Development programme

GuildHE, working with Inclusion Revolution, has developed a bespoke programme aimed at enabling leaders to deliver the strategic oversight, stakeholder management and decision-making required to build an impactful, institutionally-relevant and robust Access and Participation Plan.  

We have secured a discount for GuildHE members to undertake the AHEP Aspiring Governance Professionals Programme.  This comprehensive 3-day programme is designed to equip new, aspiring and developing HE governance professionals with the essential knowledge and skills needed to succeed.  The programme combines in-person and online sessions that deliver practical insights, explore best practices and develop understanding of the HE governance landscape.

We've partnered with sector data phenom Andy Youell to offer a programme to support and grow your staff's data capabilities, including how data is managed and used.  These sessions are aimed at senior leaders with responsibilities for data operations, data analysis or external reporting.  They are ongoing throughout the year. 

We offer ongoing support to members seeking degree awarding powers at all levels.  We convene sector experts for guidance, offer 1:1 support and connect you to peers who have recent experience of different stages of the process, including those who've recently achieved those powers.

This programme supports members to implement E6 (OFS's new Condition of Registration on Harassment and Sexual Misconduct) and to understand what it means to comply with this new condition. It includes bespoke webinars from sector experts, community of practice sessions, peer support and sharing of guidance and adopted practice.  

Read about how we're supporting GuildHE members

Upcoming sessions include:

Session one: reporting mechanisms and procedures
Date: 24 April
Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm 
Location: online
Members register here

Session two: staff-student relationships
Date: 15 May
Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm
Location: online 
Members register here

We are inviting formal expressions of interest from member institutions to take part in a new leadership development pilot, co-designed and delivered in partnership with leadership specialists Gatenby Sanderson.

This pilot programme offers a comprehensive and cost-effective leadership development opportunity tailored to the unique contexts of GuildHE institutions. It is designed for staff currently in leadership positions – whether academic or professional services – particularly those leading teams or strategic projects and seeking to further develop their leadership capabilities.

Programme Overview

• We are seeking a minimum of four institutions to co design and participate in the pilot.
• Each institution will receive five places on the programme.
• The exact cost per institution will depend on the number of institutions taking part, and the ultimate shape and scale of the programme designed for the pilot.
• Each institution will nominate a lead contact to join the steering group, which will guide the programme's development and evaluation.

We are also open to interest from institutions looking to explore future leadership programmes for senior executives or early-career leaders subject to sufficient engagement with this initial pilot. 

If you are interested in taking part in the pilot or would like to know more, please email Omoye Otoide, Policy Programmes Officer.

We've set up a fantastic offer for our members, partnering with Strengthify. You now benefit from a 30% discount on dynamic Discovery Workshops. 

The Strengthify Discovery Workshop is a dynamic and engaging session designed to help participants uncover, appreciate, and apply their unique strengths in the workplace. Through a combination of self-assessment tools, interactive activities, and group discussions, participants will embark on a process of self-discovery and team collaboration.

Heads of our member institutions can access the discount code by logging in to the new Member Area of our website and visiting the 'Exclusive Offers' within our Resources section.

Choose from a selection of virtual and in-person workshops between April and June 2025.

This is our newest programme offer for members, focusing on sector transformation and efficiency in response to the ongoing financial and operational challenges experienced across our community and in higher education more widely. We’ve kicked off activities with a series of roundtables, bringing members together to identify opportunities for collaborative problem-solving, joint working, and shared service explorations.

We held an insightful roundtable for creative specialists on 25 April where we discussed existing collaboration, barriers, and future GuildHE-supported activity. 

Our second roundtable will take place on Thursday 10 July, 3.30 - 5.00pm (online), focusing on the unique challenges of operating in rural or coastal locations. This is a confidential space for Heads of Institutions or Senior Leadership Staff to discuss how these locations present different challenges compared to large, urban institutions. It's an opportunity to share and collaborate with peers facing similar situations, and will feed into our Transformation and Collaboration programme. Register to attend

We are currently arranging our third roundtable, which will be a hands-on workshop focused on practical steps for efficiency, delivered with a partner organisation. More details, including the date, time, and how to register, will be announced very soon!

And do visit the Member Area of our website where you can read our policy briefing on the recent UUK Taskforce report.