Strategy & Planning
Set direction, priorities and evidence-led marketing plans.
Limited funded places from Kent Business College
Step Into Marketing Leadership with a Fully Funded CIM Level 6 Apprenticeship
Advance your marketing career through a workplace-focused Level 6 apprenticeship that develops strategic thinking, commercial confidence, AI-enabled marketing capability and measurable business impact.
Limited funded places are available through Kent Business College. Final funding, suitability and programme terms are confirmed before enrolment.
Level 6
Strategic Professional Marketing
Customer Journey
Optimise experience, value, retention and loyalty.
Commercial Intelligence
Connect analytics, budgets and performance to growth.
AI in Marketing
Apply AI responsibly across insight, planning and delivery.
Applied progression
Build strategic marketing leadership capability.
Limited places
Fully funded routesSubject to eligibility and available funding.
Advanced Level 6Strategic judgement and commercial leadership.
Chartered pathway supportPreparation for professional progression.
Limited placesEarly eligibility review is recommended.
Why this programme
Strategic marketing leadership grounded in commercial reality.
Develop the strategic, analytical and leadership capability expected from senior marketing professionals while delivering measurable workplace value throughout the apprenticeship.
01
L6
From marketing execution to strategic influence
Move beyond campaigns and channels. Learn to shape strategy, influence investment, connect customer value to organisational priorities and lead cross-functional decision-making.
- Commercial marketing strategy
- Customer and market insight
- Leadership and stakeholder influence
- Performance, value and accountability
S
Set strategic direction
Translate business priorities into evidence-led marketing objectives, positioning and investment choices.
V
Lead people and delivery
Build alignment, manage agencies and teams, and strengthen marketing capability across the organisation.
A
Use insight and analytics
Interpret customer, competitor, channel and commercial data to recommend action with confidence.
AI
Apply AI responsibly
Use AI to accelerate research, analysis, planning and content while maintaining professional judgement.
Marketing Manager Level 6 curriculum
Four connected modules from strategic planning to AI-enabled marketing.
The curriculum follows the learner journey in the Marketing Manager Level 6 programme: Strategy and Planning, Customer Journey Optimisation, Commercial Intelligence and AI in Marketing. Each module develops relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours through live learning, workplace application, reflection and evidence building before Gateway and End Point Assessment.
01
Strategy and Planning
The foundation stage connects Level 6 marketing theory with strategic business decisions and organisational objectives.
- Strategic marketing theory and the extended marketing mix
- Product, service and brand development
- Market research, communications and business context
- Evidence-led marketing plans, risks and priorities
02
Customer Journey Optimisation
Develop a customer-focused view of the complete experience, from initial engagement to satisfaction, retention and loyalty.
- Customer behaviours across B2B and B2C contexts
- Journey mapping, touchpoints and friction analysis
- CRM, brand perception, feedback and channel choices
- Stakeholder collaboration and experience improvement
03
Commercial Intelligence
Strengthen commercial judgement by connecting data, financial awareness and marketing performance to business value.
- Campaign performance, KPIs and reliable information
- Return on investment, customer value and budget use
- Analytics, market insight and evidence-based decisions
- Business cases, recommendations and growth opportunities
04
AI in Marketing
Explore how emerging technology can improve marketing planning, personalisation, customer insight and performance.
- Artificial intelligence, automation and marketing systems
- Campaign planning, optimisation and content development
- Analytics, digital tools and faster insight generation
- Responsible, ethical and commercially appropriate use
Progression after the four modules
Learners consolidate workplace evidence and prepare for Gateway. The End Point Assessment can include the Multiple Choice Test, Project Showcase and Professional Discussion. Learners completing the CIM route may then complete the remaining CIM Level 6 assessments before graduation.
- EPA Gateway
- End Point Assessment
- Final CIM Level 6 assessments
- Graduation and progression
Core marketing disciplines
Build the capabilities behind effective marketing leadership.
A balanced curriculum covering strategy, customers, brand, communications, analytics, digital capability, innovation and leadership.
01
Strategy and planning
Business alignment, market opportunity, positioning, objectives, investment priorities and execution roadmaps.
02
Customer and market insight
Research, segmentation, behaviour, customer experience, competitor intelligence and evidence quality.
