Senior Leader Level 7 Apprenticeship
A Senior Leader influences at a higher organisational level, including sometimes at Board (or equivalent) level, and sets the culture and tone across their area of responsibility. They may work in varied environments including in an office, onsite, or remotely and demonstrate a high level of flexibility and adaptability to meet the needs of the organisation. In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with internal stakeholders such as members of their team, other senior leaders/managers, support services (for example: finance, marketing, HR) and project groups and, in larger organisations, they may be part of a wider specialist team.
When Can I Start an Apprenticeship?
Looking for a new career, job or maybe a qualification to take your current role to the next level?
Previously apprenticeships were primarily aimed towards 16-18 year olds but government reforms introduced in March 2017 mean that there is no longer an upper age limit for commencing an apprenticeship, even if you already possess a degree or higher level qualification (all applicants must be eligible for funding).
Starting an apprenticeship is dependent on your age and whether you have secured an offer of an apprenticeship from an employer.
You can apply for an apprenticeship while you’re still at school, but you cannot start until you have officially left school and completed your exams.
You need to be 16 or over by the end of the summer holidays to start the apprenticeship.
Provided you have left school and have an employment offer in place, then starting employment as an apprentice can occur throughout the year.
If you successfully apply for a vacancy, you may be able to start employment straight away.
Likewise, if you are already in employment and your employer is looking to train you through an apprenticeship, sign-up and enrolment can take place quite quickly.
However, the start date for attending college for training, where required, or if delivered online, when sessions begin, will vary depending on the type of apprenticeship.
Some apprenticeships will have fixed attendance with training on-campus commencing at the start of the autumn term, with no availability for starting the training mid-year.
For other apprenticeships where the training is delivered entirely online, it may be possible to commence the training immediately.
Whichever delivery method applies, this will be communicated to you and your employer post-employment and sign-up.
Who is the course for?
The Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship is aimed at individuals who are in, or moving into, strategic roles within an organisation. It will support organisations looking to build and develop leadership capacity within their existing management team.
This occupation is found in small, medium and large organisations in the public, private or third sectors and sustainability as an area of the economy including health, finance, engineering, manufacturing, business and professional services, education, retail, leisure, technology and construction.
Typical job titles include:
Associate director
Business unit head
Business unit head
Chief executive officer
Chief financial officer
Chief information officer
Chief operating officer
Divisional head
Executive director
He registrar
Head of department/faculty
Warrant officer
Chief financial officer
Chief information officer
Chief operating officer
Divisional head
Executive director
He registrar
Head of department/faculty
Warrant officer
Occupation summary
Senior Leader
Senior Leaders are a key component of all types of business model where there is a workforce to lead, manage and support. The broad purpose of the occupation is to provide clear, inclusive and strategic leadership and direction relating to their area of responsibility within an organisation. Typically, this involves setting, managing and monitoring achievement of core objectives that are aligned to the overall strategic objectives of their organisation’s Board (or equivalent). In a smaller organisation they are also likely to contribute to the execution and achievement of these strategic objectives.
