Level 6 (at end of programme)
24 months maximum duration
£15,000 funding band maximum available through the Apprenticeship Levy. Employers that do not pay the Levy will fund 5% of the funding band maximum.
Improvement Leader
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 and Change / Transformation Leader.
Knowledge:
Improvement Leaders will develop the ability to create and deploy strategy using tools such as Hoshin Kanri, SWOT, PESTLE, and various growth matrices including Ansoff, BCG, and GE-McKinsey. They will evaluate business benefits through techniques like net present value and activity-based costing. Leaders will form and guide teams effectively by applying emotional intelligence, reinforcement strategies, and understanding team dynamics. They will stay current with advances in Continuous Improvement and Operational Excellence, and communicate progress clearly using A3 thinking. They will select and scope projects using business performance metrics, assess measurement systems through auditing, and apply advanced data analysis methods including regression, forecasting, and queuing theory. Leaders will also 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:
Improvement Leaders will demonstrate the ability to lead continuous improvement by shaping business plans, identifying opportunities, and creating deployment plans that support a culture of improvement. They will define and communicate financial and non-financial benefits, manage improvement portfolios with effective governance, and lead teams while resolving performance issues. Leaders will support capability development through targeted learning and facilitate project reviews and coaching. They will ensure clear reporting, promote evidence-based problem definition, and guide method selection to support decision-making. They will align improvement efforts with customer insight, lead project scoping, and apply Lean, process mapping, and data analysis tools. By supporting experimentation, simulation, and root cause analysis, they will improve process performance. Leaders will also advance improvement through the use of Statistical Process Control, Failure Mode Avoidance, and benchmarking.
Behaviours:
Improvement Leaders will demonstrate a strong drive for results, acting as role models for continuous improvement and operational excellence to enhance customer experience and deliver benefits. They will support team performance, coaching others and addressing challenges where needed. They will show professionalism through resilience and the ability to challenge, influence, and engage senior stakeholders. They will think strategically, encourage future-focused thinking, and build networks to share knowledge and best practices. Improvement Leaders will also identify and act on opportunities to improve safe working practices.
Entry requirements
Employers have discretion to set their own entry criteria for this apprenticeship.
Please contact us if you are interested.
Progression routes
Training providers:
Training provider analysis
Next steps
This programme starts in TBC
For more information, please contact us