Bath-based organisations are being offered a unique opportunity to support their aspiring leaders through a pioneering leadership development programme designed by the city, for the city.
Now in its fifth consecutive year, Bath Bridge aims to make the city a more dynamic place to live and work through a world-class programme for its future leaders. 
Bath firms of all sizes and from any sector are being invited to consider sponsoring a member of their team to take part in this year’s programme, which runs between May and November.
Between 10 and 12 participants are included in each programme, taking part in four taught modules, one-to-one coaching, business mentoring and engagement with a social community project.
Following completion of the programme, which provides a personalised learning journey for each individual, participants can continue their learning and development by becoming part of an alumni network that meets quarterly.
The programme is delivered by a team of highly experienced consultants, speakers, coaches and mentors, many living and working in the city and its surroundings. programme
The fee for the programme is on a sliding scale dependent upon the size and type of organisation.
This year the programme is being taken forward, on behalf of Bath Bridge – a community interest company set up in 2012 – by Sarah Williment, who was appointed as programme director last October.
Sarah, pictured, said: “It is a privilege to have inherited such an incredible programme. My discussions with alumni and their sponsoring organisations so far tell me that their experience and learning journey on Bath Future Talent far outweighs commercially-run programmes of this kind – they sell the benefits of this programme, not me. 
“This programme has been designed specifically to support the city’s wide and diverse range of organisations including global/corporates, SMEs and charities/not-for-profit. Many alumni describe their experience as life-changing – it speaks for itself.”
More than 40 existing and aspiring leaders have taken part in the programme over the past four years including from Bath Rugby, Mayden, Altran, Bath Spa University, Off the Record, National Trust, St Johns Foundation, Boston Tea Party and the city’s Clinical Commissioning Group.
This year Sarah is keen to continue diversifying the cohort as she believes this is a key element of creating a rich learning environment for the participants and their sponsoring organisations.
She is also bringing in local and national speakers to both support the participants aspirations in leadership and enable them to gain insight into a range of personal journeys and experiences within different organisational contexts.
One of this year’s keynote speakers will be Dr Ann Limb, CBE DL FRSA, a leading educationalist, philanthropist, business leader and charity chair.
The first woman chair of The Scouts Association since it was founded by Robert Baden Powell in 1907, Dr Limb is also currently the independent business chair of the London Stansted Cambridge Consortium, the organisation behind the UK’s Innovation Corridor.
Her interest and passion in education and learning was made demonstrably visible when she founded the Helena Kennedy Foundation in 1988 – a social mobility charity that supports students from further and adult education progressing into higher education and subsequently went on to become chief executive of learndirect, the organisation that took forward the government’s concept of the ‘University for Industry’, reaching in excess of one million learners online and in non-traditional learning locations designed to engage hard-to-reach communities.
Dr Limb said: “I am delighted to be contributing to Bath Future Talent this year and am looking forward to returning to Bath – it is a city I am extremely fond of.
“I believe passionately in supporting local communities to invest in their greatest asset, their people, to better support growth, development and success.
“This is an excellent example of where a city has identified a need to nurture its own talent and Bath Bridge has found a dynamic way of not only engaging individuals in leadership development but also creating opportunities for them and their sponsoring organisations to increase their connections within the city.”
Anyone interested in taking part in the next Bath Bridge programme can register their interest at www.bathfuturetalent.com