Depending on the size of their organisation, a Senior Leader may be responsible for reporting results relating to their area of responsibility to a Board, trustees, shareholders, executive team or to other senior management within the organisation. Externally, a Senior Leader acts as an ambassador for their organisation with wide-ranging networks typically involving customers/clients, supply chains and statutory/regulatory bodies.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for:
- Setting direction, vision, governance and providing a clear sense of purpose for their area of responsibility
- Providing clear and inclusive leadership
- Identifying longer-term opportunities and risks using data from internal intelligence sources and external influences
- Developing sustainable, ethical, innovative and supportive cultures that get the best from people and enable the delivery of results
- Resources that may include budgets, people, assets and facilities
- Staying up to date with innovation and championing its adoption
- Keeping pace with – and responding to change – by leading agile transformation
- Leading and promoting sustainable business practices
- Responding and managing crisis situations
Core occupation duties
DUTY | KSBS |
|---|---|
Duty 1 Set the overall strategic direction of their area of responsibility in partnership with the Board (or equivalent), encouraging employees to buy into the organisation’s vision. | K1 K2 K6 K13 K14 |
Duty 2 Lead on the development and critical review of operational policies and practices within their area of responsibility, to ensure they are aligned to the needs of the organisation and remain fit for purpose and sustainable. | K2 K6 K16 K19 |
Duty 3 Lead and influence agreed projects to deliver organisational strategy such as change and agile transformation programmes, diversification, new product implementation, and customer experience improvement. | K3 K5 K6 K7 K14 K15 |
Duty 4 Make decisions about organisational resource requirements (budgets, people, technology) based on strategic insight and reliable evidence. | K4 K6 K7 K8 K9 |
Duty 5 Lead and respond to crisis management, assessing the risks and opportunities which could affect business/department performance, and finding solutions that meet the needs of both the organisation and its customers/stakeholders in a responsible and ethical way. | K5 K6 K17 K19 |
Duty 6 Lead people development including talent management, succession planning, workforce design, and coaching, and mentoring arrangements for people within their area of responsibility. | K6 K10 K11 K18 |
Duty 7 Promote an ethical, inclusive, innovative and supportive culture that generates continuous business improvement. | K6 K10 K11 |
Duty 8 Report to the Board (or relevant governance/management structure) on the progress of their operational activities towards achieving business goals. | K12 K13 |
Duty 9 Cultivate and maintain collaborative relationships with key senior internal and external stakeholders to influence key decision makers as appropriate. | K4 K7 K12 K13 |
Duty 10 Shape the approach to external communications for their area of responsibility and ensure it aligns with any wider organisational communications strategy. | K15 K20 |
Duty 11 Proactively keep up to date with social, economic and technological trends and developments relevant to their area of responsibility and wider organisation, and promote innovation to address changing requirements and to take advantage of new opportunities. | K3 K4 K7 K19 |
Duty 12 Ensure that their area of responsibility is compliant with internal governance, such as any assurance framework requirements, and with external governance, such as any regulatory and statutory requirements. | K2 K9 |
Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours
What knowledge, skills and behaviours are covered?
Knowledge
K1: How to shape organisational mission, culture and values.
K2: Organisation structures; business modelling; diversity; global and horizon scanning perspectives; governance and accountability; technological and policy implications.
K3: New market strategies, changing customer demands and trend analysis.
K4: Innovation; the impact of disruptive technologies (mechanisms that challenge traditional business methods and practices); drivers of change and new ways of working across infrastructure, processes, people and culture and sustainability.
K5: Systems thinking, knowledge/data management, research methodologies and programme management.
K6: Ethics and values-based leadership theories and principles.
K7: Competitive strategies and entrepreneurialism, approaches to effective decision making, and the use of big data and insight to implement and manage change.
K8: Financial strategies, for example scenarios, modelling and identifying trends, application of economic theory to decision-making, and how to evaluate financial and non- financial information such as the implications of sustainable approaches
K9: Financial governance and legal requirements, and procurement strategies.
K10: Organisational/team dynamics and how to build engagement and develop high performance, agile and collaborative cultures.
K11: Approaches to strategic workforce planning, for example, talent management, learning organisations, group work, workforce design, succession planning, diversity and inclusion.
K12: Influencing and negotiating strategies both upwards and outwards.
K13: The external social and political environment and use of diplomacy with diverse groups of internal and external stakeholders.
K14: Working with board and other company leadership structures.
K15: Brand and reputation management.
K16: Working with corporate leadership structures, for example, the markets it operates in, roles and responsibilities, who its stakeholders are and what they require from the organisation and the sustainability agenda.
K17: Crisis and risk management strategies.
K18: Coaching and mentoring techniques.
K19: Approaches to developing a Corporate Social Responsibility programme.
K20: The organisation’s developing communications strategy and its link to their area of responsibility.
Skills
S1: Use horizon scanning and conceptualisation to deliver high performance strategies focusing on growth/sustainable outcomes.
S2: Set strategic direction and gain support for it from key stakeholders.
S3: Undertake research, and critically analyse and integrate complex information.
S4: Lead change in their area of responsibility, create an environment for innovation and creativity, establishing the value of ideas and change initiatives and driving continuous improvement.
S5: Lead and respond in a crisis situation using risk management techniques.
