This website uses cookies to store information on your computer. Some of these cookies are used for visitor analysis, others are essential to making our site function properly and improve the user experience. By using this site, you consent to the placement of these cookies. Click Accept to consent and dismiss this message or Deny to leave this website. Read our Privacy Statement for more.
Experienced Leader
/

Experienced Leader

The deadline has now passed, please contact us to join our September intake.

£2,395 
Contact us   Register your interest

Programme information

Between September 2025 - May 2026, the Experienced Leader programme will bring together senior leaders who are passionate about social change and using their leadership to pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable society. 

Through a wealth of online and in-person leadership development tools, participants will explore the relational, strategic and systemic factors that shape and impact leadership. Previous topics that have been discussed are, relationship management with your board; challenging conversations with colleagues; leading within a complex adaptive system; empathetic leadership; driving long-term impact; building personal resilience; change management; influencing others; considered Equity, Diversity and Inclusion implementation and building self-awareness and one's own identity as senior leader. 

This programme is certified by The Institute of Leadership and on completion of the programme participants will have access to the award-winning MyLeadership e-learning programme from The Institute of Leadership to enable their continued development. To learn more about this certificate click here

We are delighted to offer a bursary place on this programme for an individual who identifies as Black or racially minoritised. The bursary seeks to address the disparities and imbalances in social sector leadership. Thus, this bursary is for an individual from a Black or racially minoritised backgrounds from small-medium sized organisations (annual income of less than £1m). If you qualify for the bursary, simply complete the online application form. 

Watch the recording of the live Information and Q&A webinar here.

Programme Detail
  • Online and in-person learning
  • ~9 days' commitment
  • £2,395 
Outcomes
  • Increased self-awareness, resilience and wellbeing
  • Improved working with and through others
  • Enhanced organisational effectiveness and greater social impact
  • Ongoing support and learning through community of peers
 
 

Key dates

Application deadline

Applications are now closed.

Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as new dates have been released.

Moderation decision

Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis and there are limited places available - so be sure to submit your application as soon as possible. All applications will go through a moderation process to assess suitability, taking into the total number of applications received and programme capacity. Applicants will be informed about the outcome of their application on a rolling basis.

Programme dates

The programme will begin in September 2025 with an induction learning day. The programme will end with a celebration event.

Eligibility criteria

Strategic decision maker

This programme is aimed at strategic decision makers, who generally have 6+ years of leadership experience from any sector, both paid and voluntary. This programme commonly caters for Directors, Chief Executives and in some cases Heads of and Senior Managers. Please note this list is not exhaustive, if you are unsure of your eligibility for this programme please contact info@cloresocialleadership.org.uk or if you have less experience but are still looking for a development opportunity please see our Emerging Leader programme.

Working for social purpose

This programme is open to individuals who work for or with organisations with a social purpose, including charities, social enterprises, CICs, CSR departments, etc.

Passionate about social change

Your interest in using your leadership skills and knowledge to help make the world a better place is key.

Keen to develop

Your determination to develop yourself so you can lead social change effectively is a highly important criterion for your application.

What Our Previous Participants Say

Outcomes

Throughout the programme you and your senior peers will be guided to develop essential leadership skills within a social purpose organisation, resulting in strengthened capabilities as an inspirational communicator, empowering enabler, courageous changemaker, focused strategist, passionate advocate, and generous collaborator.

Through facilitated Peer Learning Circles and Action Learning you will be encouraged to engage in discourse around the challenges you face as leaders at an individual, organisational and systemic level, and the capabilities required to overcome those challenges and grow as a leader.

The Experienced Leader programme is designed to ensure you leave with an increased confidence in your ability to lead, mobilise resources, foster collaborations, and drive social change - all whilst navigating ever-changing contexts and looking out for the wellbeing of yourself, your teams and the communities you serve.


Click on the buttons below to learn more the expected programme outcomes.

Through self-reflection, you'll gain valuable insights into your strengths and areas for growth, enabling you to effectively communicate, collaborate, and lead with authenticity and compassion. The programme will provide you a refresher of the tools and knowledge needed to inspire and motivate others, make informed decisions, and drive meaningful change.

Gain the confidence to navigate complex, uncertain, and ever-changing contexts. The programme will empower you to develop a strong sense of self-assurance in your ability to lead. Through practical exercises and real-world examples, you'll learn effective strategies to tackle challenges head-on.

Become more effective in your role and gain practical skills to empower and motivate your team members, fostering a collaborative and impact-driven environment. You'll gain the knowledge and tools needed to maximise your team’s productivity and achieve your organisation’s goals. You’ll have the skills and tools to pass on your learning to others, cascading leadership development to those you work with.

