Senior Leader Apprenticeship Programme

This module aims to develop and expand the participant’s leadership potential by developing relevant skills, knowledge, and behaviours in the Senior Leadership Standard. The module will enable to participants to develop clear, inclusive and strategic leadership and direction relating to their area of responsibility within an organisation. The aim is that the Senior Leader will develop and work with wide-ranging internal and external networks of stakeholders. Participants will champion sustainable, dynamic and inclusive workforce and measure the performance & effectiveness of such workforce.

The module will also, as will the other modules, generate evidence of relevant KSBs and Learning Outcomes addressed by this module for inclusion in the Portfolio to be prepared for the Gateway and the End Point Assessment (EPA).

The principle aim of this module is to introduce the student to corporate strategy and finance, in relation to their individual work practice. To achieve this, the module will help the student develop a robust understanding of -and embed the four pillars of corporate strategy: Visioning, Objecting setting, Resource allocation, and Prioritising. 

In addition to this, the module will delve into strategic choices faced by the organisation: (i) Growth, (ii) Stability, (iii) Renewal, or (iv) Withdrawal/Divestment. 

From the finance perspective (private and public sector), the student will gain an understanding of the significance of the finance function in an organisation, including the three main decisions made in a financial management environment: financing, investing and management of work capital, i.e. short-term assets and liabilities.

Concepts such the aforementioned will become evident as the module explores the internal and external business environment in which the organisation operates; the development of business opportunities, strategies and tactics; consumer/organisational buyer behaviour; financial implications; exploiting technologies in a digital age, and socially/sustainable business practices. 

The module will also, as will the other modules, generate evidence of relevant KSBs and Learning Outcomes addressed by this module for the inclusion in the Portfolio to be prepared for the Gateway and End Point Assessment (EPA).

Senior Leaders need a strong awareness today in not only in how to manage growth, but how an organisation is kept innovative, sustainable and resilient to disruption? This module using a lens that provides an insight to the complex senior leader strategies of change, innovation and risk management in creating value and growth in a fast-moving uncertain environment.

The module considers how:

• external and internal risk perspectives and the environment in which the organisation operates underpins the rationale for particular change strategies and models of creativity and innovation that brings about value creation and value capture
• value measures are undertaken using costing models for innovation projects
• value when generated can be sustained
• risks and uncertainties can be assessed and managed
• how change is managed and business transformation is achieved

The module will also, as will the other modules, generate evidence of relevant KSBs and Learning Outcomes addressed by this module for inclusion in the Portfolio to be prepared for the Gateway and the End Point Assessment (EPA).

This module will deepen understanding of senior, Board-level decision making in terms of Governance, compliance and how the wider sustainability agenda should be developed within the organisation. The module will develop further the participant’s leadership narrative and prepare them for their End Point Assessment AM2 Professional Discussion.

The module will also, as will the other modules, generate evidence of relevant KSBs and Learning Outcomes addressed by this module for inclusion in the Portfolio to be prepared for the Gateway and the End Point Assessment (EPA).

Throughout the programme, and particularly in the end-of-module full days on campus, you will be encouraged to reflect on the learning and application of new knowledge, skills and behaviours detailed in the Senior Leader Standard and developed during the most recent module. Examples of application in your workplace context will be captured and eventually form part of a portfolio of evidence of learning.

The end-of-module full days on campus will also focus on your Strategic Business Proposal. The Strategic Business Proposal must be undertaken after the Apprentice has gone through the Gateway. A Strategic Business Proposal involves the apprentice completing a relevant and defined piece of work that has a real business benefit. Apprentices will prepare and deliver a presentation, and be followed by questioning at the End Point Assessment. The Strategic Business Proposal should be designed to ensure that the apprentice’s work meets the needs of the business, is relevant to their role and allows the relevant KSBs in the Standard to be assessed for the EPA. The employer will ensure it has a real business application and the EPA Organisation (the Chartered Management Institute) will ensure it meets the requirements of the EPA, including suitable coverage of the KSBs assigned to it in the EPA Plan. The Strategic Business Proposal does not need to be fully implemented during the EPA period, but it must be a comprehensive strategic business proposal that will enable full implementation at an appropriate time for the organisation. The strategic business proposal must include evidence of board or senior leader sign-off for implementation.

