Sheffield Universities Management Schools’ (SUMS) Level 7 Apprenticeship SLA programme incorporates a post-graduate diploma in strategic leadership and management and provides a pathway to Chartered Manager or Chartered Fellow status of the Chartered Management Institute.

The themes (tiles) and knowledge, skills, and behaviours required in the SLA standard are mapped holistically across our programme and there is clear signposting on what KSB’s are being developed through which modules and how they are applied within a senior leader's duties. See here to get an appreciation of how this is managed.

The SLA is a 29-month programme. It comprises a 24-month taught programme facilitated by SUMS followed by a 5-month Apprentices Gateway and end-point-assessment period facilitated by the Apprenticeship Organisation and CMI as the independent end-point-assessor.

Fig 2. Structure of the Senior Leader Apprenticeship Program

The formal taught off-the-job element of the SLA is delivered by the University using a blend of face-to-face sessions, on-line resources, and independent self-study.

There are induction days to equip the Apprentice with knowledge of the SLA standard and assessment plan. There are seven taught modules through which Apprentices explore a series of themes, concepts, and theories and how they may be applied within work in today’s fast-paced world.

• Each module is mapped to the SLA standard.

• Each module is delivered over a 6-week period and delivered by a team of academics and senior practitioners and culminates in a work-based activity with assessment to support the transfer of new knowledge, skills, and behaviour into the workplace.

Personal development is central to the SLA apprenticeship, and it is a thread that runs throughout the taught element. We facilitate Apprentices’ reflection on themselves and teach them how to use a structured and critical approach to self-development to drive new behaviours.

Promoting British Values is integral to any apprenticeship programme and throughout our programme we ‘actively promote’ the fundamental British values of:

• Democracy

• The rule of law

• Individual liberty

• And mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs as they are set out in the ‘Prevent’ strategy in 2011.

Apprentices are expected to understand British values and could be asked these during the apprenticeship assessment and or regulatory inspection.

These British Values are also demonstrated through the Universities:

• Diverse curriculum and teaching methods including seminars and other activities which allow reflection and voicing of ideas

• Student representation and feedback system

• Extra-curricular activities open to the academic community organised by the University and Students’ Union which celebrate diverse interests, lifestyles and faiths.

• Safeguarding policy and approach, including:

• Radicalisation

• Freedom of Expression

• Messages of Concern (e.g. social media)

• Discrimination and Harassment Support and Report

• Harassment and Bullying Commitment and Support

• Student Code of Conduct

• Student Wellbeing and Support policies, procedures and resources, including the counselling service and a wealth of mental health support services

• Disciplinary and IT policies and procedures

• Students Union and Alumni membership

At the end of the taught element, Apprentices work with the Chartered Management Institute to prepare for their endpoint assessment through which they provide evidence of how they have met the KSB’s in the workplace.