What is RealEdge?
Professional development paths frequently demand that emerging leaders focus and specialise early in their careers. This can lead to highly talented individuals becoming insulated from the wider world – with the risk that they are under-prepared for big leadership challenges when they arise.
To help rising stars to avoid this risk, Common Purpose has designed RealEdge. Based on unique leadership techniques crafted over nearly 20 years, RealEdge is an investment in promising individuals and their careers that continues to stretch their horizons, their networks – and their comfort zones – over time.
What happens on the programme?
RealEdge gathers a diverse group of high performers from the public, private and voluntary sectors and takes them outside their familiar environments for a behind-the-scenes exploration of leadership in action.
Participants will engage with an array of leaders in a wide range of settings and grapple with real leadership problems outside their usual experience. In the process, they will join forces with their peers to explore their own personal leadership projects as well as examining their professional challenges.
They will then take the learning – and the energy that comes from the process - back to their own workplace.
What are the benefits?
Participants develop:
- greater self-awareness and confidence
- a regular injection of ‘bite-sized’ learning they can apply in their careers
- a sense of personal fulfilment which complements their professional development
- broader horizons from which to see opportunities and solve problems
- the ability to lead beyond authority and produce real change at work and in the wider world.
Organisations benefit from:
- the opportunity to demonstrate their long term commitment to developing key talent
- engaged and motivated employees who are more fulfilled in their roles - and likely to stay with the organisation for longer
- a fresh injection of ideas into the organisation
- outward-facing, creative managers who are at ease navigating complicated organisational structures to get things done
- employees who take responsibility for making change happen.
Where and when is RealEdge held?
RealEdge starts with a five month ‘foundation’, during which each member of the group follows their own personalised programme, choosing from a wide range of modules, half day and evening events to achieve between 50 and 70 hours of learning.
Within the foundation, there are three core days, on which the whole group comes together to explore the leadership themes of power, courage and resonance. Between the core days, the participants form and reform in different groups as they choose from a range of learning modules. These will include opportunities to debate with keynote leadership speakers, ‘behind the scenes’ access to leadership challenges in action, and peer-to-peer learning groups.
Over time, the leadership challenges of managers in the early stages of their career inevitably change. RealEdge keeps pace with these evolving needs by providing inspiration, knowledge and connections across the next five years.
During this period, participants will have numerous opportunities to connect with other RealEdge peers – from different programme years and different locations – to explore leadership challenges and extend their networks, both nationally and internationally.
The first RealEdge will take place in London in June 2008.
How much does it cost?
The fee for RealEdge is £3,500 + VAT.
Ability to pay is not one of the selection criteria and each programme maintains a bursary fund to cover the costs of those who are genuinely unable to meet the full fee. However, every participant is asked to make a contribution.
If you would like to apply for a bursary, please fill in the section of the form for bursary candidates. If you need to discuss this further, please contact us.
How do I apply?
You can apply online here.
Alternatively, download the Programme Application Form and Equal Opportunities Form, and send them both by post or fax to your local programme office, or by email to realedgelondon@commonpurpose.org.uk.
Application forms are submitted to the local Advisory Group. The Advisory Group comprises individuals with experience across all sectors in the programme's geographical area. All are members in their own right, not representatives of their organisations or communities. Advisory Groups make decisions on whether an applicant demonstrates that they fulfil the application criteria.
We value diversity and constantly strive to provide equality of opportunity in the provision and delivery of all our activities. We encourage applications from all sections of the community and are working hard to ensure that our services meet the requirements of people with disabilities. More...
For more information on applying, please email realedgelondon@commonpurpose.org.uk