The portfolio and the SBP are not credit bearing assignments however they are required in order to pass through Gateway (see next module).

The programme is funded via the Apprenticeship Levy therefore the End Point Assessment has to be successfully completed. 

Once the teaching, learning and assessment contained within the four modules have been successfully completed participants take part in a ‘Gateway Review Meeting’ with their Line Manager or employer representative to ensure readiness for the End Point Assessment Period. 

To progress through the Gateway a portfolio of evidence of learning plus an outline of a Strategic Business Proposal must be available for upload and the latter approved by the End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO), the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). The End Point Assessment Period lasts 12-14 weeks at the end of which participants will have their EPA Live Assessment Day  with an Independent Apprenticeship Assessor appointed by the CMI. During this time the SBP outline is developed into a 4,000-word Proposal containing Senior Management approval.

The Live Assessment Day (LAD)  is composed of two assessment methods. Assessment Method 1 (AM1) is a presentation of your SBP followed by questions and discussion (one hour in total). Assessment Method 2 (AM2) is a ‘Professional Discussion’ (one hour in total) based upon your portfolio of evidence of learning from the programme.

At the end of the LAD the IAA will grade your performance as either ‘Distinction’, ‘Pass’ or ‘Needs Referral’ i.e. a re-sit.

Once participants have successfully completed their EPA they can rejoin the Middlesex programme and complete their MBA by undertaking a major business research project. For many this will be the implementation of their SBP developed for their EPA.

This is a programme for professional, practising managers and leaders. It will be delivered via a work-integrated blended learning approach which will comprise the following:.

• Professional practice development via the application of knowledge, skills and behaviours. Some of this will be related to module assignments and tasks; other opportunities for application of learning will be identified via discussion between the Apprentice and their Line Manager.
• These teaching sessions are mandatory and not optional. The time involved must be recorded as part of your ‘off-the-job’ hours.
• A compliance requirement of the programme is that quarterly Tripartite Review Meetings are undertaken and recorded between the Apprentice, the Training Provider and the Employer.
• Module teaching and learning is delivered via weekly 3-hour, online lectures/seminars. These are delivered and facilitated by a combination of experienced academics and guest contributors with relevant business experience.
• Each module concludes with a full day on campus during which key learning from the module the module is distilled and examples of evidence are captured for inclusion in the portfolio required at Gateway. The Strategic Business Proposal is also developed on these days.
• Supporting reading and other learning resources are provided via Middlesex’s virtual learning environment ‘MyMdx’.

Each module of teaching and learning has an Assessment Strategy. This is to provide the participant with opportunities to demonstrate that they have developed the stated Module Learning Outcomes – these opportunities are typically assignments such as written essays, reports or presentations.

This programme is specifically designed to allow you to use your work context to draw examples from and to experiment with and apply learning to.

Typically, assignments are submitted via the VLE ‘MyMdx’ Turnitin portal which will be available on the relevant module page.

When all module assignments have been successfully passed the participant accumulates 30 academic credits at Level 7 (post-Graduate level). These credits are recorded and can be seen on your University Academic Record.

End Point Assessment

The EPA takes place on your Live Assessment Day. This is organised by the CMI (Chartered Management Institute), our End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO).

The Live Assessment Day is composed of two assessment methods. Assesment Method 1 (AM1) is a presentation of your SBP followed by questions and discussion (one hour in total). Assessment Method 2 (AM2) is a ‘Professional Discussion’ (one hour in total) based upon your portfolio of evidence of learning from the programme.

At the end of the Live Assessment Day the Independent Assessor will grade your performance as either ‘Distinction’, ‘Pass’ or ‘Needs Referral’ i.e. a re-sit.