Register Your Interest - Improvement Leader Degree Apprenticeship

Developing improvement strategies and providing leadership in improvement for a business.

Occupational Summary

Improvement Leaders are responsible for developing improvement strategy, providing leadership in improvement for the business and for coaching and supporting Improvement Specialists in advanced analysis. The Improvement Leader typically reports to Board members or Heads of Department and manages (directly and/or matrix) a team of Improvement Specialists, who deploy the strategy, and lead improvement projects. They work closely with all functions of the business to support the setting and achievement of business goals, often accountable for Improvement activities within the largest-scale and highest priority programmes of work.

Typical jobs include:

• Lean Master
• Senior Lean Leader
• Senior Navigator
• Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt
• Senior Consultant
• Environmental Health and Safety Leader
• Logistics / Supply Chain Manager
• Change / Transformation Leader

Knowledge

• Create and deploy strategy using tools such as Hoshin Kanri, SWOT, PESTLE, and growth matrices including Ansoff, BCG, and GE-McKinsey
• Evaluate business benefits using techniques like net present value and activity-based costing
• Form and guide teams using emotional intelligence, reinforcement strategies, and understanding team dynamics
• Keep up to date with advances in Continuous Improvement and Operational Excellence
• Communicate progress using A3 thinking
• Select and scope projects with business performance metrics and auditing
• Apply advanced data analysis methods including regression, forecasting, and queuing theory
• Design and optimise experiments using simulation techniques and the General Linear Model

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

Skills

• Lead continuous improvement by shaping business plans and identifying opportunities
• Create deployment plans to support a culture of improvement
• Define and communicate financial and non-financial benefits
• Manage improvement portfolios with effective governance
• Lead teams and resolve performance issues
• Support capability development via targeted learning
• Facilitate project reviews and coaching
• Clear reporting and promoting evidence-based problem definition
• Guide method selection to support decision-making
• Align improvement efforts with customer insight
• Lead project scoping and apply Lean, process mapping, and data analysis tools
• Support experimentation, simulation, and root cause analysis to improve process performance
• Advance improvement through Statistical Process Control, Failure Mode Avoidance, and benchmarking

Behaviours

• Strong drive for results, acting as role models for continuous improvement and operational excellence
• Support team performance, coaching others and addressing challenges
• Professionalism through resilience, ability to challenge, influence, and engage senior stakeholders
• Think strategically, encourage future-focused thinking, and build networks to share best practices
• Identify and act on opportunities to improve safe working practices

Entry requirements

• Employers have discretion to set their own entry criteria for this apprenticeship
• Targeted towards individuals that already possess a Level 5 Improvement qualification

Progression routes

• Level (At end of programme): Level 6
• Maximum Duration: 24 months
• Available Funding: £15,000 funding band maximum through the Apprenticeship Levy. Employers not paying the Levy will fund 5% of the funding band maximum.
• Recommended training provider(s): Capella

Start date

• TBC

Register Your Interest

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