S6: Act as a Sponsor/Ambassador, championing projects and transformation of services across organisational boundaries such as those impacted by sustainability and the UK Net Carbon Zero by 2050 target.
S7: Challenge strategies and operations in terms of ethics, responsibility, sustainability, resource allocation and business continuity/risk management.
S8: Apply principles relating to Corporate Social Responsibility, Governance and Regulatory compliance.
S9: Drive a culture of resilience and support development of new enterprise and opportunities.
S10: Oversee development and monitoring of financial strategies and setting of organisational budgets based on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and challenge financial assumptions underpinning strategies.
S11: Uses financial data to allocate resources.
S12: Oversee procurement, supply chain management and contracts.
S13: Use personal presence and “storytelling” to articulate and translate vision into operational strategies, demonstrating clarity in thinking such as consideration of sustainable approaches.
S14: Create an inclusive culture, encouraging diversity and difference and promoting well-being.
S15: Give and receive feedback at all levels, building confidence and developing trust, and enable people to take risks and challenge where appropriate.
S16: Enable an open culture and high-performance working environment and set goals and accountabilities for teams and individuals in their area.
S17: Lead and influence people, building constructive working relationships across teams, using matrix management where required.
S18: Optimise skills of the workforce, balancing people and technical skills and encouraging continual development.
S19: Manage relationships across multiple and diverse stakeholders.
S20: Lead within their area of control/authority, influencing both upwards and outwards, negotiating and using advocacy skills to build reputation and effective collaboration.
S21: Shape and manage the communications strategy for their area of responsibility.
Behaviours
B1: Work collaboratively enabling empowerment and delegation.
B2: Take personal accountability aligned to clear values.
B3: Curious and innovative – exploring areas of ambiguity and complexity and finding creative solutions.
B4: Value difference and champion diversity.
B5: Seek continuous professional development opportunities for self and wider team.
Additional Qualifications
English and Maths
Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.
Professional Recognition
This standard aligns with the following professional recognition:
- Chartered Management Institute for Chartered Manager or Chartered Fellow individual member grade
- The Institute of Leadership for Management for Fellow member grade
Assessment
How is the apprentice assessed?
This section sets out the requirements for end-point assessment (EPA) for the Senior Leader apprenticeship standard. It explains how EPA for this apprenticeship must operate.
| On-programme (typically 24 months) | Training to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) of the occupational standard. Training towards English and mathematics Level 2, if required. Compiling a portfolio of evidence. |
| End-point assessment gateway | The employer must be content that the apprentice is working at or above the level of the occupational standard. Apprentices must have achieved English and mathematics Level 2. Apprentices must submit: • A portfolio of evidence The EPAO must sign-off the strategic business proposal title and scope, at the gateway, to confirm its suitability prior to the work commencing. |
| End-point assessment (typically 5 months) | Assessment method 1: Strategic business proposal, presentation with questioning With the following grades: Assessment method 2: Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence With the following grades: Performance in these assessment methods will determine the overall apprenticeship standard grade of: |
| Professional recognition | Aligns with recognition by: • Chartered Management Institute – Chartered Manager or Chartered Fellow • The Institute of Leadership and Management – Fellow |
College Attendance
For HR at levels 3, 5 and 7, college attendance for delivery workshops is required once per month at either our Colchester Campus or at our delivery site in Norwich. In-between workshops, apprentices will access their online learning platform to complete self-study activities towards their knowledge and bespoke work-based activities to develop their skills and behaviours.
To apply for this apprenticeship please read through the information below and then click the ‘Apply Online’ button from the menu located further down the page where you will be able to proceed with your application.
In order to enrol onto this apprenticeship programme you must either:
- be already in employment in a suitable role with an employer willing to put you through the apprenticeship training
or
- have an employer willing to appoint you as an apprentice in a suitable role and put you through the apprenticeship training
If you are unsure about any of the above and would like to speak to our apprenticeships team directly then please contact us using the below:
01206 712043 – Applicant Enquiries or email:
ci.apprenticeships@colchester.ac.uk
Employer Enquiries
If you would be interested to find out more about how this apprenticeship can work for your business or already have a member of staff who this apprenticeship would be perfect for please contact us using the ‘Hire an Apprentice: Enquire Here’ button in the menu below.
