Designed to equip heritage and cultural leaders with the skills to inspire, guide, and elevate their teams through coaching conversations, this hands-on workshop is perfect for Leaders at any level and delivers practical tools to transform everyday interactions into opportunities for development.
In this 2hr session you will be introduced to a range of easy to follow conversation frameworks, designed to help you lead a focused coaching conversation with teams, peers and/or stakeholders, that are solution-focused and action orientated.
Coaching and Leadership
Coaching is a proven tool for levelling up leadership. It uses a range of communication skills (such as targeted restatements, listening, questioning, clarifying, etc.) to help individuals shift their perspectives and discover different approaches to achieve set goals. Coaching differs from traditional mentoring in that it is a more collaborative and reflective process, allowing the coachee to identify their actions to move forward in their learning journey, empowering individuals to become confident, proactive and self-reflective
Key benefits of Coaching:
Improved Communication: Through coaching, leaders refine how they listen, ask questions, and deliver feedback. This leads to clearer, more effective interactions with teams, peers, and stakeholders
Problem-Solving Skills: Coaching often focuses on real-world challenges, guiding leaders to think critically and develop practical solutions. It’s less about theory and more about actionable strategies
Goal Clarity and Accountability: Coaching helps set specific, meaningful goals and keeps those involved on track. A coach acts as a sounding board and an accountability partner, driving progress.
Confidence and Decision-Making: By exploring goals, realities, options and ways forward, Coaching includes reflection but drives action.
Adaptability: In fast-changing environments, coaching equips leaders to pivot, embrace uncertainty, and lead through disruption with agility.
Research from the International Coaching Federation show that 72% of coachees report a strong correlation between coaching and increased employee engagement and 87% of companies see a positive ROI from coaching programs.
This training is part of the CREATE PLACE Leadership programme. CREATE PLACE is organising various train-the-trainer sessions to support cultural and heritage professionals in developing the skills to use coaching in their everyday conversations and in their teams. For more information on CREATE PLACE Leadership programme, see https://blogs.staffs.ac.uk/createplace/
CREATE PLACE Heritage & Digital awarded grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to support heritage and cultural leaders involved in the next phase of heritage-led regeneration
We are delighted to announce that the CREATE PLACE Heritage & Digital Leadership Programme has been awarded £207,000 as part of the #HeritagePlaces investment. Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the executive-style leadership programme will support talented leaders who will play an increasingly transformative role in the future of our places, our heritage sites, buildings and organisations.
There is a recognised need for leadership support at the mid- to senior level, made more urgent in North Staffordshire by the necessity of Heritage conservation for the post-industrial, historically valuable built fabric of the place, tightly connected to its surrounding communities. The importance and potential of Stoke-on-Trent’s heritage has been recognised by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which is targeting investment into the city over the next 10 years to boost the local economy and inspire pride in place.
Focussing on heritage and digital, the CREATE PLACE Leadership programme will work with existing consortium networks, local authorities, higher education institutions and regional heritage and culture organisations to address the need for well-supported and trained cultural leaders for our historically rich places and communities.
CREATE PLACE Heritage & Digital is a place-oriented leadership development initiative focussing on advancing leadership. The programme will involve executive-leadership training, roundtable challenges and 1:1 coaching to develop knowledge and provide new skills. It will cover a range of topics, including intangible heritage at risk, working with heritage trusts, digital skills, 100-year planning, strategic partnership work, heritage business models, tools for participatory governance, inclusion and access, executive coaching and participation in shaping buildings, stories, and intangibles. The project also aligns closely to the cultural strategies of project partner Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
This new investment allows us to bring new content (heritage and digital) to a well-established framework based on the successful ACE-funded programme, where between 2019 and 2024, we welcomed 100+ fellows onto leadership residencies, with more than 12,666 hours of structured learning and self-directed study. Our leadership programmes offer a step-change in cultural transformation in the region. Our fellows have taken up leadership positions, adopted co-creation skills that demonstrably had more impact in the places they were situated in, and formed new powerful networks. In the following years of the 2019 – 2024 leadership programme, we saw the formation of a powerful Cultural Compact (established 2021), a vibrant Cultural Exchange forum (2023), a heritage trust steering group (established 2023), a heritage trust (2024), and the region has attracted more inward-facing investment than ever before, including a large-scale philanthropic giving initiative. Our Create Place fellows and consortium members helped establish long-lasting leadership skills and confidences, as well as stronger networks for our region.
