UK Sport's Aspire to Lead programme has successfully concluded, marking a significant milestone in the journey towards greater diversity and inclusion in British sports leadership. Launched in collaboration with Management Futures, the programme aimed to equip ethnically diverse individuals with the skills and opportunities needed to ascend to senior leadership positions within high-performance sport.
The importance of this programme cannot be overstated. In a field where representation matters, Aspire to Lead was designed to bridge the gap and ensure that the leadership within British sports is as diverse as the athletes and society it represents. By providing targeted support and development opportunities, the programme sought to create a pipeline of diverse leaders ready to take on senior roles.
Throughout the programme, the cohort participated in a series of dynamic workshops designed to enhance their leadership capabilities. The journey began with an initial workshop that brought together 25 passionate sports professionals to explore their super strengths and opportunities in senior leadership. Subsequent workshops focused on optimising personal impact, developing critical leadership knowledge and skills, building high-performance teams, and leading change. One of the standout experiences was an Equine-Guided development session, which provided participants with unique insights into their leadership styles and personal growth.
Sally Munday, CEO of UK Sport, expressed her enthusiasm for the programme's impact: “The Aspire to Lead programme is a step forward in UK Sport’s commitment to positive action in creating a more diverse and inclusive high performance system.
“Representation of ethnically diverse leaders in sport remains significantly lacking, and while we’ve seen a small uplift within those sitting on Boards, the numbers are disappointingly lower at Senior Leadership levels. We all must play our part as a culturally connected community to drive diversity of those appointed to leadership positions”.
“To see these 25 talented and passionate sports professionals graduate from this programme, having challenged and supported one another in equal measure, makes me genuinely excited about the meaningful change they can bring to diversifying the future leadership of national and international sporting bodies. We wish them the very best of luck”
A member of the cohort, Jamila Bi from Archery GB shared her experience "Being part of the Aspire to Lead programme has been absolutely fantastic. As someone with lived experience of the challenges and barriers that still exist today, the programme has been a real step in the right direction towards meaningful change. It’s been a journey that will continue well beyond the programme itself, but one of the most valuable things I’ll take with me are the connections we’ve built and the tools and resources that will support me as I progress in my leadership journey."
Shona Crooks of Management Futures adds “This inaugural Aspire to Lead cohort have been absolutely phenomenal, they have brought an energy and at times a blistering honesty into the room. Most of all it has been amazing to see them evolve into a collaborative, cohesive group, working to support each other’s ambitions and build their professional networks.
As the programme concludes, UK Sport remains committed to supporting the cohort's continued growth and success, eager to see the leaders that will emerge from this transformative experience.