New programme to develop library and information leaders of the future

20 March, 2006

SCONUL, UCISA and the British Library are supporting a new and ambitious programme to help experienced professional Information Services staff to develop their potential. The Future Leaders Programme, developed with the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, is aimed at offering those with proven management experience the opportunity to enhance their leadership potential and to lead on a range of new and exciting projects.

"The Future Leaders Programme will offer participants the chance to create and implement continual leadership development plans," stated Toby Bainton, Secretary at SCONUL. "In doing so, the information services sector will have available a well-trained body of staff, ready to assume the leadership roles required to take forward the many exciting projects in which it is involved".

Jan Wilkinson, Head of Higher Education at the British Library, stated: "The programme will offer those who have the potential and determination the opportunity to be more visionary and strategic in their outlook, and to learn from the leading authorities in their fields and benefit from peer coaching and feedback".

"The programme will help increase the pool of potential recruits for heads of service posts" added Peter Tinson, Executive Secretary of UCISA. "It will benefit the individuals taking part, their institutions and, ultimately, the sector as a whole".