We will continue this impactful growing network of leadership fellows, and in the next phase of the programme, we will support the regional heritage leadership talent in achieving a similar impact for our regional heritage assets. We are so delighted to have received a grant from the The National Lottery Heritage Fund to achieve these aims.
The CREATE PLACE Heritage & Digital project partners are:
Carola Boehm, Professor of Arts and Higher Education from the C3 Centre for Creative Industries and Creative Communities at the University of Staffordshire, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be awarded a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with many thanks to National Lottery players. We believe that the passion for our local heritage, and the leadership talent we have in the city region deserves to be supported by a challenging and exciting leadership programme. We have a fabulous consortium of 10 experienced cultural and heritage organisations, and we cannot wait to welcome the next generation of leaders to this partnership, driving the heritage-led regeneration in our creative city.”
Robyn Llewellyn, Area Director, England, Midlands & East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “We are excited to support the Create Place project to develop leaders who are building a bright and inclusive future for Stoke-on-Trent’s culture and heritage. As one of our Heritage Places, we’re helping to unlock the long-term possibilities of local heritage.”
“It is important that heritage organisations can proactively contribute to online information, including sharing their knowledge and expertise with a global audience through the Wikimedia sites. Create Place is a great example of leading the way with digital heritage. At Wikimedia UK we’re excited to be involved to lend our support to the heritage sector. Finding accurate information online is vital in a digital world.” Daria Cybulska, Director of Programmes and Evaluation, Wikimedia UK
“Art UK is delighted to be involved in the Create Place programme and to be able to share our learning with the delegates around online and in-person engagement. As an organisation which supports art collections across the UK, we are keen to show people working in the arts and heritage sector how we encourage online volunteering and engage communities with the art around them.” Katey Goodwin, Deputy Director, Art UK
“The heritage sector is facing ever-challenging times, and our next generation of leaders needs camaraderie, connection and training to support them as they tackle those challenges. The Create Place initiative unites a strong and diverse team of collaborators, where we each bring specialisms that will combine to deliver a transformational programme. We love working this way, contributing our expertise and at the same time learning from partners and the participating leaders as we go, so can’t wait to get started.’” Anra Kennedy, Consultant Director, The Audience Agency
University of Staffordshire (https://www.staffs.ac.uk/about) is an award-winning university with a long, proud heritage in the city Stoke-on-Trent. Being the catalyst for change has been in our DNA for over 100 years. We are here to act as a force for social good that transforms the lives of the people who will ultimately transform the way we live and work. Our journey began in 1914 as a college dedicated to educating workers in local industries. We evolved to become a polytechnic and then a university. Now we are evolving again to reflect our commitment to Staffordshire and beyond. In 2024, we have embarked on an exciting new chapter, changing our name from Staffordshire University to University of Staffordshire. This transformation is more than just a new logo and name. It is the embodiment of our commitment to be the place of possibility. A place that celebrates diversity, inclusion and opportunity. We are dynamic, forward-thinking and built for the changing way we live, work and study.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s investment in Stoke-on-Trent
Designed to boost local economies and local pride by unlocking the potential of local history and heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Heritage Places initiative aims to transform 20 places around the UK by 2033. The initiative has a dedicated funding pot of £200million. Stoke-on-Trent was one of the first Heritage Places to be announced in October 2023.
Press Release from the University of Staffordshire:
CREATE PLACE: The Placemaking and Co-Creation Leadership Programme in North Staffordshire and Cheshire East
DEADLINE for applications to our first round of fully funded places is 24th September 2020!
The programme will celebrate and reflect the diverse achievements of our diverse creative and cultural talent, so will actively seek to grow diversity in the sector. Please note that this programme caters for
aspiring creative and cultural leaders
freelance practitioners with the potential to take up leadership roles
sole traders who are both artists and operate as a business
people early in their careers who need leadership and management training
people early in their careers who have leadership aspirations and need support and guidance to shape their career
Create Place is now open for applications. We are looking for applicants for this fully funded leadership programme, after a delay of the start due to Covid19.The amended porgamme will include online and blended learning methods if social distancing methods will still be active at the time of delivery. We are monitoring the Covid19 situation closely and will be following guidance issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), Public Health England (PHE) and Arts Council England
Please note this is not an artistic development programme. The programme is for emerging leaders in the creative arts, heritage, cultural or library sector who are looking to develop their career by allowing creative practices to drive co-creation and placemaking.
We are looking for future inspiring creatives who
are committed and passionate about arts as well as their regional communities,
have worked within the arts and cultural sector for at least 2 years, having gathered some experience in leading projects,
have a serious desire to impact the cultural sector and inspire social change through the arts,
feel a need to move their career to the next level,
are willing to reflect, develop their skills & behaviours and are open to learning new ways of working.
