STUDY

Undergraduate

BSc (Hons) Professional Practice: Supply Chain Leadership (Degree Apprenticeship)

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Institution code: S82
UCAS code: N/A
Start date: September 2025
Duration: Three years full-time
Location: Ipswich
Typical Offer: 112 UCAS tariff points (or above) BBC (A-Level) DMM (BTEC), Merit (T Level)
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: N/A
Start date: September 2025
Duration: Three years full-time
Location: Ipswich
Typical Offer: 112 UCAS tariff points (or above) BBC (A-Level) DMM (BTEC), Merit (T Level)

Overview

BSc (Hons) Professional Practice: Supply Chain Leadership (Degree Apprenticeship) course is designed to equip individuals with the essential skills and knowledge necessary to lead and manage modern supply chains effectively.

Supply chain leadership professionals manage the end-to-end process of procuring, producing, moving, and delivering products or services from suppliers to customers. They integrate functions and processes across various stakeholders to ensure an efficient supply chain. These professionals work both globally and domestically, leading effectively and facilitating productive trade. The apprenticeship is suitable for school/college leavers, career changers, and those already in supply chain roles, combining workplace learning with theoretical knowledge through formal classes relevant to their organisation. 

On completion of your apprenticeship membership status may be sought from: Institute of Supply Chain Management (IoSCM), Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and Institute of Export and International Trade (IEIT).

The University of Suffolk is world-class and committed to our region. We are proudly modern and innovative and we believe in transformative education. We are on the rise with a focus on student satisfaction, graduate prospects, spending on academic services and student facilities.

2nd

in the East of England for graduate prospects

(The Guardian University Guide 2024)

6th

in the UK for spend on academic services

(The Complete University Guide 2024)

11th

in the UK for social inclusion

(The Good University Guide 2023)

Course Modules

Full downloadable information regarding all University of Suffolk courses, including Key Facts, Course Aims, Course Structure and Assessment, is available in the Definitive Course Record.

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The rationale behind this module is to provide apprentices with the principles of supply chain and operational management. Apprentices will gain an understanding of the functional areas and external elements which make up the supply chain, from procurement, manufacturing, and delivery of products and services to the end user. The module goes into detail as to how important these concepts are to businesses and their operations.

This takes the learning from the previous module Supply Chain and Operations Design and explores what can affect an organisation’s supply chain, for instance changes to business strategy, shortage of raw materials, launch of new products and changes in customer demand for example. As a result, apprentices will gain an understanding as to what approaches can be applied to flex the supply chain network to anticipate these changes.

This module will ensure apprentices understand the importance of forecasting within the supply chain to both meet the demands of the business and satisfy the end user. Various techniques will be demonstrated which will enable the apprentice to plan for different circumstances with the aim of securing demand and building in resilience and contingency.

The Level 4 Finance and Procurement module provides you with the financial confidence they will need as successful Supply Chain Leaders. Financial confidence plays a critical role in Procurement. This module brings these two areas together to enable you to become drivers of efficiency, ensuring that ‘best value’ procurement solutions are in place.

The Level 4 Work-Based Learning Project offers you a chance to begin to develop key project management skills alongside reinforcing learning from previous modules in this level. The module is therefore designed in two parts. The first part focuses on project management and organisation skills, including some introductory research techniques. The second part allows you to work on your own project – which must be based on a challenge or issue within their own organisation – with the support of tutors.

The rationale behind this module is to introduce apprentices on aspects associated with the storage and management of stock items, and the concept of the warehouse being a temporary area to store inventory as a buffer in supply chains.

This module will introduce apprentices to the function of Logistics and how this provides the linkage between the activities of the supply chain. It is the facilitation of the movement of items, services or people from one point to another and can control all resources to ensure the correct items are in the right place at the right time, safely, expediently and cost effectively.

This module will provide the knowledge and skills to enable apprentices to understand that risk to supply chains is not limited to the aforementioned area of concern, and how it may be considered almost impossible to determine and mitigate all, however knowing their supply chain and evaluating ‘critical pinch points’ may help to produce a desired resilience to be able to maintain business activities, paying close attention to regulatory requirements and sustainability.

