INTO Heritage Leaders
Developing leadership skills across the global heritage community
A new global leadership programme
APPLICATIONS FOR 2025 ARE OPEN! Please apply by 27 January
We are excited to offer the INTO Heritage Leaders programme to the staff and volunteers of our member organisations. If you are not a member but interested in the course, please join INTO to be eligible to participate.
The first cohort completed the programme in July 2024 – find out how they got on here. Please use the form below to apply for the next cohort.
We are very grateful to the Helen Hamlyn Trust for supporting this new initiative and to our partners Cultural Associates Oxford with whom we are developing the curriculum.
Apply now - click here for the application form
The practicalities
The programme will run over a period of four months, offering a combination of live online workshops, pre-recorded material set out in modules, networking sessions and peer learning groups.
Participants will bring experiences and career aspirations from their management responsibilities across the global national trust movement.
The programme will cover a variety of business and leadership topics, including:
- Understanding ourselves as leaders
- Understanding the global context
- Making an impact
- Creating effective organisations
- The business of heritage
- Building relationships
Above all, leadership is from the heart. My advice to young leaders would be to know what you’re leading for. Know yourself and where you’re going. Whether you’re leading a team of one or two, or you’re at the top of an organisation, the key is having a personal passion for what you are trying to achieve.
Why is INTO Heritage Leaders important?
INTO Heritage Leaders is a new programme responding to needs identified amongst our members.
Firstly, many of the organisations we work with have evolved organically, often due to the incredible energy and passion of a single individual. As these organisations move forward into the next phase of development, there is a need for grow leadership skills amongst the next generation.
Secondly, we heard from existing leaders that they are not always able to access the skills training that they need. And as they often do not have peers in their own country, they are eager to align their skills with those of the rest of the INTO family.
Lastly, there is great opportunity for INTO to expose participants to an international network of colleagues.
More about INTO Heritage Leaders
INTO Heritage Leaders is designed for individuals who are, or who aspire to be, leaders within the global national trust sector, with responsibility for the strategic leadership and direction of their organisation.
It is suitable for current and future leaders who have the ability within their role to be strategic in planning and delivery. They don’t necessarily need to line manage other staff directly but need to have a role where they provide direction and are responsible for the work of other internal staff and or the work delivered by external partners.
The programme starts with an online launch and orientation during the week beginning 10 March. The course runs throughout March, April, May and June, concluding at the beginning of July.
Delegates can select between two live sessions held on Wednesdays at either 8am or 2pm UK time (GMT or GMT+1 in daylight saving).
Outline programme
Week 1 – commencing 10 March
- Live Session 1: Launch and orientation (Wednesday 12 March)
- 1st Peer Learning Group meeting
Week 2 – commencing 17 March
- Module 1: Understanding the Global Context
Week 3 – commencing 24 March
- 2nd Peer Learning Group meeting
Week 4 – commencing 31 March
- Live Session 2: Networking (Wednesday 2 April)
- Module 2: Purpose and Impact
Week 5 – commencing 7 April
- 3rd Peer Learning Group meeting
Week 6 – commencing 14 April
- Module 3: Audiences and engagement
Week 7 – commencing 21 April
- 4th Peer Learning Group meeting
Week 8 – commencing 28 April
- Live Session 3: The Context of leadership (Wednesday 30 April)
- Live Session 4: Who am I as a leader (Thursday 1 May)
Week 9 – commencing 5 May
- Module 4: Creating Strong Organisations
Week 10 – commencing 12 May
- 5th Peer Learning Group meeting
Week 11 – commencing 19 May
- Module 5: External relationships
- Live Session 5: Networking (Wednesday 21 May)
Week 12 – commencing 26 May
- 6th Peer Learning Group meeting
Week 13 – commencing 2 June
- Module 6: The business of heritage
Week 14 – commencing 9 June
- Live Session 6: Wrap up (Wednesday 11 June)
- 7th Peer Learning Group meeting
Week 15/16 – commencing 16 and 23 June
- Participants continue to work through the modules
Week 17 – commencing 30 June
- Final Peer Learning Group meeting
This is an indication of the time commitment, however we are aware there will be differences in learning styles and time spent on the course materials.
- Pre-course: 3-6 hours of pre-course preparation
- Core programme:
- 9-12 hours of live session delivery
- 2-3 hours of additional course materials
- 1-2 hours of personal reflection
- Modules: 3-6 hours to complete each module
- Peer Learning Groups: 8 sessions (60-90 mins)
- Language: the course will be in English and we are sadly not able to provide simultaneous translation. All course participants are very accommodating if English is not your first language, but you will need to have at least conversational level to get the most from the course.
There will be further personal time needed to complete the work, so this is a large commitment for both the INTO member organisation and the individual and should not be underestimated.
Cultural Associates Oxford is a management consultancy that draws on years of experience from across the cultural, creative, business, and higher education sectors. CAO has significant experience designing bespoke training and development programmes for individuals, teams and organisations that focus on creating innovative and entrepreneurial thinking; and coaching – at both executive and governance levels. Some of their other clients include Oxford Cultural Leaders and the Saïd Business School.
Some of the programme costs are covered by the Helen Hamlyn Trust grant.
However, we are asking small organisations to contribute £150 towards the cost of participation and large organisations £800.
This course is available to INTO member organisations, their staff and volunteers. If you are not part of a member organisation, please consider joining to enjoy this benefit. We will consider a non-member participant rate at £300 for a small organisation and £1200 for large organisations. Only a small number of non-members will be admitted on each programme.
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Other development opportunities
TAP INTO small grants are available to support collaborative work between INTO members. Grants support up to £2,500 for the costs of travel, typically transportation and visa costs.
Members can use ASK INTO to approach us with specific information requests. We draw on our international network and partner members to partner you with appropriate expertise.
Our conference is an opportunity to meet and discuss collective goals and challenges in our sector. Each biennial conference is hosted by a member of our global family in partnership with INTO.
The INTO Incubator is a workshop for heritage organisations looking to make strategic change and seeking inspiration from the national trust approach.