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AoC Commercial Leadership for Apprenticeships Programme

Introducing the new AoC Commercial Leadership for Apprenticeships Programme in partnership with the Apprenticeship Accelerator

Colleges play a critical role in delivering high-quality apprenticeships that meet the needs of learners, employers and the wider economy. As the landscape becomes more competitive and complex, strong, commercially confident leadership has never been more important.

This programme is designed to support senior leaders with responsibility for apprenticeships to strengthen their strategic, commercial and operational approach. Through a blend of expert-led sessions, peer learning and practical application, you will build the confidence and capability to lead sustainable growth, enhance quality, and maximise the impact of your provision.

Delivered in partnership with the Apprenticeship Accelerator, the programme combines sector expertise with real-world insight - helping you move beyond oversight to actively lead and shape apprenticeship success across your organisation.

Book early and take advantage of the early bird discount - available until Monday 8 June.

Book onto the Autumn/Winter cohort here

Programme overview

The programme is designed to support both learning and real-world application through a blend of expert input, practical activity and peer exchange.

Three two-day residential modules, spaced to allow for reflection and implementation
1:1 coaching between modules, providing tailored support and challenge from expert facilitators
Expert-led sessions delivered by experienced apprenticeship leaders
Peer learning and networking with senior colleagues from colleges across the sector

Across the programme, you will explore:

Developing a commercial mindset within a public sector context
Sales, marketing and employer engagement strategies
Leading operational implementation for sustainable, high-quality growth

You will also benefit from dedicated support from facilitators Bally Bhogal and Natalie Rae, alongside opportunities to learn from sector leaders and build a strong network of peers. Together, these elements will strengthen your commercial acumen, enhance your leadership capability, and increase the impact of your apprenticeship provision.

By taking part in this programme, you will:

Develop the confidence to lead apprenticeship growth, not just oversee delivery
Strengthen your commercial and strategic decision-making
Gain practical tools to balance quality, performance and growth
Build a clearer, more compelling employer-facing offer
Improve alignment between curriculum, quality, finance and business development teams
Learn how to respond effectively to a changing and competitive apprenticeship market
Share insight and practice with a network of senior leaders from across the sector

Who should attend?

This programme is designed for senior leaders in further education colleges with strategic responsibility for apprenticeships, including those leading on:

Apprenticeships and employer provision
Business development and employer engagement
Curriculum, quality and performance
Commercial strategy and growth

It is particularly relevant for leaders looking to strengthen their organisation’s approach to sustainable growth, improve alignment across teams, and enhance the impact of their apprenticeship provision.

Programme dates and venue 2026/27

Autumn-Winter 2026/27 cohort

Delivered face-to-face at Ashorne Hill

Module one - 14 & 15 October 2026
Module two - 13 & 14 January 2027
Module three - 10 & 11 March 2027

The venue is Ashorne Hill, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV33 9QW. For directions, please visit the website.

What is the programme fee?

The full programme costs £4,140 +VAT for member colleges and £4,740 +VAT for non-member colleges.

Early bird discount available - 10% discount per module if you book by Monday 8 June 2026

Attendees can also chose to attend just one or two modules (instead of the whole programme). Each face-to-face module is priced at £1,380 +VAT for member colleges and £1,580 +VAT for non-member colleges.

Accommodation on the middle night and catering for the residential element are included. Travel costs are not included. B&B for the night prior is an additional cost of £105 +VAT.

Places are limited to 22 participants per cohort to ensure a high-quality, interactive learning experience.

What will the programme cover?

