The Aspiring Senior Leaders Programme

The Health Services Management Centre at the University of Birmingham has run a highly regarded programme for aspiring senior leaders in healthcare for over 15 years, successfully developing people who can operate in a complex ever-changing world; understand strategic, political and organisational demands and develop the new ways of working as determined by policy. 

We are not currently recruiting applicants for this Programme but if you have any general enquiries about our leadership development programmes please contact Jennie Oldfield at J.Oldfield@bham.ac.uk , telephone 0121 414 7054.

The Programme, run in conjunction with partners, consistently scored high marks in participant evaluations and has also been independently evaluated as an effective development intervention for individuals and their organisations.

Who is the programme for?

We’re looking for the next cohort of talented staff working in a senior leadership role (minimum Band 8) who are ready to move into a board level post in the health and care sector within the next two years.

What does the programme offer?

This programme offers help with the following:

  • Developing the next cohort of effective leaders to support their organisational objectives
  • Addressing organisational talent management strategies
  • Supporting individuals’ own career progression–previous participants say we helped them to gain promotions
  • Introducing participants to a different range of challenges and opportunities by working with external organisations on a specific project brief, using innovative experiential exercises including the powerful organisational consultancy experience

We explore key themes such as building compassionate organisations, leading in complex systems, and engaging and motivating staff. The emphasis is on improving and developing skills and behaviours, whilst drawing on the best evidence available of what works in practice. 

What does the programme involve?

The 2018 programme ran over nine months, in four blocks of three-day modules.

The programme design is based upon attendance at all of these modules, so please do not apply if you are unable to attend any at this stage. We use highly interactive and immersive activities such as a simulation event using real-life journalists, politicians and the public.

The organisational consultancy activity pairs teams with local organisations to help them deal with an issue or challenge they are currently facing. Previous partners include a TV company, an art gallery, a hospice, and a homeless charity, as well as NHS organisations. You’ll need to organise your own effective placements and share your learning.

We know that the best learning takes place when people move outside of their comfort zone. We use actors to develop influencing skills through role play, and a national theatre director to develop confident performers. Strong links back to your organisation are maintained via a nominated organisational sponsor overseeing an agreed work-based project of suitable challenge for you, and of real benefit to your organisation.

All of these activities take place within a supportive and safe learning environment where we encourage you to reflect on your development through facilitated action learning sets.

Programme cost

In 2018 the cost of the programme was £3,750.