Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship: Final Programme - Starting November 2025

The Senior Leader Level 7 Apprenticeship equips aspiring or new senior leaders with knowledge and tools to contribute to their organisation's strategy and direction. Learners gain skills to inspire and guide teams within demanding and fast-changing contexts.

On completion, you will receive a Level 7 Apprenticeship award, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management and achieve Chartered Manager status with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

These programmes are fully funded by the Apprenticeship Levy. For SME sized employers, the government will pay 95% of the course costs. There is potentially additional funding for the remaining 5% through our connections with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s “Levy Transfer” scheme.

The learning experience

On campus

• An average of 12 hours per month face-to-face learning in Huddersfield Business School’s excellent campus environment
• Participative workshop-based learning
• 24-7 library services
• Additional support for academic skills development
• Opportunities to benefit from guest speakers in management and leadership specific to your sector

Self-guided study

• 12 hours per month self-led learning
• Emphasis on applying new knowledge and developing work-based skills and competencies
• Support throughout the programme from a Workplace Learning Coach
• 24-7 access to an engaging virtual learning environment

Personal commitment

• Attend all of the sessions and complete all modules within the agreed timeframe
• Active participation in campus workshops and remote learning with peers
• Apply learning in your workplace setting
• Attend quarterly meetings with your line manager and our workplace learning coach to review progress

Choice of two pathways

We offer two distinct pathways on our Senior Leader L7, both cover the same core syllabus content, programme duration and assessment requirements. We can chat to you about which one is best for your specific circumstances.

Our General cohort looks at the role of a Senior Leader across a wide range of private and public sector organisations. If you don’t work in the Health & Care sector and/or you prefer a more holistic view of the role of a leader, then this is the course for you.

Our Health & Care specific cohort has been developed through our excellent relationships with the Kirklees, Calderdale & Wakefield District Health & Care Partnerships, and Yorkshire & Humber Skills Development Network.

If you work in the local health and care sector, voluntary/community care, general practice or third sector this course will focus on practical examples and speakers that are relevant to your work.

Am I eligible?

To be eligible to apply you will need to:

• be in permanent employment for the duration of the course (18 months)
• be employed in a relevant senior management role
• have the commitment of your employer to support you through the programme
• if you would like to chat via Teams to discuss eligibility/suitability for the course then we would be happy to arrange this

How can I find out more?

We are running a series of public online information sessions in September to go over the course and answer any questions. The sessions will cover both General and Health & Care cohorts so that anyone split between deciding which is most suitable can just attend the one meeting and get the information they need. Dates and time are as follows and you can register using the link below:

• Thursday 11 September 10.30am to 11.30am
• Tuesday 16 September 2pm to 3pm
• Thursday 25 September 12.30pm to 1.30pm
• Thursday 30 September 12.30pm to 1.30pm

Or contact Andy Buncall on a.buncall2@hud.ac.uk to register your interest in the programme.

Enrolment

Enrolments will commence mid-September. As part of the application phase each applicant and their line manager will attend a Teams meeting with our course leader to go over any individual needs and ask questions in order to ensure the course is right for the applicant.