Discover your unique self, your true purpose, and understand the impact you have on others. Enhance your communication skills and build stronger relationships, while also safeguarding yourself and your teams from burnout and anxiety. It will help you cultivate a healthier and more fulfilling work.

Throughout the programme you will be supported to embrace and work on the challenges your organisation is currently facing. Whether it's improving efficiency, fostering innovation, or navigating change, we will help you lead your organisation towards greater impact.

Past participants report that the support they received from their peers during and after the programme was vital in their journey to becoming more effective leaders. Together, you'll embark on a transformative leadership journey, forming meaningful connections, friendships and bonds that will positively impact your professional and personal growth.

Join the Clore Social Fellowship upon completion of the programme. The fellowship will provide you with opportunities for further growth and development as a social leader by gaining access to a supportive community of like-minded individuals, enabling you to expand your network, exchange ideas, and collaborate on impactful initiatives.

You’ll also have the option to join our online community of changemakers, helping to form strong peer bonds and networks to increase organisational and sector resilience, and encouraging innovation and collaboration.

Programme elements

Over the course of the programme you will engage in a range of formal, social and experiential learning interventions. All elements are delivered by leadership development experts and practitioners who will tailor the content and approach to meet the needs and experience of you and the cohort.


Click on the buttons below to learn more about each element.

Through a series of self-paced online learning modules, paired with virtual learning days and peer learning circles, you will learn about key social leadership skills and behaviours and what these look like in action, supporting you to develop them in yourself and others.

Modules may change depending on the needs and skills identified. Core modules are based on our Leadership Development Model and Capabilities Framework, and include: Know Yourself, Be Yourself, Look After Yourself; Leader as Coach; Focused Strategist; Empowering Enabler; Generous Collaborator; Passionate Advocate; Inspiring Communicator; and Wellbeing.

You will have the opportunity to hear directly from an experienced social leader, including their key lessons, failures and tips they learned along the way. Through these stories you will be vicariously learning key leadership lessons whilst also growing your network.

You will devise a development plan to help you set goals, identify areas for growth and establish a roadmap for your development.

Over two days, you will be guided through a series of workshops, activities that build and strengthen cohort connections, innovating around some of the key challenges faced by the sector and learning more about yourself through exploration of your Lumina Spark psychometric portrait and 360 Feedback Report.

Through three 1:1 sessions you will work with a professional coach to tap into your talent and overcome barriers that might be holding you back, helping to increase your resilience, efficiency, and performance - and get one step closer to achieving your professional and personal goals.

With a small group of peers, you will regularly come together in an inclusive and confidential space to aid reflective learning. You will present on challenges you face and, with the support of the Set, deepen your understanding of the situation and possible solutions, finding the answers within yourself and through learning from one another. As well as providing practical solutions to real-world issues, Action Learning promotes a culture of coaching; supporting you to refine your coaching skills, which can then be applied within your organisation.

This individualised psychometric profile tool inspires people to develop skills most needed in the workplace - adaptability, agility, a growth mind-set, partnering, authenticity and the ability to lead self and others. By completing the profile and participating in an interactive guided session, you will discover your underlying motivators and hidden potential, understand your everyday behaviours and how you respond to pressure, and learn how to improve working with and through others to more effectively lead your organisation and deliver change in the sector.

Our methods

Our programmes are tailored to meet the needs of participants, whilst based on the foundational principles that we have developed over more than a decade of working with 4,000+ social leaders.

The programme learning will be guided by Clore Social Leadership’s Social Capabilities Framework and Leadership Development Model. Using our Leadership Development Model , you will learn how and what social leadership skills and behaviours look like in action, where your strengths and areas of improvement lie, and how you can develop and encourage them in yourselves and others. Using our Social Capabilities Framework, you will be guided to develop inspirational, empowering, courageous, focused, passionate and generous leadership capabilities - qualities essential to any effective leader. Find out more about them here.

Programme schedule

We know that professional development can have a transformational impact for you and your organisation, but making time for it can be a challenge. Please see below for an overview of the programme schedule to help you plan ahead - with the exception of confirmed dates for Action Learning Sets and individual coaching sessions.

Once the programme begins, participants will be grouped, according to their level of experience, into Action Learning Sets, and all dates will be confirmed. Coaching is organised between the participant and the coach, to fit within existing commitments.

The majority of these sessions are delivered virtually, with a few in-person opportunities including the residential and celebration event. You can also find the schedule for all of the components of the programme in an info leaflet, once registration has opened.

