Nurture your talent pool | Article

Take those steps and drive yourself to be who and what you want to be…” - Women in Leadership Programme participant

In 2021, The Whitehall and Industry Group (WIG) started a partnership with The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to increase female representation and strengthen talent pipelines within NDA's operating businesses.

With the aim of increasing gender diversity at all levels of the organisations, NDA launched the NDA Women in Leadership Programmes to foster the leadership development of more women in senior management positions in partnership with The Whitehall & Industry Group (WIG). The programme’s goal is to increase female representation and strengthen talent pipelines within NDA's operating businesses.  This initiative aligns with NDA's commitment to achieve a greater representation of women in the UK nuclear workforce by 2030. By cultivating diverse leadership teams, NDA aims to enhance overall performance and drive positive outcomes within the nuclear sector.

The Women in Leadership Programmes consist of two tracks: the Senior Leaders Programme, catering to women with potential for top leadership roles, and the Step Up Step Across Programme, targeting women seeking their first leadership positions. The objective is to address specific barriers hindering women's career progression and enable them to develop their authentic leadership identities.

“It was so valuable to talk to women across the organisations and to learn that we share similar issues.”

NDA women leaders in the programme experience immersive leadership interventions in a safe and confidential environment where women can openly discuss their challenges and receive support. They also join a network that inspires and energises them to sustain their important and demanding work.  This supports them to develop the necessary mindsets, behaviours, and actions to navigate complexity and make a positive impact.

At the outset, participants embark on a journey of self-discovery, sharing their stories in action learning sets and exploring the pivotal events that have shaped them as leaders. This active exploration fosters a deep understanding of their foundational experiences, hones their unique gifts, identifies personal values, acknowledges differences, and cultivates personal branding.

Past participants’ perceptions transformed as the programme progressed. One shared, "It was so valuable to talk to women across the organisations and to learn that we share similar issues.” Another participant echoed the sentiment, stating, "Bringing together women from across the group was so inspiring."

During the programme, participants hear from a cross-sector mix of speakers who are grappling with similar issues and challenges and share insights from a different perspective. The design of the programme fosters a sense of solidarity and empowerment, enabling participants to embrace their unique strengths and insights as women leaders.

An integral aspect of the programmes is empowering women to take charge of their careers, proactively envision their desired paths, and actively pursue them. The programmes delve into the barriers that hold women back, explore internal narratives, and empower participants to break free from constraints. It equips them with negotiation skills to seize future career opportunities, emphasising the importance of actively managing their careers rather than solely focusing on the tasks at hand. The programmes encourage participants to embrace their uniqueness as a gift and equip them with strategies to influence the key individuals who can further their professional aspirations.

“The biggest takeaway is to put my own oxygen mask on first, help myself first so that I can help others around.”   

Participants emerge from the programme with a renewed sense of purpose and empowerment. They have taken bold steps and made a positive impact in their lives and within their operating businesses.

As one participant described, “I have applied for a new senior role, which I would never have done if I hadn’t been on the programme... My confidence and ambition had grown to the extent that I know I am more than ready for the next level.”

Another participant shared, “It’s been great to meet other like-minded women leaders and hopefully those connections will continue. It’s totally transformed the way I personally think at work and my line manager has already seen the difference from me starting the course to now. It’s given me so many practical tools to take away and use. The biggest takeaway is to put my own oxygen mask on first, help myself first so that I can help others around”.   

“While we can all make commitments for female representation among executives, it is essential to nurture a talented pool to get there.”

NDA sponsors observed the ripple effect within their teams and businesses. Group Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Nuclear Decommissioning Authority shared, "The women who have joined these past cohorts… have gained so much in connectivity, insights, and camaraderie.  Maybe someday one of these women will develop and grow to become CEOs. In years to come we hope to look back and see how this programme played a little part in the journey of getting them to wherever they want to be”. 

The CEO at Nuclear Waste Services emphasised the impact of the programme, stating, "The programme is generating a pipeline of fantastic women across our NDA businesses positioning them for leadership roles. While we can all make commitments for 50% female representation among executives, it is essential to nurture a talented pool to get there. The NDA remains committed to continuing leadership campaigns across all operating businesses".

Our Women in Leadership Programmes  boast a thriving community of 160 women participants who are now esteemed alumni. Our heartfelt thanks go to the NDA Group, our partner EY, and all the participants for their invaluable contributions. Since its launch in 2021, the programme has made significant strides.

For further information or inquiries regarding WIG leadership programmes, please visit our leadership page or reach out to us at [email protected].  We are more than happy to provide you with any additional details or address any questions you may have.

Background: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is charged, on behalf of Government, with the mission to clean up the UK’s earliest nuclear sites safely, securely and cost effectively. It’s committed to overcoming the challenges of nuclear clean-up and decommissioning, leaving the 17 nuclear sites ready for their next use. It does this work with care for people, communities and the environment, with safety, as always, its number one priority.

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Returning for its eleventh year, WIG's Diversity and Inclusion Conference 2025 will take place on 19 March 2025. The conference will bring together experts from the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors to learn from each other’s experiences of creating inclusive organisations.

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