We are pleased to announce the third year of the South Bank Colleges Management and Leadership Development Programme For Black Staff. The programme has been designed exclusively for Black staff employed on a permanent contract with the college.
It will be a 2 Tier development programme, with Tier 1 aimed at staff who seek to get into management having no previous management experience. Tier 2 will be aimed at staff who are already in a management role but wish to progress into a senior management/leadership position.
The programme has been developed in-house by a dedicated and experienced team of managers and staff. Both Tier 1 and 2 programmes will run over one academic year and programme delegates will have to successfully complete each term in order to progress. In addition, our delegates will also be required to retain a learning log/portfolio, which will follow them for the duration of the programme. Both one-year programmes will be accredited by the Institute of Leadership & Management,Tier 1 is level 5 qualification and Tier 2 a level 7 qualification. A certificate will be awarded on successful completion of the programme.
It is anticipated that all programme delegates commit to giving between 1 to 6 hours a week of their own time in the participation of the programme, associated assignments and log/portfolio entries.
It is now well documented and evidenced that Black managers and leaders experience additional barriers to their career progression in the FE sector. The college and university have risen to the challenge of addressing this persistent issue in the FE sector, and other public and private sectors in the UK, by offering Black staff a fantastic and unique opportunity to garner support of how to navigate these barriers. At the same time, Black staff will achieve an ILM accredited leadership and management qualification and I am really pleased and proud to be involved as the delivering partner to support this positive action initiative. If you are serious about your FE career and progression, I strongly encourage you to apply for this unique opportunity, that the college has again provided for the 2023/24 academic year. Please put in an application, take this chance and I and the college are looking forward to receiving your submissions.
Dr Helen Ann Deane
HDC Training & Consultancy
Tier 1 ‘Into Management’ Programme Modules:
- Managing People
- Managing Resources
- Managing Information and Communication
- Understanding Organisations
- Equality, Diversity & Unconscious Bias Management
Tier 2 – ‘Into Leadership’ Programme Modules:
- Strategy and Vision
- Leading and Managing People
- Leading Change
- Stakeholder Management
- Three Year Self Development Plan
As a college, we have listened to what our staff have been saying to us through mechanisms such as staff discussion groups, staff surveys, team meetings and workshops. Whilst we acknowledge and agree that all groups matter, our data shows that our Black staff are disadvantaged and under-represented in management and leadership roles when compared to other ethnicities. Further still whilst all staff have access to opportunity, there is still an identifiable gap in the number of Black staff that attain management and senior management roles which is reinforced by our staff data.
The college has taken the decision to try and equalise this disparity. We will create and implement a Black Leadership Development Programme aimed exclusively at Black staff who want to get into management or senior leadership. The Equality Act 2010[1] not only allows for ‘Positive Action’ in the recruitment and development of staff but actively and positively encourages such actions that take our legal duties contained in the Act beyond mere compliance.
‘’Positive action is not positive discrimination. Positive discrimination is unlawful in the UK, however, positive action recognises the systemic bias that places certain groups at a disadvantage and takes steps to address this inequality as well as ensuring that all have an equal opportunity of achieving their very best’’
The college is fully committed to addressing the disparities faced by Black staff and this Management and Leadership programme for Black Staff will assist the college to actively develop the potential of its Black staff.
