Management Apprenticeships

Strategy & Change Leader

Level 6

Improvement Leader Apprenticeship Standard

Level 6

Improvement Leader Apprenticeship Standard

Designed for senior professionals leading transformation and direction
Combine strategic insight with practical improvement tools
Analyse complex organisational challenges effectively
Align improvement activity with organisational priorities
Lead measurable, high impact change initiatives

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Course Overview

This apprenticeship will provide learners with key capabilities in strategic leadership, change management, datadriven decision-making, and people development. You'll apply your learning directly to live projects, ensuring real-world relevance and immediate organisational impact. According to the Chartered Management Institute (CMI, 2020), 83% of managers who enhanced their leadership skills said that it increased their self-confidence, whilst 73% reported increased professional recognition of their management skills outside their organisation.

What You Will Achieve

Showcase your leadership expertise with these in-demand qualifications.

Strategy & Change Leader Certificate

KnowledgeBrief Management School

Improvement Leader Certificate

Skills England

CMI Level 7 Award in Strategic Management & Leadership Practice

Chartered Management Institute

CMI Chartered Manager Status (CMgr)

Chartered Management Institute

Integrated CMI Level 7 Award in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice

Lead with Strategic Influence and Senior-Level Impact

The CMI Level 7 Award in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice is designed for individuals ready to strengthen their strategic management and leadership practice. It supports learners to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to drive business activity in senior, regional, specialist, director or CEO management and leadership roles.

Strategy & Change Leader Person portrait

What You Will Learn

This programme is split into four parts, each containing multiple learning cycles designed to develop confident, strategic leaders capable of delivering meaningful and lasting organisational impact.

Develop strategic thinking, influence and organisational awareness.
Explore your leadership approach and how you set direction.
Create conditions for high performance.
Examine how people, systems and environments thrive.
Understand how leadership decisions impact alignment and engagement.

Use data to inform improvement.
Design meaningful measurement systems.
Identify trends and patterns using statistical tools.
Apply modelling techniques to test ideas and assess risk.
Use insights to shape decisions and drive performance.

Design lean, value focused processes.
Use structured approaches to diagnose challenges.
Deliver impactful solutions.
Lead high priority projects.
Build organisational capability and embed continuous improvement.

Lead strategic execution for lasting impact.
Create high performance environments.
Develop communication and storytelling skills to influence stakeholders.
Embed improvement into organisational routines and culture.
Shape a strategic improvement project with measurable impact.

Is This Programme the Right Fit for You?

Yes, all of our programmes are designed to fit around your current role while supporting meaningful development in the workplace:

Designed to fit around your current job responsibilities.
Combines on-the-job learning with structured off-the-job training.
Directly aligned to your real workplace challenges and responsibilities.
Includes regular progress reviews and feedback sessions.
Provides personalised one-to-one support throughout the programme.

You need:

To have the right to work in the UK.
To have lived in the UK continuously for the past 3 years.
To have not previously studied the course content.
To not undertake any other qualification during your apprenticeship.
To be able to apply your learning to your role.

Level 7 apprenticeships are government funded for apprentices aged under 22 at the start of their training.
Apprentices aged under 25 may also be fully funded if they have an Education, Health and Care plan and/or have been, or are, in the care of their local authority.
If you would like to confirm eligibility or explore how this programme can support your organisation, our team will guide you through the next steps. Contact us today.

You can start your apprenticeship with us at any time that suits you and your employer:

We offer monthly start dates throughout the year to provide flexibility.
Your start date will be agreed in partnership with your employer.
Onboarding begins once eligibility and funding checks are complete.
You will receive a structured induction before formal learning begins.
We work with you to ensure a smooth and timely start.

Once the programme is complete, you will be assessed through the End Point Assessment (EPA) by an independent, accredited organisation.

Strategic Improvement Report, Presentation, and Questioning

Presentation must be 45 to 50 minutes in duration.
The presentation is followed by questioning on the presentation and report, lasting 35 to 40 minutes.

Professional Discussion Underpinned by a Portfolio of Evidence

The assessor will ask open/competency-based questions to cover the KSBs mapped against this method.
Apprentices may refer to the portfolio of evidence when answering questions.

Designed to Help You Learn,
Apply and Succeed

Our bespoke learning platform gives you a personalised space to study with clarity and purpose. It helps you see what matters, understand why and apply your learning in real workplace situations. With tailored guidance, clear insight and a seamless experience, your journey is focused, achievable and connected to meaningful impact.