Session Date & Time
Online: Welcome session
Thursday 25th September : 12:00-13:00
Online: Learning Day (Part1) : Know Yourself, Be Yourself, Look After Yourself Thursday 2nd October : 09:30-13:00
Online: Learning Day (Part 2): Know Yourself, Be Yourself, Look After Yourself Thursday 16th October : 10:00-11:30
Online: Peer Learning Circle: Focused Strategist Thursday 13th November : 10:00-11:30
In-person: Residential TBC : November/December 2025
Action Learning Set 1 

December 2025

360 Feedback Session Wednesday 10th December 2025 : 10:00-12:00
Action Learning Set 2

January 2026

Online: Peer Learning Circle (Passionate Advocate) Thursday 29th January 2026 : 10:00-11:30
Action Learning Set 3 March 2026
Online : Peer Learning Circle (Empowering Enabler) Thursday 12th March 2026 : 10:00-11:30
Online : Peer Learning Circle (Generous Collaborator) Thursday 23rd April 2026 : 10:00-11:30
Action Learning Set 4 April 2026
Online : Peer Learning Circle (Inspiring Communicator) Thursday 14th May 2026 : 10:00-11:30
In-person: Celebration Event and Programme Close Thursday 21st May 2026 : 11:00-15:00

Case studies

Katie McSherry writes about thinking big & different

I want to change the world. I came to Clore Social looking to learn with and from others about how to have a greater impact - and to lead where previously I’ve found myself much happier following others. The results have astounded me.

 

Learn More

Clore Social Fellows collaborate to secure major contract

Just months after successfully completing Clore Social’s Fellowship Programme for Experienced Leaders, two of our fellows joined forces and secured an impressive £500k contract from the Department for Education for an innovative project supporting young people in education by providing tailor-made educational and therapeutic intervention for the pupil and their family. 

 

Learn More

The importance of continuous learning

I can safely say, I feel more confident and accomplished after taking part in the programme. It made me step back and look at my own leadership, influence and approach more objectively. I now spend more time discussing my team members’ leadership journeys and have definitely experienced a step change in terms of how I empower those around me.

 
Learn More

2020 Experienced Leader Participants

The 2020 cohort consists of leaders working for a variety of organisations, including Young Women’s Trust, Plan International, Survivors' Network, Dhiverse, Girlguiding, and more.

 
Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

Your passion for and experience in the social sector are all you need to apply. You don’t need to have any particular academic or professional qualifications to take part in the programme. We know that leadership development training can be very difficult to access in the social sector, so try to make it accessible to those with minimal prior training.

We classify the leadership experience required to meet the programme eligibility as professional, in-sector experience. This may have been accrued at different points throughout your career, at different organisations and can be paid or voluntary. Experienced Leader applicants should be able to display at least six years of such experience. If your experience falls outside of these criteria, but you feel you are otherwise well suited for the programme, let us know why your experience is relevant and transferable in your application.

As a Clore Social Fellow, you will join a large network of social sector leaders from across the UK. Opportunities to connect with local fellows and continue learning will be supported, encouraged and facilitated wherever possible. We are always developing new programme offerings, and may have something of interest to you in the future, so keep in touch, and let us know if you have any ideas, or want to develop something with us for your organisation.

We are delighted to make one bursary place available on this programme for an individual who identifies as Black or racially minoritised. The bursary is specifically for those from small social sector organisations (income of less than £1m annually) in the UK. Clore Social is dedicated to redress imbalances and disparities in leadership. By directing our efforts towards underrepresented, misrepresented and marginalised audiences, we aim to amplify their leadership potential, ensuring that their voices are not only heard but also celebrated within the social sector.

If you qualify for the bursary, simply complete the online application form. On the form, there is an opt-in to apply via the bursary. The applications will be reviewed by our in-house moderation team based on the eligibility details provided in the application guidance documents which cover professional experiences, challenges and aspirations.

Should we offer further bursaries for any of our programmes, they will be announced via our monthly newsletter.

Please read the Application Guidance word document before you apply for the programme. Many of the questions on the online application form require tick-box/dropdown box answers. However, there are several questions that require you to provide a written answer. We therefore recommend that you use this document to plan your answers in advance before completing the online application form, as the form will not save your answers, so you must complete it in one go.

If you need any reasonable adjustments for the application process contact us at info@cloresocialleadership.org.uk.

If you have any questions, please email us at info@cloresocialleadership.org.uk.

We want to remove as many barriers as possible to support you to engage with this development opportunity. If you, or a colleague, need any reasonable adjustments please email us at info@cloresocialleadership.org.uk.

Increase your leadership potential