Information for Employers
What about support in the workplace?
Skilled and knowledgeable staff must be available to support the apprentice as they complete work-based tasks.
All Apprenticeships are employer-led and are the responsibility of the employer, with support of training providers.
Apprenticeships FAQ
How is my business going to benefit from an Apprentice?
Fill your skills gaps: an Apprentice’s training is tailored to your organisation’s needs, resulting in a loyal, motivated work force Increase productivity by developing staff skills and expertise.
Value for money: a cost effective way to attract new talent and fresh eyes into your organisation.
Cost saving: we can advertise your vacancies and recruit the best candidates for your needs.
An industry recognised professional qualification can be built into the course which your apprentice will bring back to the business, providing value for money and a return on investment in their career as well as bringing back up to date knowledge from college.
What is expected of the employer?
When taking on an apprentice, there are certain expectations that must be met by the both the employer and the apprentice. As the employer, you are expected to:
- Pay the minimum wage for an apprentice
- Provide a full contract of employment for your apprentice
- Offer the same benefits package to your apprentice as other employees
- Arrange for a workplace mentor for your apprentice
- Deliver a safe working environment
- Ensure opportunities are made available to allow the learning of new skills and knowledge within the apprentice’s contracted working hours
- Ensure the apprentice is given opportunities within contracted working hours to develop maths and English skills, where a GCSE grade A-C (or higher) has not been previously attained
What will this cost my business?
Levy paying employers can access levy funds to pay for this programme, and our blended learning model can contribute to the 20% off- the-job training requirement.
The introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy in April 2017 has changed the way that government funds apprenticeships in England. All businesses operating within the UK with a wage bill of over £3million are required to contribute to the Apprenticeship Levy.
- If the levy applies to your business you will be required to pay 0.5% of your entire wage bill into the levy. This will be offset against a levy allowance worth £15,000 for each tax year.
- You will only be able to use your levy payment for government backed apprenticeships.
- Levy payments will expire after 18 months.
Speak to an Advisor at CI Business Solutions on 01206 712727 to make your levy payments work for you.
Non-levy paying employers will need to contribute 5% of the maximum funding band as published by the Skills Funding Agency for the delivery of training and assessment for their apprenticeship.
Levy paying employers will pay the full cost of the agreed funding band using their Digital Apprenticeship account.
Employers with less than 50 employees who are recruiting an apprentice aged 16-18 years old will not be required to pay the contribution fee.
Any associated cost to the individual will be made clear at the interview.
What about support in the workplace?
Skilled and knowledgeable staff must be available to support the apprentice in the workplace.
Does the apprentice have to attend college?
College attendance where required will be communicated post-application and enrolment.
Why should I choose Colchester Institute to support my recruitment and retention?
Colchester Institute is the largest college provider of apprenticeships in Greater Essex. We are experts at connecting the right people, to the right training, to the right business – and when it comes to Apprenticeships, our Apprenticeship Advisors can support your business every step of the way.
As part of our service we can support your business with:
- Advertising the Apprenticeship vacancy
- Manage the applications received in line with your individual requirements
- Match prospective candidates already known to us
- Conduct initial pre-screening for candidates
- Carry out visits to your premises alongside regular reviews to support you, your staff and your apprentice
- Advice on any grants or funding where available
Our team will provide:
- A fee free recruitment service.
- Personal 1:1 Apprenticeship Levy advice and guidance.
- A dedicated Account Manager.
- Industry experienced, professional, technical trainers.
- Bespoke programmes available upon request.
- An Essex priority skills focus.
- Free employer events.
Off-The-Job Training FAQ
Off-the-Job Training (OJT) is one of the key requirements for all apprenticeship standards.
Apprentices must spend 20% of their contracted working hours undertaking Off-the-Job Training, which is defined as “learning undertaken outside of the normal day-to-day working environment and leads toward the achievement of an apprenticeship.”
Off-the-Job Training must be directly relevant to the apprentice’s programme and teach them new knowledge, skills and behaviours that will help them reach competence in their occupation and ensure that apprentices are actively learning and working to attain the required knowledge and skills within their sector while enrolled in their placement program.
