Are you a working parent who wants to progress your career?

The Leaders Plus Fellowship (cross-sector) is an award-winning Programme open to parents from all sectors who are progressing careers in leadership and management.

Our Fellowship supports you in pursuing ambitious roles while balancing home life. It equips you with the essential tools to thrive at work while still enjoying time with your family.

The Fellowship is open to all parents, including international applicants, with children aged 0–18. Our Programme is inclusive and welcoming of all family setups.

We encourage applications from those who are traditionally underrepresented in leadership positions and offer online/blended course options and hardship fund places to help facilitate this.

By joining the Fellowship, you are becoming part of a global movement of change for working parents, addressing a root cause of the gender pay gap and affirming that no parent should have to choose between career and family.

The application deadline for the next cohort is 24 March 2026.

The Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship is a 9-month programme designed to support parents in progressing into senior leadership positions while balancing their commitments as parents.. We offer flexibility to suit you with two Fellowship models to choose between:

• Blended Learning - a mix of face-to-face events and online workshops (currently only available in the UK)
• Online Only - perfect for international Fellows or those needing more flexibility, our online-only programme removes all barriers to accessing our award-winning Fellowship

What are the Benefits of the Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship?

Fellows get:

• Access to a community of non-judgmental peers helping you pursue big career dreams with the freedom to be present with your family in a way that works for you
• Courage and inspiration through support from your dedicated senior leader mentor, who has experience combining a big career with children
• Tangible career progression that you deserve through world-class training and support
• Fresh ideas to deal with challenges such as workload issues, promotion or flexible working negotiations
• Time to think about what matters to you in your career and family life, and support to achieve it
• To be part of the change for other working parents around you and your children's generation

Who Can Apply for the Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship?

Can you answer 'yes' to the following questions?

• Are you a parent?
• Have you got a child aged 0-18? (The programme is also accessible during maternity leave, shared parental leave or adoption leave)
• Are you passionate about continuing to develop your career?
• Are you willing to support other parents on the programme to continue to develop their career whilst enjoying their children?
• Is your current/last role a job with responsibility, i.e. a management or leadership role?
• Can you commit a small amount of time alongside your work and childcare to devote to the Fellowship Programme?

If you answered 'yes' to all of the above then you can apply!

We welcome applications from parents internationally.

The application process is quick and easy to complete and you can save as you progress.

We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis to enable adequate time to secure employer funding before each cohort begins.

Since the Fellowship launched in 2018 Leaders Plus has supported hundreds of parents through the Programme.

If you'd like to ask a question about the Fellowship or are wondering if the Fellowship is right for you, please email our team at office@leadersplus.org who will be happy to support you.

Sometimes it helps to actually speak to someone, if you prefer to you can arrange a call with a member of our team.

Investing in your leadership development can be invaluable for your career, and securing funding for it is often more achievable than you might think. Download our guide for support with securing funding from your organisation.