Leadership Fundamentals Programme

Practical leadership skills for SMEs.

Funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, the Leadership Fundamentals Programme helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) build essential leadership skills to strengthen their teams and support sustainable growth.

This 10-week programme focuses on practical strategies to enhance resilience, foster innovation and drive performance. Participants will develop their leadership potential through a mix of self-awareness, foundational leadership principles and practical management skills.

On successful completion of the programme participants will achieve an ILM Level 3 Award in Leadership and Management.

Register your interest

A view into a glass walled office where four co-workers in smart dress sit together around a meeting table.

Who is it for?

This programme is designed for leaders and managers at any level within the organisation who want to enhance their leadership approach and apply new skills directly to their role. It is particularly suited to those who:

  • are relatively new to formal leadership roles (for example, have held a leadership position for no more than three years).
  • have limited or no previous formal leadership or management training. 

Learning outcomes

Our Leadership Fundamentals Programme is designed to support individuals and businesses by delivering measurable outcomes. It will help to:

  • increase productivity
  • enhance confidence in performance management
  • build an inclusive workplace culture and recruitment
  • improve employee wellbeing
  • create stronger leadership and management practices
  • develop sustainable workplace strategies.

Course dates

The following course dates for 2025 are available to book. It only takes a few minutes. Once you have submitted your expression of interest, we'll contact you to book your application call within two working days.

Bristol week commencing 21 April 2025

The programme consists of six online webinars with four in-person sessions.

Date Time Location
Tuesday 22 April 2025 12:00-14:00 online
Wednesday 30 April 2025 09:30-16:30 in-person, Frenchay Campus
Wednesday 7 May 2025 10:00-12:00 online (group 1)
Wednesday 7 May 2025 13:00-15:00 online (group 2)
Friday 9 May 2025 12:00-14:00 online
Tuesday 13 May 2025 09:30-16:30 in-person, Frenchay Campus
Tuesday 20 May 2025 10:00-12:00 online (group 1)
Tuesday 20 May 2025 13:00-15:00 online (group 2)
Wednesday 21 May 2025 12:00-14:00 online
Thursday 5 June 2025 09:30-16:30 in-person, Frenchay Campus
Tuesday 17 June 2025 13:00-15:00 online (group 1)
Friday 20 June 2025 10:00-12:00 online (group 2)
Tuesday 24 June 2025 09:30-16:30 in-person, Frenchay Campus

Register your interest

Programme structure

This 10-week programme has been designed to be taken alongside full or part-time employment.

Online Induction

Objective

To introduce participants to the programme structure, aims, and available support, ensuring a clear understanding of the ILM qualification and assessment requirements.

Learning outcomes

  • Build connections to create a supportive and collaborative learning environment.
  • Understand the programme's aims, structure, expectations, and outcomes.
  • Gain an introduction to the ILM qualification and unit assessments.
  • Learn about the resources and support available to help you succeed in the programme.

Location: Online

Session length: 2 hours

Interactive workshop 1

Leading with impact: Enhancing Leadership and Communication for Team Success

Objective

Develop a deeper understanding of your leadership and communication styles to build stronger relationships, effective collaboration, foster team success, and navigate diverse workplace dynamics.

Workshop learning outcomes
  • Reflect on your leadership style and behaviours using self-assessment tools.
  • Understand how your practices shape workplace relationships and team dynamics.
  • Explore communication styles and assess the impact of your approach on others.
  • Identify key factors that contribute to building successful teams.
  • Examine the benefits and challenges of location-based, hybrid, and remote team structures.
  • Develop strategies for effective communication and collaboration to align your team around shared goals.
  • Use digital tools to enhance communication, teamwork, and productivity.
  • Promote team well-being through mindful leadership practices. 

Location: In-person - Frenchay Campus, Bristol or Bath

Session length: One day

Interactive workshop 2

Impact and Influence: Driving Customer-Centric Success

Objective

Empower you to create meaningful connections, build confidence, and foster a customer-centric culture that drives results through impactful communication and collaborative practices.

