Leadership Hub
The Leadership Hub is home to the Nishkam Executive Senior Leadership Programme (ESLP), a Level 7 Higher Apprenticeship designed to be a transformative educational experience, combining high standards of education with practical application to equip participants to succeed professionally, but also lead with integrity and conscience.
Senior Leadership Programme Overview
The Executive Senior Leadership Programme (ESLP) is a higher apprenticeship designed to enhance leadership skills per the Level 7 Senior Leadership Standard.
The programme will prepare you to excel in senior roles and obtain a professional qualification upon completion. Successful apprentices are awarded the Senior Leadership Apprenticeship Standard certification, often aligning with professional recognition, such as eligibility for Chartered Manager or Chartered Fellow status with CMI (Chartered Management Institute) or ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management).
The ESLP focuses on providing a transformative educational experience by combining high standards of education with practical application, preparing you to become a strong leader of tomorrow by understanding today’s global challenges and the shifting business landscape.
Programme Information
The ESLP is a two-year course covering 7 modules, carefully planned with the needs of employers in mind and achieving significant professional and leadership development for the apprentice.
Collaborate Relationships and Organisational Behaviour
This module will teach leaders competitive strategies to critically analyse and adapt management styles to drive organisational success through managing organisational behaviour and individual/group interactions to influence a positive workplace culture, driving employee motivation and productivity.
Finance
The finance module provides leaders with the necessary knowledge of finance needed for strategic decision-making, including understanding key financial documents, budgeting, and financial forecasting. This will help leaders support financial decisions, manage budgets effectively, and contribute to the financial planning processes within the organisation.
Enterprise Risk Management
This module is crafted to teach leaders the fundamentals of risk management, including identifying, assessing, and mitigating various risks. It emphasises the importance of incorporating ethical considerations, compliance and corporate social responsibility into the risk management process to develop strategies that enhance organisational resilience and adaptability.
Innovation and Change
In this module, leaders are equipped to foster environments encouraging innovation and effectively managing transformation processes. The module also covers strategies for implementing changes that sustain growth and maintain a competitive advantage, ensuring leaders can handle challenges associated with disruptive technologies and market shifts.
Developing Management Skills
This pre-delivery module introduces aspiring senior leaders to the learning required for the Senior Leader apprenticeship. It focuses on innovation, strategic development, and fostering creativity, providing a foundational understanding of innovation strategies for a sustainable competitive advantage.
Leading and Developing People
This module focuses on the strategic element of human resource (HR) management, including the recruitment, development and retion of staff, teaching leaders how to align HR strategies with business goals to maximise workforce potential and achieve significant improvements in organisational performance.
Strategy
Covering how to identify and establish long-term directions for the organisation, integrate strategic planning processing and align these with overall business objectives. The strategy module equips leaders with the knowledge to critically analyse, develop, implement and adapt strategies based on an evolving business environment.
Strategic Management Project Proposal
The Strategic Management Proposal module focuses on developing a comprehensive strategic plan tailored to the learner’s organisational needs. The learner will create a detailed proposal including market analysis, strategic objectives, financial planning, implementation strategies, stakeholder engagement and risk management, leading to the learner presenting their proposal at the end.
Gateway
In the ESLP, passing through the gateway marks the transition to the End-Point Assessment (EPA) phase. The apprentice needs to meet specific requirements, including compiling a portfolio of evidence demonstrating their acquired knowledge, skills, and behaviours. Once these criteria are met and confirmed by the EPAO, the apprentice can move forward to the EPA.
End-Point Assessment (EPA)
The End-Point Assessment (EPA) for the ESLP is the final assessment phase, designed to evaluate the apprentice’s knowledge, skills, and behaviours in a real-world context. It consists of two main components, the Strategic Business Proposal presentation and questioning and the Professional Discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence.
Achievements
During the End-Point Assessment (EPA), the apprentice will achieve a comprehensive evaluation of their knowledge, skills, and behaviours. Based on their performance they will receive an overall grade of Fail, Pass or Distinction. If successful, the apprentice will earn the Senior Leadership Apprenticeship standard certification, often aligning with professional recognition such as eligibility for Chartered Manager or Chartered Fellow status with CMI or ILM.
The course modules are split up into three phases, Pre-Module Development, Core Modules, and Gateway,
Pre-Module Development – The course begins with two weeks of pre-module development, teaching you the introductory knowledge necessary for the course.
Core Modules – The core module phase is where the learner does the bulk of their learning, covering topics vital to a senior leader’s success. The core module phase covers 7 modules, spanning 12 weeks each.
Gateway – The learner enters the final phase, gateway, when they have completed all their learning and prepared their portfolio of evidence which has been gathered throughout their apprenticeship journey. Gateway includes the End-Point assessment which the apprentice must pass, prior to their graduation.
The Standard ESLP module is designed to last 12 weeks, providing learners with a structured yet flexible timeframe to thoroughly develop the necessary knowledge, skills and behaviours required to achieve the Senior Leader Standard.
The 12-week timeframe ensures that learners can engage deeply with the material, allowing them to develop the knowledge required to appropriately transfer the information to the workplace.
To cater to diverse learning preferences, the ESLP incorporates a variety of teaching methods, from one-to-ones, group sessions, self-study and our unique synchronised learning approach to allow apprentices to master the content and learn in a manner that best suits their individual learning styles.