03
Brand and communications
Brand strategy, integrated communications, channel decisions, agency leadership and reputation.
04
Commercial analytics
Measurement frameworks, performance interpretation, attribution, forecasting and decision-ready reporting.
05
Digital and AI capability
Digital ecosystems, marketing technology, automation, responsible AI and data-informed optimisation.
06
Leadership and change
Stakeholder influence, team development, ethical practice, organisational change and strategic communication.
CIM Chartered Level 6 pathway
Turn advanced study into credible professional progression.
The programme develops strategic marketing capability and supports learners to organise professional evidence, CPD and career progression towards Chartered Marketer status.
Level 6 strategic capability
Demonstrate critical analysis, commercial judgement, leadership and the ability to apply marketing strategy autonomously.
Professional evidence and CPD
Build a portfolio of workplace outputs, reflective practice and continuing professional development that supports future professional applications.
Important: Chartered Marketer status is awarded separately by the Chartered Institute of Marketing and is subject to CIM membership, experience, CPD and application requirements. Completion of this apprenticeship does not automatically confer chartered status.
AI-enabled marketing
Use AI to strengthen strategy while keeping leaders accountable.
Learners use AI as a practical marketing tool for research, planning, analysis and content development, while applying responsible governance and human review.
Applied AI capability
Plan
Structure research and priorities
AnalyseExplore customer and performance data
ChallengeTest assumptions and scenarios
CreateDevelop and refine outputs
Professional controls
- Human review for important decisions
- Confidentiality and approved data use
- Evidence checks and source validation
- Bias, ethics and brand-risk awareness
- Clear accountability for final outputs
Fully funded and limited places
High-impact development with a funding route confirmed before enrolment.
Kent Business College reviews the learner, employer, role, prior learning and available funding before confirming a place.
Apprenticeship funding
Potentially fully funded for eligible learners and employers.
Eligible training and assessment costs may be covered through an employer levy account, a levy transfer or applicable government funding arrangements.
Funding may cover approved apprenticeship training and assessment costs for eligible learners and employers.
Check Eligibility
Limited Places
- Funding is paid for approved apprenticeship training and assessment
- The learner must remain employed in a suitable role
- The employer must support the apprenticeship and training commitment
- Final eligibility is confirmed by Kent Business College
Limited
Kent Business College funded places
Places are allocated after suitability and funding checks. Submit your details early to secure an eligibility review for the next intake.
Book an information sessionEmployer contribution
Some employers may need to contribute towards training, depending on apprentice age, levy status and the funding rules in force. KBC confirms any contribution in writing before enrolment.
Employer value
Develop marketing leadership that stays in the business.
The apprenticeship connects learning to real organisational priorities, giving employers practical outputs as well as long-term capability.
Stronger links between marketing objectives, customer value, investment and business outcomes.
More confident planning, prioritisation, challenge and decision support at senior level.
Responsible use of AI, digital capability and experimentation to improve marketing effectiveness.
A visible development route for high-potential marketing professionals and future leaders.
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers before you take the next step.
Is the Marketing Manager Level 6 Apprenticeship fully funded?
It may be fully funded for eligible learners and employers through levy funding, levy transfer or applicable government support. Funding is confirmed after suitability, prior-learning and employer checks.
Are funded places limited?
Yes. Kent Business College has limited funded places for each intake, and places are confirmed only after the funding and suitability process is complete.
Does the programme automatically make me a Chartered Marketer?
No. Chartered Marketer status is awarded separately by CIM and is subject to its current membership, experience, CPD and application requirements. The programme supports advanced capability and professional evidence for progression.
Who is the programme designed for?
It is designed for employed marketing professionals whose role includes strategic planning, customer or market insight, integrated campaigns, performance management, leadership or cross-functional influence.
Can an existing employee become an apprentice?
Yes, where the apprenticeship develops substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours and all eligibility and funding requirements are met.
How do I secure a limited funded place?
Book an information session or request an eligibility review. Kent Business College will discuss your role, employer support, prior learning and available funding before issuing an enrolment offer.
October 2026 intake
Ready to lead marketing with greater strategic and commercial confidence?
Start with an eligibility and funding review. Limited fully funded Marketing Manager Level 6 places are available through Kent Business College.
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