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Level 7
Senior Leader (1.2)

The Senior Leader Apprenticeship End Point Assessment (EPA) Explained

As an Ofqual-recognised End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO), Elevate supports your Senior Leader apprenticeship End Point Assessment (EPA) needs. We provide practical assistance and clear guidance to ensure apprentices are well-prepared for their EPA success. Explore the details of this assessment below, or contact us for more information.

The Senior Leader role is found in small, medium, and large organisations across the public, private, and third sectors, as well as in industries focused on sustainability, such as health, finance, engineering, manufacturing, business and professional services, education, retail, leisure, technology, and construction. Senior Leaders are essential in any business model that involves leading, managing, and supporting a workforce.

The broad purpose of this role is to provide clear, inclusive, and strategic leadership and direction within their area of responsibility in an organisation. This typically involves setting, managing, and monitoring core objectives that align with the organisation’s overall strategic goals set by the Board (or equivalent). In smaller organisations, Senior Leaders may also play a more hands-on role in executing and achieving these strategic objectives. They influence at higher organisational levels, including the Board level, and help set the culture and tone across their areas of responsibility.

Senior Leaders work in varied environments, including offices, on-site locations, or remotely, and must be highly flexible and adaptable to meet organisational needs. Daily interactions include engaging with internal stakeholders like team members, other senior leaders, support services (such as finance, marketing, HR), and project groups. In larger organisations, they might be part of a specialist team. Depending on the organisation's size, they may be responsible for reporting their area’s results to a Board, trustees, shareholders, or senior management. Externally, Senior Leaders act as ambassadors for their organisation, building extensive networks with customers, clients, supply chains, and regulatory bodies.

Professional Recognition: Aligns with recognition by the Chartered Management Institute: Chartered Manager or Chartered Fellow and The Institute of Leadership and Management: Fellow.

Timeline: The Senior Leader Apprenticeship will typically take 24 months to complete with the end point assessment undertaken in the final 5 months of the apprenticeship.

For additional information about this apprenticeship, check out the Senior Leader apprenticeship End Point Assessment Plan.

Assessment methods

A Strategic Business Proposal

Component One: A Strategic Business Proposal. The strategic business proposal involves the apprentice completing a relevant and defined piece of work that has a real business benefit.

Component Two: Presentation with Questioning. Apprentices will prepare and deliver a presentation that, along with the strategic business proposal, appropriately covers the KSBs assigned to this method of assessment. It will be followed by questioning from the independent assessor.

Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence

A professional discussion is a two-way discussion which involves both the independent assessor and the apprentice actively listening and participating in a formal conversation. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to make detailed and proactive contributions to confirm their competency across the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) mapped to this assessment method.

What's the process for EPA?

Gateway

What does Gateway mean?

Gateway is a crucial stage that marks the transition from the on-program learning phase of an apprenticeship to the final assessment phase. It is the point where both the employer and the training provider agree that the apprentice has acquired the necessary knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) outlined in their apprenticeship standard and is ready to undertake the End Point Assessment (EPA). Gateway is essentially a readiness check, ensuring that the apprentice is prepared and has met all the prerequisites, such as achieving required qualifications, completing mandatory training and demonstrating competency in their role. This step is vital for setting up the apprentice for success in their final assessments.

To be all set for the EPA, Senior Leader apprentices need to meet these requirements:

Have achieved a minimum of Level 2 English and maths. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement the apprenticeship English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3 and British Sign Language qualification are an alternative to English qualifications for whom this is their primary language.

Completed all workplace learning and off-the-job training as evidence of the potential to demonstrate professional competence in relation to the required knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) of the standard. The apprentice should only be recommended for EPA when the employer is confident that the apprentice is occupationally competent and ready to undertake EPA.

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.

Fully remote and accessible

With Elevate, apprentices complete their End Point Assessment (EPA) for the Senior Leader Apprenticeship remotely. This flexibility allows apprentices to choose convenient scheduling options, whether during regular office hours or outside them. By providing a remote EPA, Elevate ensures that apprentices have the convenience and flexibility they need to succeed.

Information, advice and guidance

We provide comprehensive Guidance and Information Handbooks for the Senior Leader Apprenticeship, ensuring apprentices are fully informed and prepared. Additionally, our onboarding sessions for training providers cover all aspects of the End Point Assessment (EPA) process, including timelines and best practices. To further support apprentices, employers and providers, we offer a detailed Information, Advice and Guidance video, which includes a section on our 'Hot Tips', to help navigate every step of the apprenticeship journey.

Clear prices, no surprises

Elevate's EPA services are priced fairly and competitively and we always ensure our fees remain below the maximum 20% of the total apprenticeship cost. A pre-EPA fee is charged during the contracting phase to secure support materials and assessment booking. The remaining balance for the EPA is charged upon Gateway entry and EPA booking. Elevate caters to all group sizes and we offer a flexible approach to pricing, tailored to larger groups.

Browse our online guide to understand the distinction between a re-sit and a retake. For additional details, reach out to our team today. Please note VAT is charged for a re-sit and a re-take as these fees are not covered by the apprenticeship funding.

Here's what your investment brings

A flexible and highly responsive service
Comprehensive support for apprentices, providers, and employers across all the standards we assess. This includes employer EPA onboarding and scheduling meetings, standard-specific apprentice Information and Guidance Handbooks, a flexible booking system and Information, Advice, and Guidance (IAG) videos.
All apprentices receive performance feedback within 25 working days of assessment. Detailed feedback reports provided to apprentices.