We have had to delay the start of the programme by 6 months but will consider online and blended learning methods if social distancing methods will still be active at the time of delivery. We are monitoring the situation closely and will be following guidance issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), Public Health England (PHE) and Arts Council England.
A total of £6m is being invested by Arts Council England in museums, libraries and arts across the country to help tackle skills gaps, a lack of diversity, and to support the continued growth and long-term sustainability of the sector.
Drawing upon the region’s rich creative heritage, the Placemaking and Co-Creation Leadership Programme intends to develop leaders who will play a transformative role in the future of the arts in the region.
Focussing on placemaking and co-creation, the programme will work with existing consortium networks, local authorities, higher education institutions and regional cultural organisations to address the needs of its rurally dispersed communities.
Carola Boehm, Professor of Arts and Higher Education at Staffordshire University, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be selected. We believe that the creative talent we have in North Staffordshire and Cheshire East deserves to be supported by a challenging and exciting leadership programme.
“We have a fabulous consortium of 17 experienced and creative organisations, who cannot wait to welcome the next generation of cultural and creative leaders to this partnership.”
The two-year project, beginning in January 2020, aims to reach communities perceived to have low cultural engagement, and to identify a more diverse future talent pool of creative leaders. This will include working with existing organisations such as the Cultural Forum, B-Arts, Cheshire Dance, BCB, Appetite, Spare Parts, XTRAX, Voluntary Arts England, Arts&Heritage and the New Vic to support the creative talent already in the region.
Anne Torreggiani, CEO at The Audience Agency, said: “The Audience Agency are delighted to be co-delivery partners. Placing audiences at the centre of cultural programme design and decision making, can have a significant impact on both people and place. We look forward to inspiring the next generation of cultural leaders.”
The training programme will involve residential stays, roundtable challenges and 1:1 coaching to develop knowledge and provide new skills covering a range of topics including business and digital skills, strategic partnership work, executive coaching and audience participation.
The project also aligns closely to the cultural strategies of project partners Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Cheshire East Council.
Councillor Lorraine Beardmore, Stoke-on-Trent City Council cabinet member for sport, culture and leisure, added: “I’m delighted that we and the city’s Cultural Forum are partners in this exciting opportunity for the arts across the region. This programme will ensure our cultural leaders are suitably skilled to support the growth of the sector.
“The programme delivers on all of the main goals of our cultural strategy ‘Making the Creative City’, which is focused on growing the capacity and ambition of the sector and supporting strong leadership through mentoring and training opportunities. This new £150,000 award will certainly help to achieve these objectives.
“Supporting people to realise their ambitions and achieve their potential is at the heart of this two-year project.”
The Placemaking and Co-Creation Leadership Programme project partners are:
Staffordshire University (lead)
Staffordshire Coaching and Mentoring Hub (SCMH)
Keele University
Cheshire East Council
Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Stoke-on-Trent & North-Staffordshire Chambers
Arts&Heritage
The Audience Agency
Voluntary Arts England
XTRAX
North Staffordshire BCB
B-Arts
New Vic Theatre
Appetite
Stoke-on-Trent Cultural Forum
Cheshire Dance
Spare Parts
Supportive quotes
Peter Knott, Area Director for Arts Council England, said: “A key part of Arts Council’s role is to invest in people to ensure the sector is led by diverse, resilient and creative individuals.
“I look forward to seeing our Transforming Leadership investment in these three Midlands organisations help them create new local and international networks, develop innovative training opportunities and help nurture the next generation of creative leaders.”
Councillor Nick Mannion, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for environment and regeneration, said: “We are delighted that this bid to Arts Council England has been successful and we are thrilled to be working as part of this consortium.
“This announcement comes just as a new Cultural Strategy for Crewe is to be launched. The strategy recognises the need for young people to have opportunities such as this – to gain experience and skills in creative and cultural industries and to develop strong leadership skills for the future.”
Damien McGlynn, Communications & Partnerships Director, Voluntary Arts England, said: “We at Voluntary Arts England are delighted to be involved in this excellent programme. With the skills and confidence they need to progress, North Staffordshire and Cheshire East’s budding cultural leaders will be well equipped to foster a more supportive environment for creative cultural activity across the region.”
Professor David Amigoni, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise) at Keele University, said: “This is a great example of local partners working together to help the cultural and creative industries develop and grow. Leadership plays a powerful role in any organisation, but these sectors have distinctive demands, and this funding allows us to build the right kinds of leadership development for the sector.”
