Dawn Nelson's experience

My motivation for joining the Senior Leader Apprenticeship Programme was to develop my leadership capabilities and prepare for a more strategic role. I was interested in expanding my perspective and developing new skills to lead larger teams and more complex initiatives.

I was struggling to effectively prioritise conflicting priorities across multiple teams and large projects. I hoped the program would help me better understand organisation-wide objectives, improve collaboration, and develop frameworks to balance priorities and risk.

Initially, I was concerned about finding the time for the programme having just returned from maternity leave, amidst my demanding role. I recognised the long-term value that the course content would make to me my team and organisation, I made attending the sessions a priority, and found that dedicating specifics days for off-the-job learning helped to overcome this.

The apprenticeship provided invaluable leadership development that has already enhanced my career. The coaching and assessment centre helped me identify and address critical development needs to become a more strategic, inspiring, and decisive leader.

I rely heavily on what I've learned about business case development, advanced project financial analysis, leadership styles, and strategic planning tools. Applying this learning has enabled me to lead a team that delivers complex million-pound projects successfully.

For me, the biggest impact was the increased confidence and credibility I gained from the programme when engaging with executives. I now have the knowledge and tools expected of a senior leader.

The biggest impact on my team and organisation is that I now have the ability to lead strategically at a senior management level on capital works critical to the organisation. I moved from task-based tactical management to future-focused leadership.

My expanded strategic perspective has brought clearer focus for me and my objectives. I have assisted with the implementation of project frameworks, and streamlined resource allocation, whilst improving cross-department collaboration using more effective communication styles.

Leverage all the development opportunities fully - the assignments, cohort collaboration, and especially the coaching. Immerse yourself in the experience and directly apply the practical frameworks to your leadership role right away for the greatest payoff. Stay committed through to completion even when things get difficult.