Invest in your leaders and transform your organisation. The Cranfield Senior Leader Apprenticeship+ Executive MBA, delivered in partnership with Grant Thornton, combines the practical benefits of the Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship with the academic rigour and global perspective of a world-class Executive MBA.

This innovative programme is designed to develop resilient, inclusive, and strategic leaders who can navigate today’s complex business landscape and position your organisation for long-term success.

Why choose Cranfield for your leadership development provider? 

For your organisation

  • Strategic impact: Align your leadership team’s development with your organisational goals through applied learning and work-based projects.
  • Real-time results: Apprentices use the knowledge, skills, and behaviours gained during the programme to tackle strategic challenges and drive immediate change.
  • Succession planning: Prepare leaders to step into senior leadership roles, ensuring business continuity and future-proofing your organisation.
  • Exclusive insights: Access Cranfield’s cutting-edge research, industry connections, and world-class faculty to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market.

For your employees

  • Leadership excellence: Build the skills to lead effectively, set strategic direction, and inspire teams to deliver measurable impact.
  • Resilience and adaptability: Equip leaders with the tools to navigate uncertainty and manage organisational transformation.
  • Global perspectives: Enhance the employee’s leadership mindset and broaden their horizons through peer learning, diverse networks and a global mindset.
  • Prestigious qualification: Graduates will build up from a PG Dip to earn an internationally excellent Executive MBA, positioning them as top-tier leaders.

Programme Overview: A comprehensive leadership journey

Two integrated stages

Stage One: Senior Leader Apprenticeship (15 months)

  • Apprentices will develop core leadership competencies aligned with the Level 7 Senior Leader Standard.
  • They will apply learning directly to your organisation through work-based projects and benefit from their interactions with a diverse peer cohort.
  • Students will prepare for the End-Point Assessment (EPA) with a Strategic Business Proposal, co-created with your organisation.

Stage Two: Executive MBA (13 months)

  • The students will transfer to the Executive MBA Programme where they will extend their knowledge beyond functional expertise, building a holistic understanding of business and leadership.
  • This will enable them to drive career progression and enable succession planning through advanced leadership capabilities.

What sets this programme apart?

Applied learning for immediate organisational impact

Your employees won’t just learn theory—they’ll apply it. Through strategic projects, apprentices contribute to your business’s growth agenda, solving complex problems and leading transformative change.

Comprehensive leadership capabilities

Graduates of the programme will be able to:

  • Develop and review operational policies and practices to ensure alignment with the strategic needs of the organisation.
  • Define and deliver strategic objectives that align with your organisation’s vision.
  • Cultivate collaborative relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
  • Manage budgets, resources, and risks to optimise performance and value creation.
  • Develop operational policies to meet organisational goals and navigate change effectively.
  • Learners will become more skilled and resilient senior leaders whilst gaining new knowledge in areas including data analytics, organisational resilience, and managing strategic innovation.

A safe space for cross-sector learning

Apprentices will work alongside peers from diverse industries and backgrounds, exchanging best practices and gaining new perspectives in a collaborative environment. Our Chatham House rules inspired discussions aim to dive deep into the art of management and to progress knowledge without sharing sensitive or commercial information, an approach which has been appreciated by the learners.

Programme benefits at a glance

For employers

  • Increased leadership capacity to address strategic challenges.
  • Stronger alignment between employee development and business outcomes.
  • Enhanced employee retention and engagement through investment in career growth.
  • Address and encourage social mobility challenges in your workplace by developing diverse future leaders via the inclusive apprenticeship route.

For participants

  • A globally recognised, top-ranked Executive MBA qualification.
  • Advanced leadership skills and a deep understanding of complex organisational management.
  • Access to Cranfield’s world-class resources, faculty, and networks
  • Enhanced confidence to lead complex, advanced and demanding business assignments.

Next Steps: Invest in your organisation’s future

Nominate your leaders today

If you’re ready to develop the next generation of senior leaders in your organisation, complete our to start the application process.

Let’s talk

For a personalised consultation, contact our to explore how this programme can address your organisation’s unique challenges.