Diverse heritage development programme celebrates successful first cohort

In April, NCHA marked the successful completion of its first Diverse Heritage Development Programme, an important milestone in our ongoing commitment to inclusive career development.

Launched in autumn 2025, the programme was designed to support colleagues from ethnically diverse backgrounds to build confidence, strengthen leadership capability and explore future career opportunities within the organisation.

Participants took part in a series of in-person workshops alongside one-to-one mentoring sessions. These provided dedicated time and space to reflect on personal development, build key skills and learn from shared experiences.

Why this matters

At NCHA, we recognise that diversity is one of our greatest strengths. Investing in the development of all colleagues helps us build a more innovative, inclusive and resilient organisation.

Through our equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, we are committed to recruiting, developing and retaining a diverse workforce. This includes strengthening representation in management and senior roles, where colleagues from diverse heritage backgrounds are currently underrepresented.

We have set a target for 14 percent of managers to be from a diverse heritage background by 2029, and this programme is an important step towards achieving that ambition.

Participant experience

One participant shared their experience of the programme:

“The Diverse Heritage Development Programme gave me a real boost in confidence and helped me recognise my leadership strengths. It was empowering to connect with colleagues who share similar backgrounds and experiences, learning and growing together. The mentoring programme was insightful and practical, giving me the tools to take the next step in my career.”

Looking ahead

The success of this first cohort reflects NCHA’s ongoing commitment to creating clear and inclusive pathways for career progression.

We would like to thank everyone who took part for their openness, commitment and willingness to challenge themselves. We look forward to seeing how participants continue to grow, apply their learning and inspire others across the organisation.