Senior Business Manager Review

I work supporting the area director. This involves acting as secretariat for SLT, providing assurance and co-ordination across business areas, leading on business continuity, actively promoting the people agenda. In addition I lead on business planning and learning compliance across the business areas.

Both through the training provider and within my organisation, I benefited from a well‑structured and highly supportive programme of learning. The academic elements provided a strong theoretical foundation, while my workplace offered meaningful opportunities to explore, apply, and test this learning in practice. The learning provider used a varied mix of delivery methods, including structured learning days, guided reading materials, and collaborative activities. Through this, I developed strong and supportive working relationships within my apprenticeship cohort. Overall, the programme was clearly well designed and progressive, with learning building logically over time and consistently reinforcing the connection between theory, practice, and professional development.

My line manager has provided exemplary support throughout, actively encouraging reflection, challenge, and development. I was also encouraged to broaden my internal network, engaging with colleagues across different teams and functions. This enabled me to gain a richer, contextual understanding of the concepts being studied and to see how they operate in real‑world organisational settings, significantly enhancing the overall value of the apprenticeship. In addition I also benefited from emotional support in the early days of the apprenticeship when I was less effective at balancing my workload with the demands of the apprenticeship.

I found my tutor and the module specialists to be exceptional throughout the programme. My tutor was approachable and supportive, always available when I needed additional guidance, and particularly understanding when I needed to take a short break from my studies. The course specialists were highly knowledgeable and effective in helping me translate private‑sector concepts, such as markets and competition, into a public‑sector context. This support greatly enhanced my understanding and confidence in applying the learning to my own workplace.

The apprenticeship has helped me perform my role more effectively by deepening my understanding of why decisions are made, not just what decisions are taken. It has strengthened my awareness of organisational context, governance, and risk, enabling me to see how priorities are shaped and balanced. The programme has also reinforced the importance of collaboration and inclusive leadership, helping me to lead more confidently across boundaries, engage stakeholders constructively, and encourage shared ownership of outcomes. This has improved both my decision‑making and my ability to influence positively within a complex, matrix‑managed environment.

Yes

I strongly recommend the apprenticeship to others who are committed to learning and developing their capabilities. I am honest that the workload is intense, particularly at the start, and it requires real commitment alongside a demanding role. However, the support is consistently there when needed. Line managers, tutors, and the DWP apprenticeship team provide time, guidance, and reassurance throughout. The programme gives me space to grow, learn from others’ experiences, and build confidence. As a result, I feel more capable and assured in my role and confident that I am adding real value back to the organisation through the work I deliver.