What does Off-the-Job Training Look Like?
Off-the-Job Training must account for at least 20% of an apprentice’s contracted working hours within their full-time employment as an apprentice.
This means that their time might be broken down like the below:
- 5 x 7 working hours in a day = 35 working hours in a week
- 52 working weeks in a year x 35 working hours = 1820 total working hours in a year
- 20% Off-the-Job Training requirement of the 1820 hours = 364 hours dedicated to OJT over the course of the apprenticeship
- This is also equivalent to the apprentice spending one day per week during their 12-month apprenticeship undertaking Off-the-Job Training
The above depends on their contracted working hours within the day and/or working week, as well as the length of their programme.
For example, Apprentices working more hours in the day and the week, as well as those whose programmes are longer than 12 months in duration, then their Off-the-Job Training requirement will still consist of 20% of their contracted hours but the total number of working hours and total time dedicated to OJT will be different the above.
Why is Off-the-Job Training Conducted within the Apprentice’s Contracted Hours?
An apprenticeship is a work-based programme, and any training that contributes towards an apprentice’s development should be included in their contracted working hours.
The Department for Education (DfE) has said that it would be unreasonable to expect an apprentice to undertake training that is part of their apprenticeship in their own time, therefore if training must take place outside of the apprentice’s working hours, then this should be recognised by both the Employer and Training Provider.
An example of this would be if an apprentice has to attend a 2-hour lecture scheduled after their working hours, then arrangements should be made by the training provider and employer for the apprentice to make up the time by leaving work 2 hours early.
What does Off-the-Job Training Include?
Off-the-Job Training can include a number of activities that can take place on or off the employer’s normal work premises.
If you are unsure of whether an activity can be regarded as Off-the-Job Training, the below questions form a useful point of reference:
- Is the activity directly relevant to the apprenticeship?
- Is the activity teaching new knowledge, skills and behaviours?
- Is the learning taking place in the apprentice’s contracted working hours?
If the answers to the questions are all yes, then this counts as towards OJT. These can include:
The Teaching of Theory
This can include lectures, role playing, simulation exercises, online learning, manufacturer training and so on. Teaching theory should help the apprentice better understand their role, the topics and subjects relevant to their role and their sector in more detail.
Practical Training
This can include shadowing, mentoring, industry visits, attendance at competitions and so on. This training should practically train the apprentice and teach them skills that they can use in their current job or in a future position.
Learning Support
This refers to learning support provided by the Employer or the Training Provider. Some apprentices may require more assistance in their programme to help them reach their best potential. This includes time spent conducting projects, writing assignments and so on.
Learning support counts towards OJT to ensure that all individuals have the support needed and that all barriers to education and training are removed. This could include:
- physical adjustments
- access to accessibility software
- additional revision classes
- personal support from their Training Provider.
Time spent on assignments is also included in OJT as new knowledge, skills and behaviours can be developed while completing them.
While OJT takes place outside of normal working duties, it is possible to undergo OJT at the apprentice’s workstation. For example, OJT could include learning to use a new machine or undertaking e-learning. While conducting this training, normal working duties should not be required of the apprentice.
Off-the-Job Training can also take place at home via distance learning. If there is a program of study that the apprentice can complete online that contributes to the completion of their apprenticeship, as long as the learning package is included as part of a blended learning programme, this can be counted as an OJT activity.
The activity that the apprentice undertakes is the main focus of OJT. As long as the OJT activity actively contributes to the completion of the apprenticeship, the location matters less than the activity itself.
Essentially OJT is Employers or Training Providers setting aside time for the apprentice to improve themselves, their knowledge and/or their skills.
Off-the-Job Training cannot include:
- Enrolment
- Induction, including any basic safety, compliance or diversity training
- Training to acquire knowledge, skills and behaviours that are not required in the standard or framework
- Progress reviews or on-programme assessment needed for an apprenticeship framework or standard
- Training which takes place outside the apprentice’s working hours*
- English and maths (up to level 2) which is funded separately
- Time spent on compulsory activities in the apprenticeship, including time spent on English and Maths qualifications
(*although, as mentioned before, there are exceptions if this time is made up within their working hours)
The government acknowledges that apprentices will inevitably want to spend time outside of working hours to familiarise themselves with their work. However, any personal initiative shown by the apprentice will not count towards Off-the-Job Training.
