
Chief executive officer, CEO, managing director, businessman, businesswoman
Chief executives plan and put into place policies to help their organisations be successful.
Salary Range: £55,000 to £150,000

You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role

You’ll usually need a degree, postgraduate or professional qualification related to the organisation’s work. For example, an area like business administration, finance or law.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
- a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course
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- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- university courses and entry requirements

You can get into this job through a senior leader master’s degree in management apprenticeship.
This will usually take 2 to 3 years to complete. You’ll do on-the-job training and spend time with a training provider.
Employers will set their own entry requirements.
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You could move into this role if you’ve got several years’ experience of working at senior management level, along with commercial expertise.
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Career tips
You’ll need a very strong commitment to the organisation’s aims.

Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- business management skills
- the ability to use your judgement and make decisions
- leadership skills
- customer service skills
- the ability to motivate and manage staff
- the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
- financial management skills
- the ability to use your initiative
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day duties may include:
- setting out the organisation’s aims and how it will meet them
- making decisions about the organisation’s priorities
- working closely with a senior management team to put policies in place
- managing relationships with partners
- making sure the organisation meets its legal obligations
- reporting to the organisation’s chairperson or owner
- promoting the organisation at conferences, events and in the media
- controlling budgets
Working environment
You could work in an office.
Your working environment may be you’ll travel often and emotionally demanding.

You could also work as a management consultant, advising clients on commercial strategy and policy.