Leadership and STEM Skills Development Programmes

The Smart and Inclusive Leadership programme (SAIL) offers fully-funded courses, meaning it is available without any cost to participants. This is possible thanks to funding from the European Social Fund and the delivery partners, which include the University of Derby, Nottingham Trent University, Derby College, Nottingham College, East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, Enable, and the Workers’ Educational Association.

The programme has been co-designed in conjunction with local businesses, to provide a course that will help participants develop the contemporary leadership and management skills they need to drive productivity and growth.

What does it cover?

The programme will help you identify and develop your own leadership style, building on your existing skills and strengths. You will cover a range of different approaches including:

• Leadership and culture
• Managing in difficult circumstances
• Building key relationships (internal and external)
• Staff engagement and developing high-performing teams
• Effective communication skills and creative problem-solving during difficult times

Consideration will also be given to the environmental and social changes taking place in the UK.

Learning outcomes

We recognise the need for flexibility when balancing learning alongside work. As such, the programme has been designed to allow you to tailor your learning to your individual needs. There are four taught units, each taking place over two sessions and you can decide whether to take one, two, three or all four units.

At the end of each unit, participants will be invited to complete an activity in relation to that unit. This is optional, but those who do complete the activity will be awarded a Completion Certificate that recognises the additional work and hours undertaken.

Developing your inner leader

This part of the programme offers you an opportunity to reflect upon your approach to leadership, how you lead, and how you will develop your leadership approach going forward. The unit is designed for participants who are new to leadership, managers considering a leadership role or leaders who are looking for some reflective space to review how they lead.

You will be offered the opportunity to explore and apply tools and techniques that will help develop your 'inner leader'.

You can expect to:

• Learn the difference between leadership and management
• Discover your unique leadership qualities and how to use these qualities to create a positive impact within your organisation
• Learn how to develop resilience both in yourself and in others
• Explore future career options available to you

Leading through challenge and change

This unit introduces you to a selection of academic tools you can use to lead and solve problems during times of uncertainty, challenge and change. You are invited to take a step back and look at how you deal with challenges and change within an organisational context and identify new strategies that you can take into the workplace. The unit is designed for participants who are new to leadership, managers considering a leadership role or leaders who are looking for the opportunity to consider new tools and review how they lead in this challenging business environment.

Inclusive leadership

In this unit, you will discover the areas that need to be considered to ensure you are an inclusive leader. You will learn how to better understand and support the individual needs of all team members, helping them to develop and unlock their full potential to improve productivity, staff retention and well-being.

Leader as coach and mentor

During these sessions, you will explore how coaching and mentoring can support developmental growth and learning for individuals and teams. You will examine the practical process of coaching, how to prepare to make the most of every coaching opportunity, and see how the application of coaching and mentoring can help to successfully and intentionally develop the business, one person at a time. 

How will I learn?

Participants are offered a blended learning approach through online and in-person teaching. To find out more, please email SAIL@derby.ac.uk.

Within our online sessions, there will be a blend of learning methods including live webinars, self-paced study and peer group discussions. All activities and sessions are designed to offer you insight and new ways of working, which you can apply directly to your work role and your personal development.

When does it start?

Each unit will take place over two sessions. 

Developing your inner leader

Session Times: 9.00 am to 3.00 pm

Leadership through challenge and change

Session Times: 9.00 am to 12.45 pm

Inclusive leadership

Session Times: 9.00 am to 3.00 pm

Leader as coach and mentor

Session Times: 9.30 am to 1.00 pm

If you're unable to attend on these dates, there will be further opportunities to participate in the programme. Please complete the booking form below for further details.

How much does it cost?

The courses offered are fully-funded meaning there is no cost to participants, and you can enrol as many team members as you like. The Smart and Inclusive Leadership project is part-funded by the European Social Fund.

Am I eligible to participate?

To participate in the programme you must meet the funding criteria requirements. This means you must work for a small to medium-sized business within the Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire (D2N2) region. Alternatively, you could be self-employed and registered as a sole trader within the D2N2 region.

Other support available 

We have other support on offer to help participants from small and medium-sized businesses through funded programmes, including the newly launched Reskill and Recover programme. The programme aims to help participants learn about growth and productivity especially following the challenges of the past few years.

Other support on offer includes grants and loans, as well as funded business support programmes. Most of these are aimed at local businesses that want to innovate, grow, de-carbonise or upskill. 

Find out about other support on offer