Register Your Interest - Improvement Specialist Higher Apprenticeship

Level 5 Apprenticeship: Leading the deployment of improvement strategies.

Occupational summary

Improvement Specialists are responsible for leading the deployment of improvement strategy, for training others and for providing broad and deep technical expertise in advanced and complex Lean and Six Sigma, Project and Change Management principles and tools to enable identification and delivery of improvement opportunities aligned to key business goals.

• Typical jobs include: Business Improvement Consultant, Continuous Improvement Consultant, Process Excellence Manager, Business Transformation Consultant, Environmental Manager, Environmental Data Analyst, Environmental Health and Safety Manager.

Knowledge

Improvement Specialists will develop the capability to lead effective improvement teams by understanding team dynamics, motivation, and coaching. They will manage complex projects through robust planning, risk management, and change strategies. They will use their awareness of commercial and regulatory environments to align improvements with business needs using structured methodologies, Lean principles, and customer insight tools. Improvement Specialists will apply data acquisition and statistical techniques to assess process stability, capability, and root causes. They will plan and analyse experiments, prioritise improvements using creative tools, implement failure mode avoidance methods, and ensure sustainability through control and prevention planning.

For a full list of knowledge the Improvement Specialist will demonstrate, please view the occupational standard held by Skills England.

Skills

• Lead improvement teams by holding stakeholders accountable and fostering effective relationships.
• Support strategic deployment of continuous improvement.
• Communicate clearly through concise proposals and share progress using appropriate formats.
• Train and guide others in selecting and applying improvement tools and methods.
• Manage multi-stakeholder projects, and design effective engagement and communication strategies.
• Scope and prioritise improvement opportunities aligned with organisational goals, lead process mapping, and plan Lean deployments with relevant performance metrics.
• Ensure accurate interpretation of data, root cause identification, and performance measurement.
• Conduct and optimise experiments, apply Statistical Process Control, and guide benchmarking.
• Lead failure mode avoidance, support control planning, and embed learning to ensure long-term sustainability of improvements.

For a full list of skills the Improvement Specialist will demonstrate, please view the occupational standard held by Skills England.

Behaviours

• Display a strong drive for results by leading cross-functional teams, inspiring stakeholders, and delivering sustained improvements with a proactive, can-do attitude.
• Exemplify professionalism, integrity, and trust while remaining adaptable to business needs.
• Promote data-driven, customer-focused decision-making.
• Model continuous development for themselves and others and take a proactive approach to safety, encouraging compliance and suggesting improvements.

For a full list of behaviours the Improvement Specialist will display, please view the occupational standard held by Skills England.

Entry requirements

Employers have discretion to set their own entry criteria for this apprenticeship.

Progression routes

• Following successful completion of endpoint assessment the apprentice will hold a level 5 apprenticeship qualification.
• Further development can be achieved through the Level 6 Improvement Leader apprenticeship.

Key information

• Level (At end of programme): Level 5
• Maximum Duration: 20 months
• Available Funding: £9,000 funding band maximum available through the Apprenticeship Levy. Employers that do not pay the Levy will fund 5% of the funding band maximum.

Who's it for?

Targeted towards existing employees in a role involving implementing business improvements.

Recommended training provider(s)

• Capella

Start date

• TBC

Register Your Interest

To be the first to know once applications open, register your interest today!