Module one

Commercial leadership

Purpose: Mindset shift from ‘Education Management’ to ‘Education Enterprise and Entrepreneurship’

What does ‘commercial’ mean within a public sector, regulated environment
Understanding risk vs opportunity
Balancing public value with private-sector discipline
Business planning and B2B business theory
Defining and articulating the college’s commercial value proposition
Customer lifetime (employers and apprentices) and customer experience
Stakeholder input, involvement and optimisation
Shifting ‘internal focus’ to ‘external impact’
Building a commercial culture without damaging morale
Enabling entrepreneurship within a college environment

Module two

Sales, marketing and employer engagement

Purpose: Build market awareness and strategic clarity

Apprenticeship market dynamics (local, regional and national)
Target audiences: Levy vs non-levy employer behaviour
Competitive analysis (Independent Training Providers (ITPs) vs colleges)
Employer decision drivers (price, speed, flexibility, quality, account management)
Employer acquisition vs account growth strategies
Apprenticeship sales funnel and pipelines
Sales vs marketing strategies, planning and tactics
Account management vs delivery ownership
Considered and impactful growth strategies, including use of social media marketing optimisation
Shifting internal focus to external impact

Module three

Operational implementation

Purpose: How to successfully implement a cross-organisational approach for commercial advantage

The role of the senior leader in business and commercial growth
Leadership and governance requirements
Performance management, high-visibility leadership and practice improvement
Business development and growth strategy
Employer engagement strategies
Contribution, cost, price negotiation and margin management
Quality as a commercial asset – quality indicators that matter commercially
Integrating quality teams into business planning
Risk management: early signs of quality risk during growth
KPIs that align teams (not compete)
Interconnected roles, practice and processes essential for a cross-organisational approach

Book onto the programme here

Apprenticeship Accelerator and our lead facilitators

Founded by Bally Bhogal and Natalie Rae in early 2025, the Apprenticeship Accelerator is an expert-led, facilitated peer-to-peer learning and best practice programme which enhances the skills, knowledge and confidence of apprenticeship training providers. Through a problem-led, micro-consultancy approach, providers are supported to tackle sector changes, implement improved practices and enrich stakeholder experiences through the delivery of high-quality programmes.

In addition to direct consultancy support, both Natalie and Bally have continued to provide services to the sector through their involvement with the national Apprenticeship Workforce Development Programme (AWD), funded by the Department for Education which provides multiple support programmes through the AWD consortium of strategic partners.

Bally Bhogal

Bally is an expert from the apprenticeship and skills sector, with an extensive background in employer engagement, marketing and selling training programmes, as well as Department for Education (DfE ) programme and subcontractor management. Her experience spans Chambers of Commerce, Local Enterprise Partnerships and FE Colleges and also senior leadership positions within an Independent Training Provider (ITP) with 5000+ apprentices.

As MD of LX Group Ltd, Bally provides audit, consultancy and training solutions for a wide range of apprenticeship clients, including large employer providers, universities, FE colleges and ITPs. She has also provided significant support on the DfE’s Apprenticeship Workforce Development (AWD) programme around leadership and governance.

Bally frequently presents apprenticeship-focussed webinars on topics such as employer engagement, leadership and governance, quality assurance, compliance and sales and marketing. She is also currently a member of the governance board of two employer provider organisations within the Engineering and Emergency Response sectors.

Natalie Rae

Natalie is an experienced senior leader in the further education and training sector, with experience working within both public and private sector organisations. Previous positions include Group Vice Principal – Apprenticeships and Assistant Principal – Apprenticeships, Adult Skills and Employer Services.

Through Natalie Rae Consultancy Ltd, Natalie continues to support FE Colleges, Universities, Employer Providers and ITPs with direct consultancy assignments, interim leadership placements, training and development packages and provision and practice reviews – all delivering comprehensive improvement solutions.

With extensive experience across different commercial, work-based and employment related training programmes, Natalie specialises in quality assurance, performance visibility and developing operational capability to ensure a whole-provider approach to working with stakeholders to enhance the learner and employer experience.

Natalie has supported all provider types through her involvement in the DfE’s AWD programme, assisting leaders and operational staff in the identification and the implementation of solutions to improve performance visibility and outcomes.

Get in touch

If you have any questions, please email us at training@aoc.co.uk.