Any time that an apprentice takes to conduct OJT is counted towards their normal working hours. That means that if an apprentice is interested in undertaking training outside of their working hours, they should ask their Employer and Training Provider first and see if arrangements can be made to accommodate this.
Preparing for Off-the-Job Training?
It is the responsibility of the Employer and Training Provider to ensure that the apprentice spends 20% of their apprenticeship undertaking Off-the-Job Training. Completion of OJT must be documented and evidenced in order for the apprentice to complete the apprenticeship.
In order to comply with the funding rules, each apprentice should receive a commitment statement from the Employer/Training Provider outlining the program of training the apprentice will receive and how the Employer/Training Provider intends to spend the Off-the-Job Training time. The recipient of ESFA funding (usually the main provider) should keep, update and maintain the relevant files.
The ESFA will remain flexible about the type of evidence that should be retained and provided. They want Training Providers and Employers to use naturally occurring evidence where it is available. Many Training Providers have their own systems of collecting and storing evidence. Some examples of naturally occurring evidence might include:
- Apprentice timesheets
- Training logs
- Registers
- HR training systems
For more details and examples on how to proceed with Off-the-Job Training, you can click here to see the full OJT document from the Education and Skills Funding Agency.
Funding and Financial Support FAQ
What will this cost my Business?
Non-levy paying employers will need to contribute 5% of the maximum funding band as published by the Skills Funding Agency for the delivery of training and assessment for their apprenticeship. Levy paying employers will pay the full cost of the agreed funding band using their Digital Apprenticeship account.
Apprenticeship Funding Bands
Apprenticeship Funding Bands
Employers with less than 50 employees who are recruiting an apprentice aged 16-18 years old will not be required to pay the contribution fee. Any associated cost to the individual will be made clear at the interview.
How is the Apprenticeship funded?
Full government funding is available for an apprentice aged between 16-18 years old and where the employer employs less than 50 employees. Full funding is also available for apprentices aged 19 to 24 who have either been in care or has an education health care plan.
An employer contribution fee will be required for:
- Non-levy paying employers recruiting an apprentice aged 19 or over
- Non-levy paying employers who employ more than 50 employees and recruit a 16-18 year old apprentice
Payment plans and schedules can be discussed with our apprenticeship Account Managers prior to signing contracts. For more information about apprenticeship contribution fees please contact one of our Apprenticeship Advisers on 01206 712043.
Apprentice Minimum Wage
A National Minimum Wage for apprentices was introduced on 1 October 2010. The wage applies to all apprentices aged under 19; and apprentices aged 19 or over in the first year of their Apprenticeship.
As of April 1st 2023 the national minimum wage for apprentices is £5.28 an hour and applies to time working, plus time spent training that is part of the Apprenticeship. This rate applies to apprentices under 19 and those aged 19 or over who are in their first year. Apprentices must be paid at least the national minimum wage rate if they’re an apprentice aged 19 or over and have completed their first year.
Employers are free to pay above the new wage and many do so, but employers must ensure that they are paying their apprentices at least the minimum wage. If an apprentice is on a higher wage, the employer must continue to pay that for the remainder of the training or until the apprentice becomes eligible for the full national minimum wage.
You must be at least:
- school leaving age to get the National Minimum Wage
- aged 23 to get the National Living Wage – the minimum wage will still apply for workers aged 22 and under
Current rates
These rates are for the National Living Wage (for those aged 23 and over) and the National Minimum Wage (for those of at least school leaving age). The rates change on 1 April every year.
| 23 and over | 21 to 22 | 18 to 20 | Under 18 | Apprentice | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2023 | £10.42 | £10.18 | £7.49 | £5.28 | £5.28 |
Apprentices
Apprentices are entitled to the apprentice rate if they’re either:
- aged under 19
- aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship
Example: An apprentice aged 21 in the first year of their apprenticeship is entitled to a minimum hourly rate of £5.28.
