Breaking leadership barriers for women

by Jan 27, 2021Awards alumni, Awareness Raising, Campaigning, Events, News

Sharing best practice

Members of the Princess Royal Training Awards Alumni network have access to a wide range of benefits including opportunities to network with over 200 forward thinking UK-based organisations and the chance to attend many diverse events and development opportunities.

One such virtual event took place on the 3 December when Sue Gammons, former Coaching Director at GSK, presented to 25 Alumni members on how creating a systemic approach to address gender balance led GSK to receive a PRTA in 2018.

Accelerating female talent

Today most companies aspire to be more inclusive and are committed to supporting more women to move into leadership roles. For these commitments to be realised needs more than the traditional approach to leadership development. Women need to be supported to find who they are authentically as female leaders, rather than expected to embody leadership qualities that come from a male-orientated model of leadership.

GSK based its approach to Accelerating Difference on this ethos to design a programme focusing on an inclusive culture that accelerates female talent across the organisation. The model uses three main elements: Coaching; Sponsorship; and Dialogues.

Participants have access to 1-1 and group coaching sessions where they build relationships of trust within the group, have a sponsor that they self-select and work with to develop networking opportunities and the chance to participate in a facilitated and in-depth discussion with senior colleagues to explore personal assumptions and beliefs that affect career progression.

Global success

The programme has been successfully running since 2013 and in 2020-21 the cohort doubled to 265 participants, based in 39 countries, with the training successfully being delivered virtually for the first time.

I have seen through the GSK programme that it can make a huge difference when women address their self-confidence, power, presence and communication style through coaching. Initiatives such as sponsorship and inclusion dialogues can also make a huge difference – through these senior men get a better sense of what talented women are capable of and learn to look beyond their first impressions that they may judge as less confident, and therefore less competent.

Sue Gammons, Director, Coaching for diversity

At GSK, Sue was Coaching Director and Executive Coach. She led the design and delivery of award-winning coaching and leadership development programmes for women and ethnically diverse leaders worldwide. Sue recently founded her own consultancy – Coaching for Diversity – to help companies to better support their female and diverse talent to develop and progress their careers.

To find out more about Coaching for Diversity, please contact sue@coaching-for-diversity.com

Find out more about the Princess Royal Training Awards and its Alumni

Want to be kept up to date?

Sign up to City & Guilds Foundation email alerts and newsletter

Previous posts

Celebrating the achievements of young people with Positive Youth Foundation

It was an absolute honour last week to address the graduating cohort from Positive Youth Foundation - a day brimming with celebration, inspiration, and pride. For those not familiar, Positive Youth Foundation (PYF) supports newly arrived young people to the UK, aged...

New Local Community Skills Fund to empower UK communities through skills and training

Grants of up to £10,000 available for UK Charities, Social Enterprises and Training Providers. City & Guilds Foundation has launched a pilot scheme to help fund initiatives designed to boost employment, skills and development in communities across the UK. As part...

Foundation & Friends Podcast: Exploring Innovative Training Solutions with HX Expeditions

In this episode, we dive into the world of HX Expeditions and their award-winning training programme for expedition guides working in polar bear territories. Jim Mayer, Expedition Team Training Manager, shares insights into how their training has evolved to ensure...

Funding for makers: Applications for QEST (Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust) Grants open until 10 Feb

Sustaining vital skills in traditional and contemporary crafts QEST offers three grants to support makers and conservators at various career stages. Grants are available for education and training, with Scholarships of up to £18,000, Emerging Maker grants of up to...

Changing Lives, Changing Industries: HMP Highpoint’s groundbreaking rail training

Around two weeks ago, we had the privilege of attending HMP Highpoint to see the opening of the first ever rail centre of excellence in prison, which back in 2022 we provided funding for installation of a rail track so that industry-standard training could be...

Royal recognition for employers who invest in training and development in the UK and Ireland

On Thursday 21 November, 52 recipients from the UK and Ireland were recognised by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal through the Princess Royal Training Awards held at Goldsmiths’ Hall in London. Over the past nine years, The Princess Royal Training Awards, delivered by the City & Guilds Foundation, have recognised and celebrated organisations that deliver exceptional and impactful learning and development programmes.

Membership Awards Class of 2024: Championing Impact, Recognising Talent

City & Guilds is proud to announce the first recipients of the Membership Awards, a programme designed to celebrate and recognise exceptional tutors and trainers who are making a significant impact on individuals and organisations. City & Guilds is committed...

Launching City & Guilds Impact Report 2024!

For over 145 years, City & Guilds has been committed to making a meaningful impact on society by delivering high-quality skills training that meets the demands of the times. At the heart of this mission is helping individuals gain the competencies they need to...

Foundation Autumn Newsletter 2024: Advocating for those who need it most

Welcome to the latest edition of our quarterly newsletter which is packed with information, bringing to life the difference we’re making to help people access skills, celebrate skills and advocate for those who need it most.

Inspiration and innovation at HMP Pentonville with XO Bikes

Since we created the City & Guilds Foundation in 2019, one of our key funding activities has been identifying and activating practical ways to support those who have been in Prison (or at risk of entering Prison) to build skills and secure, and sustain,...

Podcast episodes

Foundation & Friends Podcast (2024-)

​Green Skills Podcast in collaboration with Green Edge (2024-)

Hosted by Dr. Michael Cross and Fraser Harper, this podcast series explores the critical transition towards a sustainable planet and the pivotal role of green skills in shaping the economy.

Listen now

City & Guilds Foundation Podcast (2021-22)

Share This