TheKNOW is a new leadership development programme for Birmingham’s experienced leaders

TheKNOW is designed for senior, busy leaders whose schedules mean they simply cannot commit to a number of set days throughout the year.

TheKNOW brings together leaders from all three sectors - private, public and voluntary/community. The diversity of the groups is central to the challenge of the programmes.

Participants tailor their learning experience through a choice of modules, and work together to wrestle with real-life problems. Participants develop their leadership abilities through collaboration with their peers in other sectors, site visits, panel discussions, expert briefings and exposure to numerous different approaches to leadership.

Birmingham’s entrepreneurs can now win a place on TheKNOW

Common Purpose is running a competition for Birmingham’s entrepreneurs and SMEs with the prize of a place worth £4,500 on the TheKNOW programme that will be starting in January 2009.

To enter, please send an outline of no more that 200 words of what change you think Birmingham needs and how entrepreneurs can play a part in making this change happen to: Louise Teboul, Regional Director for Common Purpose Birmingham at louise.teboul@commonpurpose.org.uk

Closing date is October 31.

* CASE STUDY: Sarah Gee, marketing and fundraising consultant for cultural organisations.

Sarah Gee was working as marketing and development director for a charity when she decided to take part in the Matrix course, run by Common Purpose.

Shortly afterwards, as a result of her experiences on the programme, she decided to set up her own marketing and fundraising consultancy for cultural organisations.

She now helps museums and galleries, performing arts companies and other cultural institutions gain the funding that they need in order to continue offering quality attractions for the public.

A meeting with the Assistant Chief Fire Officer was significant in shaping her career.

Sarah says: “He told me that, in the fire service, they were struggling to find new ways of adjusting their workforce to think about fire prevention rather than just putting fires out.

“This made me think about my own organisation, in which we perhaps weren’t providing some of our employees with the breadth of knowledge that they needed. I felt powerless to change that, and very frustrated.

“After working with Common Purpose I realised that I really wanted to be my own boss. Common Purpose gave me the confidence that I needed to take my future into my own hands.

“I therefore decided to start my own company, where I would be free to make the most of my leadership style.”

Sarah says that the opportunity to visit a number of different local institutions, including a prison also inspired her to work for change in her area.

She is now a non-executive Director of Birmingham Professional DiverCity, a trustee of a number of different arts organisations, and, in 2007, was the Chair of Birmingham Future, a charity that aims to give young professional a voice in how their city is run.

But it wasn’t just Sarah’s life that changed because of the programme: “We had a very sociable group, and some of us are still in contact.

“Like me, many of my cohort were given new confidence.”

“Whereas previously we would have been satisfied with gleaning information from newspapers or hearsay, we now want to know exactly what is happening in our area and the effect that this will have on our work.

“As a result, I’m now heavily involved with Birmingham City Council’s Big City Plan, a masterplan for the next 20 years, because the decisions made now will impact on my future.”

* Competition terms and conditions
Applications to the programme are subject to a selection process and are submitted to the local Advisory Group.
The Advisory Group comprises individuals with experience across all sectors in the programme’s geographical area. All are members in their own right, not representatives of their organisations or communities.
Advisory Groups make decisions on whether an applicant demonstrates that they fulfil the application criteria.
The winner will need to be available on January 20, April 2 and June 3, 2009 and will be announced in The Birmingham Post. There is no cash alternative.  Closing date is October 31.