Programme to Find Next Generation of Black,
Asian and Minority Ethnic Leaders Begins in Britain
By Features Desk
Friday, March 26,
2021.
Participants from across the United
Kingdom are currently taking part in the second year of Pathway to Success
Leadership and Development programme, an innovative idea designed to provide
Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals with the tools and knowledge
required to stand for political offices.
Now in its second year, the programme aims to send out the
message that diverse leadership is essential in politics, business and civil
society, while creating a thriving parliamentary democracy.
The organisers said that participants have been selected based
on their proven leadership skills and will undertake a week of intensive
masterclasses in politics, governance, community, business, commercial and
civic environments to build their know-how in running for political office and
further develop their senior leadership skills.
More than 1,000 applications were received for 30 places, more
than three times as many as in 2019, which was the pilot year. As a result of
its success the first around, the programme has been expanded to double the
number of potential future Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic leaders this year to
60 across two cohorts.
Run by The House of Commons and Operation Black Vote (OBV) in collaboration with the University of
Oxford’s Magdalen College and Blavatnik School of Government, and Lloyds
Banking Group, the programme will offer
participants an insight into running for political office and senior leadership
positions, as well as an enhanced understanding of the political landscape and
the skills needed for a career in frontline politics.
Organisers said they have developed a comprehensive programme to
build an in-depth understanding of major political, civic and business ideas through discussion, group activities and input
sessions throughout the week. Due to the coronavirus
pandemic, sessions this year are being delivered online.
John Benger, Clerk
of the House of Commons, said:
“At the House of Commons, we believe
that leadership is improved by diversity. That is why we are proud to launch
the second year of the “Pathway to Success” leadership and development
programme.
“Addressing underrepresentation in
senior roles within the House of Commons is one of the priority actions of our
Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2019-2022 and I look forward to welcoming the
next generation Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic leaders to Parliament”
The 2019 cohort has already seen some impressive success
stories, including
OBV alumnus Frank Starling, who is
currently the global Vice President of WERKIN, a London based tech company.
Starling was appointed a London Enterprise Advisor to the Mayor of London.
Starling said that the scheme is a career
changing opportunity geared at levelling the playing field and accelerating
Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic leaders forward.
“Being a participant of the programme
has helped me to access knowledge, networks and tools that have aided me to
reach the next level,” he said.
OBV alumnus Sonika Nirwal who stepped
up, applied and was appointed to a senior leadership position in her
organisation, said that she took part
in the Pathway programme as she felt like a part of her had given up on the
future and that her career had stalled.
“For me the Pathway programme was like
a reawakening,” she said. “I met people who every day were changing the
world around them. Coming on the programme has completely changed my outlook
and I now believe in myself again.”
“Three months after attending the week
in Oxford I found myself thinking about applying for an internal promotion
within my organisation. Through the programme I received support in preparing
for the assessment process. In the end I was successful and am now looking at
my career in a totally different manner. I have made some friends for life on
this programme, whilst accessing some of the finest minds in the country.
“I would highly recommend the programme.”