Lead organisational people strategy at board level. Drive culture, talent, engagement, and compliance across your entire enterprise. An advanced practitioner programme aligned with CIPD Chartered Member standards.
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.
This is the apprenticeship for senior people professionals who set strategy at board level
Drive strategic alignment between HR and business units. Influence C-suite decisions. Build capability and champion cultural change at scale.
Shape workforce planning and talent strategies. Build compelling employer brands. Attract, develop, and retain high-potential leaders across the enterprise.
Lead complex stakeholder engagement. Navigate workplace conflicts with emotional intelligence. Build cultures of respect, fairness, and psychological safety.
Design competitive, strategic reward propositions. Align pay with performance and values. Ensure equitable practices across diverse global workforces.
Build learning ecosystems that drive culture and capability. Measure and demonstrate learning ROI. Create future-ready leaders for tomorrow's challenges.
Lead transformational change initiatives. Build organisational resilience. Design and implement strategies that unlock human potential across entire enterprises.
This apprenticeship directly aligns with CIPD Chartered Institute standards. On successful completion, learners are positioned for membership at Chartered level — the gold standard for HR leadership credibility, recognition, and career progression.
Level 7 apprenticeship standard ST0813 with CIPD Chartered alignment
Your learners complete the ST0813 Senior People Professional Level 7 standard, achieving degree-equivalent qualification status. The apprenticeship includes components directly aligned with CIPD Chartered Member competencies and professional recognition frameworks.
The apprenticeship standard covering strategic people practice, culture, compliance, and organisational development at Level 7 (degree-equivalent).
Programme content directly supports progression to CIPD Chartered Member status — the professional benchmark for senior HR leadership and strategic influence.
Content aligned with global SHRM Body of Competencies, enabling learners to position themselves in international HR contexts and markets.
On completion of the standard and successful EPA, learners receive the ST0813 Diploma — a degree-level qualification recognised across the UK and internationally.
TESS Group combines apprenticeship rigour with explicitly mapped CIPD Chartered pathways. Most providers deliver the standard alone. We embed professional recognition frameworks, mentoring by Chartered practitioners, and portfolio building for ongoing professional credentials — setting your learners up for genuine leadership impact and career advancement.
Develop and articulate people strategies that drive business success. Align HR with corporate objectives. Build competitive advantage through people.
Shape, sustain, and evolve organisational cultures. Assess cultural readiness for change. Build high-performing, inclusive, adaptive organisations.
Master financial literacy, business models, and strategy. Understand value creation. Translate business priorities into people initiatives.
Build enterprise talent strategies. Plan workforce needs ahead of business demands. Identify, develop, and retain critical talent pools.
Master stakeholder analysis and engagement. Build coalitions across complex organisations. Influence without authority. Drive buy-in for people initiatives.
Harness data to drive HR decisions. Use people analytics to measure impact and uncover insights. Evaluate and implement HR technology solutions.
Lead complex transformation initiatives. Build change capability. Manage resistance. Deliver people-focused change at scale.
Navigate complex employment law and regulatory frameworks. Build compliant, fair people practices. Mitigate legal risk across your organisation.
Build inclusive organisations that value diversity. Create psychological safety and belonging. Champion wellbeing strategies that sustain high performance.
Lead complex ER strategies. Build trust and engagement at scale. Foster cultures where people feel heard, valued, and motivated.
Design competitive reward propositions. Align compensation with strategy. Build total engagement strategies beyond pay.
Build your evidence portfolio throughout. Complete a strategic people project demonstrating real organisational impact. Prepare for EPA.
Build deep knowledge of the ST0813 standard. Master strategic people frameworks. Understand culture, compliance, and business acumen. Establish mentoring with Chartered practitioners.
Deep-dive into employee relations, reward, learning strategy, analytics, and technology. Apply frameworks to real workplace challenges. Begin building evidence portfolio. Lead change initiatives.
Lead comprehensive people strategy project demonstrating board-level impact. Complete and refine evidence portfolio across all knowledge outcomes. Prepare for EPA gateway and professional discussion.
Gateway sign-off, then formal EPA: Portfolio review, Professional Discussion with independent assessor, and Project presentation. Graded Distinction, Pass, or Fail.
ST0813 V2 EPA — 6 months duration. Grades: Distinction / Pass / Fail.
Comprehensive evidence demonstrating knowledge, understanding, and application across all ST0813 knowledge outcomes. Reviewed by independent assessor.
1-hour conversation with independent assessor exploring your strategic people practice and real-world impact. Demonstrates depth, judgement, and professional mastery.
Present a real people strategy initiative demonstrating board-level impact. Evidence of transformational leadership, stakeholder influence, and measurable outcomes.
Integrated throughout the 36-month journey. On-the-job learning directly tied to apprentice's role, real projects, and workplace responsibilities — the cornerstone of apprenticeship quality.
Every learner gets a dedicated Chartered mentor, regular 1-to-1 coaching, access to our digital learning platform, and employer partnership sessions to ensure workplace projects deliver genuine strategic value.
Independently verified quality. Leadership development delivered to the highest standards with exceptional outcomes.
Exceptional learner satisfaction. Senior professionals consistently rate TESS as transformational for their careers and leadership capability.
Unique explicit alignment with CIPD Chartered Member standards. Your learners complete the apprenticeship positioned for professional credentialling and recognition.
Every apprentice matched with a Chartered CIPD mentor. Real-world guidance from leaders who've walked the strategic HR path.
TESS has successfully delivered senior level apprenticeships with demonstrable impact on organisational strategy, culture, and talent outcomes.
"This programme transformed how I lead strategically. The CIPD alignment and Chartered pathway gave me the credibility and tools to influence at board level."
£19,000 Levy funded. 36-month transformation. CIPD Chartered alignment. Secure your cohort place today — funding availability is changing in 2026.
Request Programme DetailsThe TESS Group
109 Innovation Centre, Green St, Northampton NN1 1SY
📞 01604 210 500
✉️ info@thetessgroup.com
🌐 tessgroup.co.uk/senior-people-professional