Workshop learning outcomes
  • Stand out by making a strong personal impact and presenting with confidence and authenticity.
  • Effectively sell yourself and your business to align with customer-focused goals.
  • Build a meaningful, customer-centric team dynamic that fosters accountability and growth.
  • Cultivate a leadership style that encourages open conversations, innovation and a growth-oriented team climate.
  • Develop skills to help your team recognise and seize opportunities that enhance customer-focused results. 

Location: In-person - Frenchay Campus, Bristol or Bath

Session length: One day

Interactive workshop 3

Developing a Coaching Mindset: Navigating Brave Conversations

Objective

Equip participants with the skills and confidence to navigate challenging conversations, foster constructive dialogue to manage performance effectively, and adopt a coaching mindset to inspire growth and drive team success.

Workshop learning outcomes
  • Identify common causes of team conflict and apply strategies to address them effectively.
  • Apply emotional intelligence to de-escalate conflicts and foster open, constructive communication.
  • Build confidence in having 'brave conversations' that drive clarity and accountability.
  • Gain tools for managing performance, including setting goals and reviewing individual and team progress.
  • Learn effective approaches to managing short- and long-term absences.
  • Understand the role of coaching and how to integrate it into daily practices.
  • Develop essential coaching skills, including active listening, effective communication, powerful questioning, and delivering feedback. 

Location: In-person - Frenchay Campus, Bristol or Bath

Session length: One day

Interactive workshop 4

Building an Inclusive Future: Leadership, Reflection and Next Steps

Objective

Empower participants to create an inclusive and innovative workplace culture, while reflecting on personal learning and setting actionable steps for continued learning and growth beyond the programme.

Workshop learning outcomes
  • Understand the value of inclusivity and how to build an inclusive organisational culture.
  • Develop the mindset and skills to lead diverse, high-performing teams.
  • Explore how diversity drives creativity, problem-solving, and innovation.
  • Learn strategies to attract diverse talent and foster an inclusive workplace.
  • Reflect and share key learnings with peers.
  • Discover tools to embed learnings into your role and support team development.
  • Identify actionable next steps to advance your leadership journey and ensure lasting impact. 

Location: In-person - Frenchay Campus, Bristol or Bath

Session length: One day

Online ILM writing workshops

Objective

Support participants in understanding the assessment criteria and approaches to completing the assignments.

Assessment

Participants will complete the ILM Level 3 Award in Leadership and Management, consisting of two units:

  • Unit 1: Understanding Leadership – Explore leadership styles and their impact.
  • Unit 2: Giving Briefings and Making Presentations – Plan and deliver a presentation with feedback for improvement.

Location: Online

Session length: 2 hours

Peer group facilitation sessions

This is an opportunity to meet in smaller working groups with your tutor to reflect on the interactive workshops and your learnings. You'll share how you have been able to embed this into your workplace and any challenges you may be facing.

Location: Online

Session length: 2 hours

Commitment

Learners must attend all sessions and complete assignments by the set deadlines. As a guideline, learners will need around 12 hours of self-study to complete each assignment. We encourage you to attend quarterly networking events to continue your leadership journey.

Employers must provide support, pay the programme fee, and participate in post-programme evaluation. 

Eligibility

To qualify for this funded programme, organisations must:

  • be an SME (including Co-operatives, Community Interest Companies (CICs) or Charitable Companies) based in Bristol, South Gloucestershire or Bath and North-East Somerset.
  • have at least one year of submitted accounts and a turnover of at least £100,000.
  • employ a minimum of three staff members.
  • demonstrate clear potential for growth in turnover and/or employees.

Fees and further information

  • SMEs: £200 per participant
  • Charitable companies and CICs: £100 per participant
  • Only one training place per organisation is allowed.
  • Eligibility evidence is mandatory for all enrolled learners.

If you’re unsure about your eligibility, email us at workforceskills@uwe.ac.uk to discuss your options – we may have other suitable programmes.  

How to apply

  • Review the programme structure and commitment requirements.
  • Attend one of our online drop-in sessions: