Secondment Programme

Secondments: Overview

Through the BLI secondment programme, successful applicants are placed in one-term to one-year secondments into middle or senior management posts (depending on their current level of responsibility/seniority) at a college, sector agency or related institution. This programme strengthens the professional portfolios of secondees and significantly increases opportunities for career progression.

Recent participants have benefited from secondments at the Department, Learning & Skills Councils, and a host of FE colleges.

Programme Coverage

The programme aims to match secondees to roles which will provide the additional, practical experience that they require in order to progress further in their career. In addition to line management support within the role, secondees will receive further support during their secondment, in the form of an ‘in-house’ BLI trained mentor, who will be available to offer advice and guidance, as needed.

Approach

You apply directly to the BLI, identifying your areas of interest and objectives for the secondment. Please note your BLI application form will require a counter-signature from the Chief Executive/Principal of your home institution.

• We invite organisations to submit an application providing details of the secondment that they would like to host through the BLI.
• The BLI will then aim to match suitable candidates to the secondment, and subsequently arrange interviews with the host institution.
• If the host decides to offer the secondment to you, the BLI will liaise with you and your organisation to agree a suitable release date, and provide a secondment agreement, which acts as a legal contract for the duration of the secondment.
• A preliminary meeting is arranged with the host to agree objectives, mentoring, and review arrangements.
• During the secondment, the BLI will keep in contact with the secondee and the host, providing ongoing support for all parties.
• At the end of the secondment, you complete a questionnaire, and you attend a review session with other programme participants.

Outcomes

The secondment programme provides:

• An opportunity to work at a higher level in a different environment which will enhance skills and knowledge and allow participants to develop professionally and personally.
• Professional development that is realistic and practical, and which contributes to continuous professional development (CPD) requirements.
• Increased confidence to operate at a higher level and to demonstrate to others that you can achieve success.
• Return of the learning capital back to your releasing institution.

Participant Profile

These secondments are open to participants from all LSC-funded providers. Applicants are BME staff who have some level of management responsibility in organisations within the learning & skills sector.

Duration

Depending on availability of opportunities and your needs, we can arrange secondments for one-term up to one-year, with any willing and approved organisation in the learning & skills sector.

Fee

There is no charge for this programme as it is covered by the subdidy budget to support the progression of BME sector staff, which is administered by the Centre for Excellence in Leadership (from 1st October, this will be administered by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS)). In addition, we can provide a certain amount of additional funding (to be agreed with the BLI) for the host and releasing institution to partially cover costs such as backfill, allocation, and travel.

Programme Lead

Bobby Upple (NBP/BLI).

In partnership with