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VCS leadership apprenticeship

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VCS leadership apprenticeship

We're delighted to offer Camden’s voluntary and community sector (VCS) leaders the opportunity to join a fully funded post-graduate programme in Systems Thinking and Leadership, delivered by the University of Birmingham’s Leadership Institute.

This is a degree apprenticeship, which combines university study with invaluable on-the-job training. This post-graduate qualification can be upgraded to a Masters-level qualification with a third year of study (though funding will not be given by us).

Our aim is to support participants to become effective Systems Practitioners and Systems Leaders — equipped to diagnose, design, and implement systemic interventions within Camden’s VCS and beyond.

Programme overview

The Birmingham Leadership Institute (BLI) was launched to meet the urgent need for leadership that embraces complexity, difference and disruption.

In Camden, VCS leaders face interconnected challenges that demand new ways of thinking and working.

This programme will help Camden’s leaders:

  • strengthen leadership practice, rooted in systems thinking
  • build capabilities in systems thinking practice, together with the leadership skills to support you to bring others with you 
  • build cross-sector relationships across Camden’s civil society, public sector and communities
  • gain skills and knowledge to enable you to tackle systemic issues, such as inequality, exclusion, and social injustice

Participants will join a growing community of academics and practitioners, encouraging self-reflection, critical challenge and inclusive leadership development.

The part-time programme will be delivered through a blend of in-person sessions locally in Camden and online learning, supported by expert faculty and professional systems practitioners.

This apprenticeship would be aligned with the national Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner Standard.

Who can apply for this programme

This programme is for people who are in employment because the apprenticeship levy that funds the programme is accessed via your employer, who will also need to mentor you. You need to be working for 30 hours a week and your employer needs to release you for one day a week for study.

The programme has been designed specifically for leaders and emerging leaders of voluntary and community organisations in Camden. If you have a volunteer leadership connection to a Camden VCS organisation, we also encourage you to apply, but you would still need the support of your employer to access the levy. Salary back-fill for the day release is not covered; this will need be absorbed by your employer.

You do not need a degree in order to apply for the programme, but we're looking for participants who have significant experience in a leadership position, so that this experience can be built upon.

There may be some flexibility for part-time staff to do the programme over a longer time frame, which means committing to the programme for longer. Speak to your employer about whether you can adjust your hours to take part in the programme. They could consider applying for a bursary from us to cover these costs.

Carefully consider your capacity to commit meaningfully to the programme alongside your existing responsibilities. This course combines academic study with practice-based application and will require a significant amount of time and commitment. You'll be invited to discuss this with a member of the academic team ahead of starting the programme, as well as ask any questions you might have.

If you have any individual needs or need reasonable adjustments, these can be discussed with the team. We're working to ensure this programme is as accessible as possible.

Why choose this programme

  • Tailored for Camden’s VCS: designed to develop strategic leadership capabilities across Camden’s diverse voluntary and community sector
  • Practice-based learning: participants apply learning in real time to systemic challenges facing their organisations and communities
  • Expert and peer support: be part of a small, Camden-focused cohort, learning alongside peers and practitioners from across the borough
  • Part-time structure: flexible delivery over two years to fit around professional commitments (one day a week study release required)
  • Fully funded: the programme is fully funded through Camden Council’s apprenticeship levy (value of £18,000), with no tuition costs to the learner or organisation. On successful completion, participants may convert their Postgraduate Diploma into a full MSc over a third year of study (though funding will not be given by us)

How the programme will work

Each year of the programme will have 3 modules, with 3 days of in-person learning planned for each module. These days usually start at 9.30am to 10am and end at 4pm to 5pm, but there can be flexibility. The programme also has:

  • in-person learning at a venue in the borough of Camden
  • 6-8 hours per week of on-the-job training
  • online self-guided study
  • practice tutoring every 12 weeks
  • tripartite meetings, which are like progress reviews, every 10 to 12 weeks

There are 2 assignments per module, one of 1,000 words and one of 2,500 words.

Reasonable adjustments will be considered for the programme. You'll have access to the University of Birmingham's wellbeing team, their disability team and their library.

When the programme will begin

The deadline for applying for the programme is Sunday 15 June 2025 and the programme will only go ahead if at least 20 students are enrolled. Confirmation that the programme will go ahead will be made in early July 2025.

If we do have 20 students, the course will begin with an induction session at the end of July 2025 and teaching will begin fully in September. We're mindful of individual commitments over the summer, though there will be some prep work to do in August.

Making your application 

Make your application for the Level 7 Leadership and Systems Thinking Apprenticeship by completing this Expression of Interest form by Sunday 15 June 2025. You're encouraged to submit this as soon as possible, as applications will be processed as they're received. This will also enable the University of Birmingham to assess the feasibility of us meeting the minimum cohort requirements.

If you do not have a line manager who can mentor you, name a suitable mentor from within your organisation, such as a trustee or director. Speak to them first to make sure they agree and understand their own commitment to the programme. Your mentor will be a consistent point of contact to support you and advocate for your access to study time. They'll also be expected to attend progress review meetings, also called tripartite meetings, every 3 months.

If your organisation does not have a HR department or apprenticeship lead, you need to ask whoever leads on finance or HR at your organisation to sign the agreement. Our apprenticeship team needs these details to arrange for transfer of funds to your organisation.

Success and impact

The Birmingham Leadership Institute has pioneered high-impact leadership development programmes across sectors, supporting leaders tackling real-world complexity. Participants in this Camden VCS cohort will have opportunities to:

  • engage with BLI’s research and events
  • build leadership capacity and systems practice in Camden and beyond
  • develop skills that strengthen both their organisation and Camden’s wider community

We look forward to supporting Camden’s current and emerging leaders to make a lasting impact on the borough’s future.

Getting in touch

Find general information about BLI Apprenticeships.

If you have any questions about the programme, email degreeapps@contacts.bham.ac.uk. Once you've submitted the expression of interest form, a course leader will be in touch to answer any questions and discuss reasonable adjustments.

You can also download our PDF with this information about the apprenticeship.