The inclusion of this module at Level 5 fulfils two important functions on the programme. First, it helps to prepare you for work-based projects that demand more sophisticated research techniques (L5 – Work-Based Project, and L6 – Work-Based Research Project and End Point Assessment). Second, it supports the development of critical-thinking, problem solving and 57 information literacy skills that are core to understanding the context in which businesses operate, and assessing and evaluating strategy and opportunity. In line with other modules on this course, the approach here is one of purpose-first. You will be encouraged to focus on the types of decisions that are made in the (re)design of supply chain networks, including as a result of innovation, internal or external factors. Research skills, building on those first introduced during the L4 Work-Based Learning Project module, will be presented as ways to help analyse, evaluate and make both operational and strategic decisions.

The Level 5 Work-Based Project gives you the chance to practice project management, data and research skills whilst exploring an issue or challenge within their own organisation or work that relates to themes and areas of work explored in other modules at this level. In the taught sessions for this module, you will reinforce project management skills first developed in Level 4 and develop a research plan and design that brings together research skills and acts as a proposal for the project that will be completed in the second part of the module. This helps to build skills that will be required in the final-year research project and End Point Assessment. 75 The project that you undertake will reinforce key learning at this level and, in most cases, will explore external factors and their impact on the organisation.

This module will introduce apprentices to the to understand the different terminologies and workplace control systems that may operate within the supply chain. They will also explore the benefits of eBusiness and the associated models and the impact these can have on supply chain strategies.

This module will introduce apprentices to the concept of strategy, and how this links to the overall business direction. Apprentices will gain an understanding of how a supply chain strategy can assist managers to achieve the organisation’s identified business objectives.

This module supports the acquisition and development of key leadership skills for those taking on positions of responsibility, authority and influence. It helps you understand, and make sense of, the complex nature of strategy and change within organisations including the interplay of internal and external forces which act to constrain and limit actions as well as creating opportunities. 80 During the module, you will be encouraged to think beyond the simple, linear, models which are often used to describe decision-making and to reflect on the impact of culture and inter-personal dynamics. Whilst this is undoubtedly challenging, you will be supported to develop critical thinking skills, communication skills and to become more effective and capable leaders as they embark on the next step in their supply chain leadership career.

This is the final module in the integrated degree apprenticeship – upon successful completion of this module apprentices will complete the final credits towards their degree and their apprenticeship qualification. This module comprises the completion of a substantial work-based research project 94 (including both a written report and an oral presentation) and an oral examination (viva). Together these are known as the End Point Assessment (EPA). The EPA will be led by an independent assessor who is responsible for approving the proposal for the work-based research project (which occurs as part of the gateway) and then leading the initial grading of all other elements of this module. 

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WHY SUFFOLK

2nd in the UK for Career Prospects

WUSCA 2024

3rd in the UK for spend on academic services

Complete University Guide 2025

4th in the UK for Teaching Satisfaction

Guardian University Guide 2024

Entry Requirements

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Career Opportunities

Successful apprentices will gain a BSc (Hons) Professional Practice in Supply Chain Leadership. 

  • Supply Chain Operations
  • Network Design
  • Legislation
  • Organisational Strategy
  • Demand and Forecasting

Apprenticeship Funding

Degree Apprenticeships are only offered to students undertaking the course as part of their employment. Apprenticeship training will therefore be funded directly by employers or by employers in partnership with Government. Apprentices will not be required to pay any tuition or course fees, and will not be eligible for any Student Finance England maintenance support. Please see our Apprenticeship pages for more information.

Apprenticeships Information
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Related Courses

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CertHE Associate Project Manager

The course may also be suitable for those that would like to develop project management skills as part of their broader professional development (for example to support expansion or growth ambitions).

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BA (Hons) Business Management

The BA (Hons) Business Management course brings together degree-level education and professional practise.

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Destination Suffolk