Program Overview

Leadership and Management Professional (Fast-Track) Degree Apprenticeship

The Leadership and Management Professional (Fast-Track) Degree Apprenticeship is a two-and-a-half-year program designed for experienced managers who want to move into leadership roles or advance their practice with the support of a cutting-edge university education. This accelerated version of the popular four-year Leadership and Management Professional Degree Apprenticeship is condensed into two and a half years.

Programme Content

The program will leave graduates with the experience and competence necessary to take successful long-term managerial responsibility for people, projects, operations, and services within their business. The early units provide an introduction to management and leadership, operations and technology, sales, and marketing. Apprentices will be encouraged to demonstrate how they can apply these skills and worldwide best practice at work.

Later units explore business finance, project management, strategy, and sustainability and innovation.

• Year one:
  • Contextual Business Management
  • People, Leadership and Development
  • Strategic Finance and Analysis for Decision Making
• Year two:
  • Driving Innovation and Change in a Digital World
  • Sustainable Business Futures
  • Strategic Analysis and Project Definition
• Year three:
  • Project and Portfolio Consolidation
  • Leadership and Management Professional End Point Assessment

Apprentices will reconcile their learning at the end of the year with a substantial work-based project and through the creation of a business portfolio, demonstrating the way in which they have continually applied their knowledge directly to the context of their organisation.

Programme Length and Approach

This fast-track program is taught part-time over two and a half years at the prestigious Business School in central Manchester. Apprentices will need to attend university in four-day intensive teaching blocks for around 12 days each year, while continuing to work full-time.

They will also have to complete independent study assignments, including online learning. A skills coach at the University and a workplace supervisor will undertake regular progress reviews and support apprentices in their work and studies.

In addition to campus lectures, apprentices are expected to agree projects with their employer to apply what they have learned to real-world business challenges.

Qualifications Awarded

All successful graduates are awarded a BA (Hons) Business Management Professional degree from Manchester Metropolitan University, as well as a Level 6 degree apprenticeship.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must be in full-time employment and:

• Be 18 or older
• Have the right of abode and right to work in the UK to qualify for funding
• Meet course entry requirements

Successful applicants typically have management experience and relevant qualifications at Level 4 or 5 (including higher national certificates, diplomas, NVQs, and foundation degrees).

Applicants should have a minimum of 104 UCAS points at A-level (grades BCC) or an equivalent (for example, BTEC DMM).

Apprentices aged 16 to 18 who do not hold Level 2 or GCSE Maths and English Qualifications will be required to complete Functional Skills alongside the apprenticeship.

Apprentices aged 19 or over who do not hold or are unable to evidence achievement of Level 2 or GCSE Maths and English Qualifications will be required to undertake an initial assessment to assess their current working level. The outcome of this will be shared with the employer to inform the decision as to whether the apprentice will study Functional Skills alongside the apprenticeship.

There are no additional costs for these qualifications.

Funding

Degree apprenticeships are paid for by employers, not apprentices.

Employers with a payroll of more than £3 million can use their apprenticeship levy contributions to pay for places on apprenticeship programs.

Any business with a payroll below £3 million is eligible for government funding that will cover at least 95% of the cost of an apprenticeship program.

Additional incentives are also available to employers who take on young apprentices.

Next Steps

For employers, the University will support every step of the way to offer apprenticeships at their organisation, whether they intend to upskill current employees or attract new recruits.

For employees, if they are already employed, they should encourage their employer to contact the University to discuss offering an apprenticeship.

For applicants, they can sign up to the Degree Apprenticeship mailing list to get alerts about vacancies and events.

Apprenticeship vacancies with partner employers are advertised, and applicants can sign up to the degree apprenticeship mailing list to get alerts about vacancies and events.