The minimum off-the-job training requirement for a full-time apprentice is 20% of a 30 hour week.
FAQ’s
How does the ESLP work?
The ESLP is a higher apprenticeship that seamlessly integrates learning into your work schedule, allowing leaders to enhance their leadership capabilities and achieve significant professional growth throughout the two-year duration of the Senior Leader Apprenticeship, whilst also working towards achieving an apprenticeship qualification, with the option to progress to a Postgraduate Diploma (pgDip) in Strategic Leadership and even an Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) for those looking to develop further
For further information call 0121-515-4229.
Who is the ESLP for?
The ESLP is tailored for individuals positioned in or aspiring towards senior management roles, including those with formal governance or director responsibilities. This programme is ideal for those keen on sharpening their strategic insight, setting clear business directions, and embodying the vision and strategic intent necessary for upper-level management.
What can the ESLP lead to?
The strategic integration of learning and working leads to greater retention of new skills and direct applicability to your daily professional challenges, accelerating career growth and enhancing your value within your organisation. Through the ESLP, you gain the opportunity to develop new competencies and showcase your commitment to personal and professional experience, all without the typical costs associated with advancing your education.
The ESLP offers many prospective paths to pursue, from a Postgraduate Diploma, Executive MBA and even chartered status, depending on the learner's desire.
Job roles the ESLP can lead to include Associate Director, Business Unit Head, Divisional Head, Executive Director, Head of Department, Operations Manager, Delivery Manager & Project Manager.
What do I get at the end of the ESLP?
Every successful apprentice will get:
- Apprenticeship Certification from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE)
- EPAO Professional Qualification (depending on EPAO)
- Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
- Qualification: Chartered Manager or Chartered Fellow
- The Institute of Leadership and Management (TILM)
- Qualification: Fellow
- Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
- For an additional fee, top up the Apprenticeship Achievement to a Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip)
- Opportunity to progress into an Executive MBA
What is 'off-the-job' training?
Off-the-job training is defined as learning which is undertaken outside of day-to-day work duties and leads towards the achievement of the apprenticeship. This training takes place within the apprentice's normal (contracted) working hours.
The minimum off-the-job training requirement for a full-time apprentice is 20% of a 30-hour week.
Off-the-job training with us as your provider can come in many forms, including, synchronised learning, one-to-ones with our tutor, assigned self-study and many more unique learning approaches to help learners get the most out of their training.
Are there Exams?
No, there are no exams in the ESLP, but there are module assessments to ensure you fully understand the content within the module.
What are the costs?
As the ESLP is an apprenticeship, there are no costs associated with the learner, instead, the UK government and employer share the responsibility to pay for the course. If you are an employer looking to find out more about your payment responsibilities, click here.
*Employers may make the learner pay for resits.
Can I request to enrol on the ESLP from my Employer?
Yes, your employer must agree to the terms of the apprenticeship before you can begin the course. A great way to do this is to visit our employer's page and show them all how the course will help your organisation grow.
How long will the ESLP take to complete?
The ESLP takes two years to complete.
For general FAQ’s about apprenticeships click here.
Course Fee
As the ESLP is an apprenticeship, there is no cost associated with the learner. Funding is accessible for Employers to help cover the costs, below are two methods:
- Apprenticeship Levy: Employers with an annual payroll of over £3 million contribute annually to the Apprenticeship Levy, which funds apprenticeship levy, these employers can use the funds in their digital account to pay for their training.
- Co-Investment: Employers who do not pay the levy, contribute 5% towards the cost of apprenticeship training, with the UK Government covering the remaining 95% (up to the funding band maximum).
Course Fee
£14,000
£700 (95% government funding available)
Career Prospects
Completing the ESLP opens the door to professional growth and a wealth of career opportunities. Graduates are equipped with advanced skills and knowledge, developing their confidence and competence as leaders, making them ideal candidates for high-level roles.
This apprenticeship not only enhances leadership capabilities but also provides practical experience and a comprehensive understanding of complex business environments.
Employers highly value the combination of hands-on learning and academic knowledge, ensuring that individuals who complete this programme are well-prepared to drive innovation, lead teams effectively, and contribute significantly to their organisation’s success.
Entry Requirements
The entry requirements for the ESLP are:
- Academic Background: A bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualifications (if you have neither, recognition of prior learning can be used as a substitute) providing a solid foundation for advanced study
- Professional Experience: Significant work experience in a managerial, technical, or professional role, offering a practical base from which to expand knowledge
- Language Proficiency: For non-native English speakers, a good command of English is essential, typically demonstrated through a score of 6.5 or above on the IELTS, ensuring effective communication and comprehension throughout
- Employment Status: Must be employed for at least 30 hours per week to ensure sufficient work-based learning opportunities
- Management Supervision: Must have a designated line manager to guide and assess progress throughout the apprenticeship
- Off-the-job Training: Guaranteed time from your employer for off-the-job training, crucial for integrating new skills
- Education and Training Exclusions: Cannot be enrolled into full-time education or another apprenticeship programme simultaneously.
- Residency and Work Rights: Must have the legal right to live and work in England, ensuring compliance with employment laws.
- Local Working Requirement: Must spend a minimum of 50% of working hours in England to qualify for funding under local jurisdiction.
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