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Level 7 Apprenticeship — 24 Months — Fully Funded

Senior Leader
Lead at the Highest Level

Develop strategic leadership capability for C-suite impact. Master organisational strategy, financial stewardship, transformation, and enterprise governance at Level 7 — preparing you to shape direction across complex organisations.

CMI Level 7 Accredited Pathway
ST0480 Senior Leader Standard
Strategic Business Proposal EPA
24-Month Fully Funded Programme
24Month Programme
557OTJ Hours (Min)
£14,000Levy Funded
CMI L7Aligned
⚠️ Important Funding Update: From January 2026, Level 7 apprenticeships will only be eligible for government funding where they are the primary route for entering a specific occupation. This may impact future cohort availability. We recommend employers enquire early to secure places on the current funded programme.

For Leaders Ready to Shape Organisational Direction

This is the Level 7 apprenticeship designed for senior professionals stepping into strategic leadership roles

Where Senior Leaders Drive Impact

👔 C-Suite & Directors

Boards, CEOs, COOs, and executive teams setting organisational strategy, managing shareholder value, and navigating enterprise risk at the highest level.

📈 Strategy & Growth

Strategic planners, business development leaders, and M&A specialists defining long-term vision, market positioning, and competitive advantage.

⚙️ Operations & Transformation

COOs, operations directors, and transformation leaders reshaping enterprise processes, optimising performance, and managing organisational change at scale.

💼 Finance & Commercial

CFOs, financial strategists, and commercial directors managing capital allocation, financial strategy, investment decisions, and commercial partnerships.

👥 People & Culture

CHROs and people directors creating culture strategy, talent leadership, organisational development, and sustainable people systems at enterprise scale.

🚀 Innovation & Digital

Digital strategists, innovation leaders, and disruptive change architects driving transformational innovation and future-ready organisational capability.

Ideal Learner Profile

  • Senior leaders in mid-to-large organisations
  • Professionals stepping into C-suite or equivalent roles
  • Leaders responsible for strategic decision-making
  • Directors managing complex teams and budgets
  • Change agents leading organisational transformation
  • Those seeking formal CMI Level 7 recognition

CMI Level 7 Pathway Alignment

This apprenticeship is specifically aligned with CMI Level 7 professional qualifications, providing formal recognition of your strategic leadership competency from the Chartered Management Institute — the gold standard for UK senior leadership.

CMI Level 7 Accredited

CMI Level 7 Strategic Leadership Qualification

ST0480 Senior Leader Standard v1.2 — Fully integrated pathway to CMI recognition

ST0480

The Senior Leader Level 7 apprenticeship standard delivers comprehensive strategic leadership development mapped to CMI Level 7 professional qualifications. Your apprenticeship culminates in formal End Point Assessment with CMI alignment, recognised across UK and international enterprises.

1
ST0480 Standard

CMI Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship

24-month fully funded programme delivering ST0480 standard with embedded CMI Level 7 professional development pathway.

2
CMI Accredited

Chartered Professional Recognition

Formal CMI Level 7 qualification on successful completion, meeting the requirements for CMI fellowship or advanced member status.

What's Included in Your Apprenticeship

24-Month Delivery: 18 months on-the-job (557+ hours minimum) + 6 months EPA preparation and assessment. End Point Assessment: Strategic business proposal (mandatory), presentation and questioning, and professional discussion against 6 assessment outcomes. Grading: Distinction / Pass / Fail. CMI Alignment: Full professional development pathway with CMI accreditation on completion.

Strategic Leadership Modules — What You'll Master

Module 01

High Performing Teams & Culture

Build world-class leadership teams, create psychological safety, and design cultures that attract, develop, and retain strategic talent at scale.

People Development
Module 02

Strategic Leadership & Direction

Set clear strategic vision, define organisational purpose, and lead enterprise transformation with conviction and stakeholder alignment.

Strategy
Module 03

Organisational Strategy & Business Modelling

Develop comprehensive business strategy, evaluate market opportunities, design new business models, and model financial impact at enterprise level.

StrategyFinance
Module 04

Financial Strategy & Resource Management

Master capital allocation, P&L accountability, investment decision-making, and financial stewardship across complex organisations.

Finance
Module 05

Leading Change & Transformation

Navigate organisational transformation, manage complexity, build resilience through change, and execute large-scale programmes with lasting impact.

Transformation
Module 06

Crisis Management & Resilience

Prepare for organisational crises, build enterprise resilience, make critical decisions under uncertainty, and protect stakeholder value.

Resilience
Module 07

Innovation & Disruptive Technologies

Drive innovation at enterprise scale, evaluate emerging technologies, anticipate market disruption, and lead digital transformation initiatives.

