How Dogstar Foundation is Creating a Happy Workplace with the Level 7 Programme

The Level 7 Senior Leadership programme is a post-graduate level qualification with a difference. It's designed for CEOs and senior level leaders of organisations who want to learn how to change the culture of their organisation to one based on trust and empowerment. As an apprenticeship qualification, it's focused on implementing ideas and on-the-job learning, and it can be paid for by the Apprenticeship Levy. This means that your organisation will pay just £700 for a two-year leadership programme with monthly workshops and regular coaching. "If you’re battling imposter syndrome or think studying isn’t for you as an adult, please reconsider. If I can do it, anyone can," says Samantha Green of Dogstar Foundation.

Hi, we are Happy

We are leading a movement to create happy, empowered and productive workplaces.

How can we help you and your people to find joy in at least 80% of your work?

Keep informed about happy workplaces

Sign up to Henry's monthly Happy Manifesto newsletter, full of tips and inspiration to help you to create a happy, engaged workplace.

“I felt totally out of my depth when I started this course in October 2022. As someone with dyslexia only diagnosed at 15, I left school with a handful of low-grade GCSEs and genuinely questioned whether I belonged in the room on a Level 7 programme.

“As we head into 2025, I feel both Dogstar and I are far better prepared for whatever comes next.”

Transforming both Samantha as a leader and Dogstar as a workplace

“In just 2.5 years I have grown as a strategic and reflective leader, embedded psychological safety across the organisation, learned how to balance values with commercial and operational realities, and transition Dogstar from a traditional top-down model to empowered, self-managing teams.”

Samantha has also introduced some elements of the Toyota Production System into Dogtstar, to improve quality, efficiency, and staff engagement, with more to come expanding this.

Having the support that’s needed to accomplish more

Sometimes, all you need is a little extra support. Having someone who can encourage you and help you when you most need it can make all the difference.

“Thanks to the support of my brilliant coach Isobel Colson (who believed in me even when I didn’t), my fantastic fellow students who taught me so much, and the incredible team around me at Dogstar Foundation, I found my footing and so much more.”

Find out more about the Level 7 Senior Leadership Programme

Transform your organisation with our Level 7 Senior Leadership programme. It’s designed for CEOs, Directors and Heads of Department who are looking for a hands-on, long-term programme that will support them to create real change.

Learn more on our free Level 7 taster and information session, a one-hour online session that will give you a flavour of our facilitation style and the opportunity to ask questions. Our next session is 23rd April 2025, held online via Zoom.

If you would like to apply for the Level 7 Senior Leadership programme, simply email Henry on henry@happy.co.uk. He would be delighted to talk to you over Zoom or simply respond to your questions.

Learn the 10 core principles to create a happy and productive workplace in Henry Stewart's book, The Happy Manifesto.

Support your aspiring and current managers to be empowering and confident leaders with Happy

Happy offers leadership programmes at Level 3, Level 5 and Level 7, from new managers/supervisor level all the way up to senior leadership teams and CEOs. These programmes are based on the ideas of trusting your people. They are practical and based on applying what yo’ve learnt. We aim to inspire and ignite change in your organisation, as well as giving you valuable management skills such as business strategy, decision-making, negotiation and project management.

We also offer programmes tailored specifically to people from Global Majority backgrounds. The content is the same, but have been designed to give new and experienced managers the skills they need to navigate organisational culture with a clearer perspective on their own potential, as well as building their confidence and expanding their professional strengths.

Claire Lickman

Claire is Head of Marketing at Happy. She has worked at Happy since 2016, and is responsible for Happy’s marketing strategy, website, social media and more. Claire first heard about Happy in 2012 when she attended a mix of IT and personal development courses. These courses were life-changing and she has been a fan of Happy ever since. She has a personal blog at lecari.co.uk.