Manager status: Fellowship (CMgr FCMI) and Senior Leader Apprenticeship certificate of completion

Duration: 25 months including end point assessment (based on employment of at least 30 hours per week).

Starts: Multi-employer cohorts from June 2023

Suitable for: Current, new and aspiring senior managers

Entry requirements: Working in an appropriate role, 19+, Level 2 maths/English.

“Off the job” element: Live lectures (via Teams) plus activities including research, assignments, reflection, work-product evidence, tutorials, group activities, workshops.

Support for students: UCQ mentor for duration of the programme, contact with lecturers via Teams or phone

Support for employers: UCQ account manager for the duration of programme with practical experience of business management and leadership

Eligibility: Individuals holding existing qualifications may join, providing they are not business and management degrees.

Assessment: There are no exams, successful completion of the UCQ SLA is entirely based upon the following assessments:

• Knowledge – academic assignments
• Skills and Behaviours – Self-reflection, peer and line manager reviews, witness testimonies, assessor observations, work-product evidence
• End-point assessment

Key Links

Programme Specification

If you have any questions you would like to ask about the SLA you can contact UCQ, by…

1. Emailing apprenticeships@ucq.ac.uk
2. Calling UCQ on 0191 2755015