Personalised, relevant learning

KBPro LXP tailors content to your goals and context, guiding you through clear, practical steps that help to build confidence and capability.

Real, evidence-based content

Every unit, activity, and resource is grounded in proven research and applied practice, giving you insight that you can use immediately in your role.

Learning that adapts with you

KBPro provides a learning journey that grows with you, offering timely prompts, supportive guidance, and the right content at the right moment.

Unlimited workshops

Enjoy ongoing access to engaging, expert-led workshops. Each session combines practical learning with opportunities to collaborate, discuss, and apply new ideas.

Guidance that drives real impact

Personalised coaching that supports, advises and challenges you to reach your goals. Skills Coaches connect your learning to your role and key priorities.

Leaders in Action Masterclasses

Free access to our Leadership in Action webinar series. Join inspiring leaders worldwide as they share thoughts on today’s most important modern leadership topics.

AI essentials

Develop Practical AI Confidence
at Work with This Free AI Essentials
Bolt-On

AI Essentials gives you the opportunity to strengthen your understanding of AI through a flexible, self directed module that is optional and free of charge.

Designed to build practical confidence and workplace impact, it helps you explore how AI is used in real organisational contexts, where it can add value, and how to apply it responsibly through AI supported insight, workflow improvement, decision making and effective prompting.

Take the next step towards confident, practical use of AI
in your organisation.

Accredited by CMI, Chartered Management Institute

Our Strategy & Change Leader programme is accredited by CMI, the UK’s leading authority on Management and Leadership Qualifications. This recognition signals that the programme meets rigorous professional benchmarks and reflects the highest level of industry trust. For learners, it brings credibility, confidence, and a clear pathway to recognised professional standing. It also assures employers that their leaders are developing skills that are current, relevant, and aligned with the expectations of a respected chartered body.

Reliability You Can Count On

For clients and learners, our Good Ofsted rating is a clear measure of performance. It shows that our delivery is dependable and that our learning experience consistently drives real improvement. Learners progress with confidence through structured support. Coaches bring clarity and challenge. Our systems and quality assurance give organisations a partner they can trust.

If you want to work with a provider that delivers consistent quality and real progress, we are ready to support your goals. Let’s explore how we can help your people grow with confidence.

Learn more

Trusted by Over 700 Organisations
and More than 2,000 Learners

“The apprenticeship has profoundly impacted my personal and professional development, boosting my confidence through real-world challenges and mentorship. It provided practical experience, improved my skills, advanced my career, and doors to new opportunities.”

Atis Klavins

Factory Supervisor

“KnowledgeBrief offered excellent support with accessible coaches and regular check-ins. The apprenticeship helped me grow in my role, understand the wider business, and improve problem-solving and leadership skills. Completing it has given me confidence and a strong foundation for future career growth.”

Edward Roots

Remarketing Sales Executive

“Completing my apprenticeship with KnowledgeBrief transformed my skills, confidence, and opened doors to new career opportunities. The tailored support was excellent, and I highly recommend this programme for anyone looking to develop their career with recognised qualifications.”

Samuel Nichols

Recruitment Consultant

“We’ve just gone through annual reviews and, if I look at ratings from last year to this year, we have more excellent performers in our leadership team.”

Deborah Richardson

Training Manager

“KnowledgeBrief are best in class for their Leadership and Management training, highly professional and extremely knowledgeable coaches.”

Shelly Larsen-McHugh

Early in Careers Programme Manager

“My Apprenticeship through Wiltshire Council with KnowledgeBrief has enabled me to have a wider understanding of management principles. The guidance given was invaluable in enabling me to obtain my chartered management qualification with Distinction.”

Diane Ware CMgr MCMI, I.Eng FIHE

Principal Technical Officer (highways)

“Throughout the course, I was guided and supported by skilled Skills Coaches and attended informative workshops. By gaining my CMI qualification in Leadership and Management, I have been able to advance my career to the next level.”

Linda Drew

Assistant Team Manager

“It doesn’t matter what stage you are at in your Leadership or Management career, a Level 3 or 5 course will make you a better leader.”

Andy Blackstock

Head of Operations

“The Skills Coaches (who are our learners’ main point of contact) are delightful, always happy to help, engaging and provide the right level of support and advice to ensure their success.”

Wali Rahman

Organisational Development Officer

“The course has been fantastic and with the knowledge and frameworks you learn and can directly apply in your day job, you will become better at what you do.”