Management and Leadership Development Programmes

The Management Apprenticeship programmes are for existing Professional Services Staff who are aspiring, new or established team leaders/supervisors or managers

These programmes have been designed to allow staff to gain practical management skills whilst working in their current role thus bringing together on the job experience, and formal training that will equip individuals with the knowledge and skills for the next steps in their career.

Apprenticeship programmes require individuals to commit to professional development over a 12-15 months period with 20% of their working hours spent on off-the-job training in order to develop new skills and knowledge. The time can be dedicated to a range of things including real process improvement projects that align with the Schools strategy, job shadowing, online learning and the completion of assignments and workbooks.

LSE currently offers to 2 apprenticeship programmes:

• Level 3 Supervisor Apprenticeship is designed for team leaders and supervisors. Individuals may be established, new or aspiring but must have some supervisory responsibility.
• Level 5 Operational Manager Apprenticeship is designed for managers leading operations or departments. Individuals may be established, new or aspiring but must have this level of management responsibility or work regularly with others in project teams.

Further information about the apprenticeship programmes and instructions on how to apply can be found on the dedicated Management Apprenticeship Programmes webpage.

Visit LSE's Aurora Webpage for further information!

Applications for the Aurora Autumn cohort are open till 2nd September, 2024.

Aurora is delivered by Advanced HE and seeks to support those who identify as women, up to senior lecturer level or the professional services equivalent, to fulfil their leadership potential through thought provoking activities, collaborative problem solving activities and motivating stories supported by inspirational women role models. Participation embeds strong networks of early career women across the sector to share best practice, insights and experiences. 

HR Organisational Learning annually sponsor places on the Aurora programme- open to LSE members of staff who identify as women and are at Band 6 or above. For more information about the programme, please visit the Advance HE's Aurora webpage.

Aurora Autumn Term 2025- now accepting applications!

The Aurora programme is now accepting applications for the Autumn term 2025 cohort starting in September. If you are interested in applying or would like more information, please visit our dedicated Aurora webpage.

If you have any queries, please get in touch with us at hr.learning@lse.ac.uk

The LSE Manager is designed to support Professional Services Staff (PSS) to be as effective as possible in the people management part of their role.  The programme is designed for all new PSS people managers who have either:

• been promoted into a people management role at LSE for the first time (within the last six months) or
• been appointed externally to the School to a people management role (within the last six months)

This is a 9-12 month guided and blended development programme which includes a number of core elements designed to support individuals in developing themselves into their management role. Delivery is through a combination of lunch time workshops, personal reading, online modules and suggested training courses.

Further information about the programme and instructions on how to apply can be found on the LSE Manager webpage.

This programme is currently under development and will be launched in early 2026.

The Embed Programme is for professional services staff in management roles at bands 6 to 8 who wish to develop their skills as leaders under LSE’s leadership framework and who may aspire to be senior managers and leaders of the future.  The programme has been designed to help these staff collectively lead and deliver the Schools emerging strategy over the next few years.  

This is a blended learning programme, based on a diagnostic conducted prior to the programme. Participants attend three full day workshops in three months, linked to aspects of the leadership framework; leading your self, leading others and LSE and beyond. Participants undertake a psychometric assessment to support their development and conduct self-study linked to their leadership diagnostic.

The content of the three workshops includes:

Workshop 1:

- Introduction to the programme

- Understanding your diagnostic

- Leadership at LSE

- Your space as an authentic leader

- Leading from within and emotional intelligence in leadership

Workshop 2: 

- Psychometric strengths assessment

- Leader as coach

- Inclusive leadership and psychological safety

- Influencing

Workshop 3: 

This workshop covers:

- Team dynamics

- Developing high-performing teams

- Transformational leadership and leading through change 

- Influencing

- Action learning and next steps

To apply for this programme, please complete the application form, ensuring all sections of the form are completed before returning to hr.learning@lse.ac.uk at no later than 5.30pm on Friday, 5 December 2025.

The LSE Leadership Development Programme (LDP) is for academic colleagues who are to become Head of Department or who may aspire to have a career in Academic leadership, and professional services staff in senior roles at band 9 and 10. The programme has been designed to help these staff collectively lead and deliver the School's future during a time of change.

The LDP covers key leadership practices that are essential to lead and deliver the School’s strategy. It is delivered through a combination of workshops, individual executive coaching and bespoke support. The programme covers:

• Exploring the role of a leader at LSE
• Influencing others as a leader
• Collaborative working
• Managing yourself and your time effectively
• Managing performance effectively
• Leading people through change
• Developing strategic thinking

Dates for next cohort  will be confirmed in due course.

If you would like any further information about this programme please contact Jacinta Stevens,Head of Organisational Learning  j.stevens4@lse.ac.uk

Leadership Essentials for Aspiring Leaders Programme

This programme is for anyone at band 6 or below who is looking to better understand what it means to be a leader. The programme will develop skills that will support individuals in understanding how leadership weaves into their role now, their future career and personal aspirations and what it means to be a leader at LSE.

The programme consists of one full day and three half day face-to-face modules over four months, with some self-study required before each module. Participants will also conduct and receive feedback on their own leadership skills review as part of the programme.

The programme covers

• The distinction between Leadership and Management, Showing leadership in your current role, The key concepts of leadership, Your space as an authentic leader
• Finding yourself as a leader, Understanding your strengths and values, Envisioning the leader you want to be and how to get there
• Inclusive leadership and you, Emotional intelligence and leadership, Essential people skills for leadership (coaching, influencing etc.)
• Introduction to leading teams and team dynamics, Leadership at LSE, Self-development planning and personal goal setting, Recognising and overcoming imposter syndrome, Career development and ongoing professional development

Please note that all scheduled cohorts are currently fully booked. We expect to run another cohort in Spring Term 2026. You can register on the waiting list here.  

For more information, please download the programme overview or contact us at hr.learning@lse.ac.uk