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UCL launches innovative new scheme for BAME staff to accelerate to senior leadership
29 July 2020
Accelerate to Leadership is a unique scheme offering paid work placements at grades 9 and 10 for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) staff currently working at grades 8 and 9 in professional services roles. Training and support to develop is provided throughout placements.
At UCL, we have a wealth of BAME talent, but still lack diversity in our senior roles. This unique and innovative scheme aims to foster, recognise and nurture the leadership potential of our BAME professional services staff.
When a grade 9 or 10 professional services post becomes available departments can offer the position to BAME staff working at grades 8 and 9 as an Accelerate to Leadership developmental placement, for between 3 to 12 months. This provides the opportunity to gain vital leadership experience that can assist in developing the skills, capability and confidence to compete for more senior roles when they arise.
Accelerate to Leadership is an important scheme that has received support from UCL’s senior leaders:
I am delighted to extend my whole-hearted support for the Accelerate to Leadership programme for Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic Professional Services Staff at UCL. I am a passionate advocate for providing development opportunities for future leaders and this scheme is specifically designed to nurture our own BAME internal talent and in turn diversify our senior staff. This is an incredibly positive step and an important development for UCL. Fiona Ryland, Chief Operating Officer
The deeply entrenched racialized inequalities within our society are manifest all too clearly at UCL, and there is an urgent need to take new, positive actions to produce the changes to which we are committed. This Accelerate to Leadership programme is an innovative move, and one that I hope will be widely embraced across the full range of professional services functions and departments of UCL. Professor Sasha Roseneil, Dean of the Faculty of Social & Historical Sciences, UCL SMT Race Equality Champion
View more messages of support.
How to find out more
Join the webinar
Accelerate to Leadership information session, 12 August 4–5pm
Donna Dalrymple, Director of HR Business Partnering, will be presenting how the scheme works and answering questions. (Please register using your UCL email address).
Join the mailing list
Receive instant notifications of placements and invitations to special Accelerate to Leadership events and networking opportunities.
Visit the webpages
The webpages provide further details about the scheme, including information for staff interested in applying and information for departments who are interested in offering a placement.