What does it really take to lead anti-racism — not simply to talk about it?
Across public sector organisations, leaders are increasingly expected to create workplaces, services and systems where equity, belonging and inclusion are lived realities.
However, the current changing and often challenging political, economic and social context means we are seeing a backward trend in terms of our equality,diversity and inclusion efforts. Our communities and the workforce are experiencing and fearing increased racism and discrimination.
Racism is not simply an interpersonal issue, and anti-racist leadership cannot be achieved through awareness training alone. It requires leaders who understand history, systems, power and privilege; who are prepared to examine themselves and their leadership practice; and who have the confidence, capability and agency to turn learning into meaningful action and secure sustained change and impact.
The Staff College is launching the Anti-Racist Leadership Programme in April 2027.
Why inclusive leadership across all levels matters
Explore why inclusive leadership matters at every organisational level, from boardroom to frontline, and how it drives better decisions, stronger cultures and lasting change.
The Anti-Racist Leadership Programme is an immersive leadership development experience designed for people who want to move beyond awareness and become active, credible and influential anti-racist leaders.
This is more than a training programme
Delivered over six months, the programme combines four facilitated development days with individual virtual development and impact conversations.
Participants will not simply learn about anti-racism. They will be supported to explore:
- What does anti-racist leadership mean for them personally and professionally?
- How history, racism, power and privilege continue to influence the systems in which we lead.
- Where they might have influence?
- How they can move from intention to intervention?
- What and how they can bring about change within teams, services, organisations or wider systems.
The programme creates space for challenge, curiosity, reflection and honest dialogue while maintaining a strong focus on leadership practice, organisational change and measurable impact.
Programme Outline
Days 1 & 2 - Foundations and Context
The programme begins with a residential experience.
Participants establish the psychological safety and trust required to have conversations that are often avoided in organisational life.
Together, the cohort explores shared language and the historical, political, social and economic contexts that have shaped contemporary racism.
The learning moves beyond individual prejudice to examine systems, structures and power.
Participants explore areas including:
- The historical roots of racism, colonialism, partition and eugenics.
- The science and construction of race.
- Language and its relationship with identity and power.
- Whiteness, power and privilege.
- Intersectionality.
- Critical Race Theory.
- Psychological safety and belonging.
- The foundations of anti-racist leadership.
- The current political, social and economic environment.
Real-world examples of anti-racist practice bring these conversations to life.
Day 3 — From Understanding to Leadership Practice
Moving from reflection to action
Participants return after four to six weeks with an opportunity to reflect on what they have noticed — about themselves, their organisations and the systems around them.
Day 3 moves the programme firmly into leadership practice.
Participants explore advocacy, allyship, activism and collective agency, asking what these concepts mean when translated into everyday leadership behaviour.
Turning learning into organisational impact.
The Leadership Challenge is a defining feature of the programme.
Rather than completing the programme with an action plan that may never leave the page, participants apply their learning to a real leadership challenge within their organisation.
Over approximately three months they test ideas, engage stakeholders, challenge established ways of working, gather evidence and learn what it takes to create change.
The programme therefore becomes a leadership laboratory — connecting theory with the realities of organisational life.
Individual Development Conversations
Participants are supported through virtual one-to-one development and impact conversations.
These conversations provide confidential space to explore personal leadership, organisational dynamics, barriers, resistance and emerging impact.
They help participants translate learning into practice and maintain momentum between programme days.
This individual support recognises an important principle:
Anti-racist leadership requires both organisational action and personal work.
Day 4 — Application, Impact and Collective Learning
Participants consider the evidence of impact, reflect on their growth and identify how they will sustain their anti-racist leadership practice beyond the programme.
What makes this programme different?
This is not unconscious bias training. It is not a one-off conversation about race.
And it is not based on the assumption that awareness automatically produces change.
The programme brings together:
History + Critical Thinking + Self-Reflection + Leadership + Action + Impact
It recognises that racism operates at interpersonal, organisational, structural and systemic levels — and therefore leadership responses must operate at those levels too.
At its heart are humanity, belonging, relationships, reflection and reflexivity, combined with the willingness to examine power and use leadership influence differently.
Who is the programme for?
The programme is designed for leaders, managers and professionals who have the opportunity to influence people, culture, practice, services and systems.
It is particularly valuable for organisations seeking to develop leaders who can:
- Engage confidently in conversations about race and racism.
- Understand structural and systemic inequalities.
- Recognise the influence of power and privilege.
- Create greater psychological safety and belonging.
- Challenge inequitable organisational practices.
- Exercise allyship, advocacy and leadership courage.
- Lead and influence across organisational boundaries.
- Translate anti-racist intentions into measurable action.
The Invitation
Organisations have made significant commitments to equality, diversity and inclusion.
The next challenge is ensuring those commitments are visible in leadership behaviour, organisational decisions and outcomes for colleagues and communities.
The Anti-Racist Leadership Programme provides leaders with the space, challenge, knowledge, relationships and practical tools to make that transition.
Because meaningful anti-racist leadership is not defined by what we say we believe.
It is demonstrated by what we are prepared to notice, question, challenge and change.
Anti-Racist Leadership Programme
From Awareness to Agency. From Agency to Action. From Action to Impact.
Launching April 2027.
Programme costs
The cost will be £2950 (+ VAT) per person.