Innovation
Module 08

Stakeholder Management & Communications

Influence boards, investors, regulators, and external stakeholders. Master strategic communication, relationship management, and enterprise reputation.

Stakeholder Focus
Module 09

Governance, Ethics & Sustainability

Navigate corporate governance, ethical leadership, ESG strategy, regulatory compliance, and responsible business practices at board level.

Governance
Module 10

Personal Leadership & Impact

Develop executive presence, emotional intelligence, authentic leadership, and self-awareness to maximise your impact as a senior strategic leader.

Leadership
Module 11

Strategic Business Development

Build commercial acumen, evaluate partnerships and acquisitions, develop customer and market strategy, and create sustainable competitive advantage.

Commercial
+ ASSESSMENT

EPA Consolidation & Preparation

Module 12 focuses on consolidating learning, developing your strategic business proposal, and preparing for formal End Point Assessment against all 6 assessment outcomes.

Strategic Proposal & EPA Prep

Your 24-Month Leadership Journey & End Point Assessment

18-Month On-the-Job + 6-Month EPA Preparation

Months 1–3

Strategic Leadership Foundations

Leadership context, organisation assessment, strategic vision development, personal leadership brand definition, and stakeholder mapping.

Months 4–6

Organisational Strategy & Change

Business modelling, market analysis, strategic planning, change management frameworks, and transformation programme design at scale.

Months 7–9

Financial & Commercial Strategy

Capital allocation, investment decisions, financial stewardship, commercial partnerships, and P&L accountability mastery.

Months 10–12

Innovation, Resilience & Governance

Innovation strategy, crisis resilience, governance frameworks, ethical leadership, and stakeholder influence at enterprise level.

Months 13–18

Real-World Strategic Project

Lead a significant strategic business project within your organisation. Develop your strategic business proposal, gather evidence, and demonstrate measurable impact on business direction and outcomes.

Months 19–24 — EPA Phase

End Point Assessment

Formal EPA against ST0480 standard. Submit strategic business proposal, present and answer questions from independent assessor, undertake professional discussion. Graded Distinction / Pass / Fail.

End Point Assessment (EPA)

ST0480 Senior Leader Standard — 3-method assessment with 6 assessment outcomes.

1. Strategic Business Proposal (MANDATORY)

Develop and present a comprehensive proposal addressing a strategic business challenge within your organisation. Demonstrate strategic thinking, business acumen, and implementation capability.

2. Presentation & Questioning

Present your proposal to an independent assessor and respond to probing questions. Demonstrate your strategic reasoning, stakeholder awareness, and enterprise-level thinking.

3. Professional Discussion

Engage in a structured conversation about your leadership practice, decision-making, and impact against the standard. Provide evidence of strategic competence in real-world contexts.

Grading

Distinction (for exceptional strategic leadership) or Pass (meeting standard requirements) or Fail. You receive comprehensive feedback to support your continued development.

Executive Coaching Throughout

Every learner receives dedicated executive coaching, strategic mentoring, C-suite networking access, and 1-to-1 development sessions ensuring you achieve distinction-level performance.

Why Choose TESS Group for Senior Leader Level 7?

  • 🏆

    Ofsted Good Provider

    Verified quality in apprenticeship delivery. Our Level 7 programmes meet the highest standards of strategic content, assessor expertise, and leadership outcomes.

  • 4.9/5 on Google AND Trustpilot

    Senior leaders consistently rate our programmes as transformational, with measurable impact on their strategic capability and enterprise impact.

  • 📜

    CMI Level 7 Accredited Pathway

    Direct alignment with Chartered Management Institute qualifications. Your apprenticeship culminates in formal CMI Level 7 recognition.

  • 🎯

    Designed for Senior Leaders Only

    Built specifically for C-suite, directors, and strategic leaders. Content, cohorts, and delivery reflect the complexity and context of enterprise-level leadership.

  • 💼

    Executive Coaching & Mentoring

    Every learner receives dedicated executive coaching, strategic mentorship, and C-suite peer networking to accelerate your leadership impact.

"This apprenticeship equipped me with a formal qualification that matches my strategic role, while genuinely challenging my thinking on organisational direction and enterprise impact."

— Level 7 Apprentice Graduate, 2025

Secure Your Leadership Pathway Today

Fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy for eligible large organisations. Limited places available on the current cohort. We recommend early enquiry to confirm funding eligibility and secure your place in this transformational Level 7 programme.

Request Information

The TESS Group
109 Innovation Centre, Green St, Northampton NN1 1SY

📞 01604 210 500
✉️ info@thetessgroup.com
🌐 tessgroup.co.uk/senior-leader-l7

Ofsted
Good
★★★★★
Google 4.9/5
★★★★★
Trustpilot 4.9/5
CMI
Accredited
1st for
Awarding
ST0480
Approved
Level 7
Expert