Apprentices are entitled to the minimum wage for their age if they both:
- are aged 19 or over
- have completed the first year of their apprenticeship
Example: An apprentice aged 21 who has completed the first year of their apprenticeship is entitled to a minimum hourly rate of £10.18
Previous rates
The following rates were for the National Living Wage (previously for those aged 25 and over) and the National Minimum Wage (for those of at least school leaving age) from April 2016.
From 1st April 2021 the National Living Wage was extended to 23 and 24 year olds.
Financial Information and Support
Government support
Employers are not required to pay Class 1 National Insurance contributions for an apprentice, if the apprentice:
- is under 25 years old
- is on an approved UK government apprenticeship standard or framework (these can differ depending on UK country)
- earns less than £967 a week (£50,270 a year)
Employers with fewer than 50 people working for them will be able to train 16-18-year-old apprentices without making a contribution towards the costs of training. The government will pay 100% of the training costs for these individuals.
Funding
The government will pay employers, no matter what size, £1,000 for each 16-18 year old apprentice they employ.
Eligibility
All employers are eligible for a £1,000 payment for taking on an apprentice who is either:
- aged 16 to 18 years old
- under 25 and has an education, health and care plan or has been in the care of their local authority
This £1000 payment will be paid to your training provider and you will receive it from them.
When you’ll get paid
We’ll send the payment in 2 equal instalments for each apprentice.
To be eligible, your apprentice must complete:
- 90 days of their apprenticeship for your first payment
- 365 days of their apprenticeship for your second payment
Once the apprenticeship information has been checked, we will process the payments.
Payments will be made on the 14th working day of the month, it can take up to 3 days for the payments to reach your account.
You can track when your payments are due to be paid on your view applications page.
We cannot send any payments until we’ve received and verified the organisation and finance details. This could take up to 80 days.
The apprenticeship levy
The levy was introduced on 6 April 2017 and is charged at a rate of 0.5% of an employers’ pay bill, paid through PAYE on a monthly basis.
Each employer has a levy allowance of £15,000, this is not a cash payment. It works in a similar way to the personal tax allowance and cannot be used to purchase apprenticeship training.
The impact of the allowance means that fewer than 1.3% of UK employers, those with an annual pay bill of more than £3 million, are liable to pay the levy. Employers in England who pay the levy
will be able to get out more than they pay in, through a 10% top-up to their online accounts.
An employer’s pay bill is made up of the total amount of the employees’ earnings that are subject to Class 1 National Insurance contributions, such as:
– wages
– bonuses
– commissions
– pension contributions
What about non-levy paying employers?
Employers with a pay bill of less than £3 million a year will not need to pay the levy.
At least 90% of non-levy paying employers’ apprenticeship training and assessment costs in England will be paid for by the government. The government will ask these employers to make a 5% contribution to the cost, paid directly to the provider, and the government covers the rest. This cost will be spread over the lifetime of the apprenticeship.
The government is offering additional support to organisations with fewer than 50 employees* by paying 100% of training and assessment costs for their apprentices aged 16-18 and for those aged 19-24 formerly in care or with a local authority education, health and care plan.
Senior Leader Level 7 Apprenticeship
If you are ready to make an application then please click the Apply Online button in the menu below.
| Level | Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Location | Colchester |
| Duration | 24 months (this does not include EPA period) |
| Campus / Adult Skills Centre | Colchester Campus |
| Additional Cost Information | Optional Qualification: |
| Apprenticeship Funding Band (Levy paying employers) | £14,000 |
| Employer Contribution Fee (Non-levy paying employers) | £700 |
Disclaimer
All fees, prices and funding information shown on this page are for courses starting in the 2023-24 academic year unless stated otherwise, and are correct at the time of entering/printing information, however these may be subject to change due to factors outside of our control. The College cannot accept legal or financial liability as a result of any such changes.
Courses fees are generally not confirmed for September until June / July due to the above factors.
The course information describes programmes offered by Colchester Institute. The College takes all reasonable steps to provide courses as described, but cannot guarantee provision. The information is for guidance and does not form any part of a contract.
The College reserves the right to update and amend information as and when necessary. Colchester Institute will do its best to provide the courses shown, but may have to modify or withdraw a course depending on customer demand and other factors.
