Senior People Professional (Level 7)

This occupation is found in small, medium and large organisations which sit within any of the public, private or third sectors. Senior People Professionals are found in all industries and are a key component of virtually all types of business model where there is a workforce to support and manage. The broad purpose of the occupation is to improve people practices in organisations in order to drive organisational performance and effectiveness. Senior People Professionals are the in-house experts in people, work and change. They champion the people agenda to create working environments and cultures that help get the best out of people, delivering great organisational outcomes.

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Apprenticeship

Senior People Professional

Training Provider

Keele University

Location

Blended, Online

Duration
28 months
Most Suitable For
Those who improve people practices in organisations in order to drive organisational performance and effectiveness.
Award
Level 7 Senior People Professional Apprenticeship and MSc (Masters) in Human Resource Management
Programme Cost

£19,000.

The Government have announced that for any Level 7 apprenticeship intakes starting 1st January 2026 onwards, employers can not use Levy or Government Co-investment to pay for the tuition fee. Employers will therefore need to finance 100% of the tuition fee. The only exceptions will be if the apprentice is aged 16 to 21, or Under 25 and either a care leaver or have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) at the start of their apprenticeship.

The apprenticeship tuition fee is paid using employer levy. Levy Paying Employers and Non-Levy Paying Employers, please read the DAS and Tuition steps within our Apprenticeships Process – Employer Guide for more information and instructions.

Additional Funding
  • If apprentice is under the age of 25, Employer may not have to pay Class 1 Employer National Insurance. Full details and criteria are found here. 
  • For apprenticeships starting between 1 August 2024 - 31 July 2026, employer may be eligible for £1,000 if apprentice is aged 16 - 18 years old (or 15 years of age if the apprentice’s 16th birthday is between the last Friday of June and 31 August); or aged between 19 and 24 years old and has either an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan provided by their local authority and / or has been, or are, in the care of their local authority. Full details and criteria are found within the relevant DfE Funding Rules.
  • Some Councils are providing incentive payments to local small employers who recruit and employ young apprentices. To find out more, including eligibility and how to apply for an incentive, please visit Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub (details within the GRANT presentation)
    • Lancashire County Council incentive is £3,000 for 100 Lancashire employers
    • Chorley Council incentive is £1,500 for Chorley employers
    • Fylde Borough Council incentive is £5,000 for Fylde employers recruiting a new apprentice who is a Fylde resident.
Start Date
September and January
Teaching Delivery
Mainly online with a few days face-to-face (Keele campus)
Key Learning Requirements
Apprenticeships require learners to achieve specific new knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs), which are detailed in the Apprenticeship Standard. These are achieved by;
1) Programme Teaching: The first 2 days are for induction and will take place on campus. The teaching delivery will then be mainly online comprising of 3 hour teaching sessions each week plus online resources, plus 6 days per year on campus.
2) Independent study: such as assignment research and write up.
3) Learning in the workplace; shadowing colleagues, completing programme assigned work based projects, day-to-day development within your current role duties/work activities, reflections with mentor, relevant training sessions.
Modules
This apprenticeship has 3 profession routes: Human Resource (HR), Organisation Development (OD) or Learning and Development (L&D). This provider offers the HR route only. This programme has fixed module delivery (you are unable to choose the modules studied). A list of modules is available on the course webpage or course materials.
Placements
This programme does not require external placements to be completed, although varied experiences are beneficial.
Assessments
Assessed throughout the programme by assignments, observations, evaluations and End Point Assessment.
Key Candidate Entry Requirements
• Employed minimum 30 hours a week in a suitable role for the duration of the apprenticeship. The apprenticeship duration may be extended to support staff who work less than this (will be looked at on individual basis).
• A 2:2 honours degree (or equivalent) or a degree-level professional qualification.
• English and Maths at GCSE grade C/4/Functional Skills Level 2/Equivalent or above are required at application stage due to the nature and level of the programme. An initial diagnostic assessment will also be completed by the Training Provider at application stage. If the candidate does not have the required certificates for either Maths and/or English, please contact the Training Hub Apprenticeship Team for options.

Full requirements and details are found on the course webpage.

Key Employer Entry Requirements
• Ensure Learner has the support and opportunities to achieve the requirements of the apprenticeship.
• A member of staff, preferably experienced HR manager (or Line Manager) to mentor the apprentice.
Listed as an Approved Provider under an NHS Procurement
Yes (HR ROUTE ONLY)
Application Timescale
It takes on average 2 – 3 months to complete all application stages for this programme.
If recruiting to this position, additional time will be required for recruitment and advertising stages.
Additional Training Hub Support
Primary Care employees have access to:
  • All resources provided by the L&SC PC Training Hub such as Digital training, Health and Wellbeing support and events.
  • Plus Training Hub non-clinical Training and Resources. This webpage lists training and resources for non-clinical roles, which may compliment the apprenticeship (always check suitability with your apprenticeship education provider).
Pathway
Skills England has an interactive occupational maps tool which shows the variety of progression pathways using apprenticeships.
Career progression does not have to be linear. Entry criteria may differ per provider and even more varied routes may be available depending on the individuals prior learning and experience.
Information Last Updated
10/06/2025

Programme Resources

If you would like to know anything further about the programme itself, please contact: Mick Pender, Course Lead on [email protected]


How to Apply

If you would like to apply for an apprenticeship (either for yourself, a member of staff or a vacancy position), please complete the Primary Care Expression of Interest Form. This is for Primary Care Employers within Lancashire and South Cumbria only. By completing the expression of interest form, the Training Hub Apprenticeships team will be able to complete basic pre-checks, provide you with personalised guidance, and start the programme application process for you. If you would like to discuss anything first, please email [email protected] or call Olivia, Apprenticeships Manager, on 07735161775. You can find out more about the stages of applying for an apprenticeship within our Apprenticeships Process - Employer Guide.

Social Care Employers within Lancashire and South Cumbria, please contact Dawn on [email protected]