A NEW initiative from Chester’s Storyhouse is being launched to support and promote women in leadership roles.

The West Cheshire Women in Leadership programme came from a panel discussion at the centre’s Storyhouse Women Weekend.

It aims to make the region one in which women in leadership can thrive, supporting women to increase the number in leadership positions and in the process strengthening the quality and diversity in the public, private and voluntary sectors in West Cheshire.

The six-month programme, which starts in October, is aimed at women working in any of the three sectors in Cheshire West & Chester who are either early in their career in a leadership role or looking at stepping into a leadership position.

It is free to access and will involve an introductory session followed by six monthly 90-minute masterclasses led by West Cheshire leaders, along with three one-to-one mentoring sessions and access to a peer support network.

Those involved will also be expected to contribute, as an alumnus, to future programmes.

Storyhouse chief executive Annabel Turpin is spearheading the programme in partnership with six women leaders of major organisations within local government, education, business, banking and health.

They are: Elyn Corfield, Chief Executive Business & Corporate Banking at Lloyds Banking Group; Cheshire West & Chester Council’s Chief Executive Delyth Curtis and Council Leader Councillor Louise Gittins; Eunice Symmons, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chester; Louise Stewart, Chief Executive of Chester Racecourse, and Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive Jane Tomkinson.

The initial West Cheshire Women in Leadership programme has 18 places.

The deadline for applicants is 16 September, and anyone who is interested in applying to join will need to submit a CV or link to a LinkedIn profile or similar, along with a short statement explaining where they are in their leadership journey, why they want to take part in the programme and what they would bring in terms of their professional and personal experience.

All applications will be considered by a panel of three women and the final decision will take into account personal experience, where applicants are in their leadership journey, and whether in the public, private or voluntary sectors to create a balanced cohort of participants.

The idea for the programme emerged following a panel discussion during May’s Storyhouse Women festival titled ‘The Future of Chester is Female’ which charted positive transformation of the city led by women and in which panellists discussed pivotal moments in their own lives, what is needed to be a leader, overcoming fears and supporting other women.

Storyhouse CEO Annabel Turpin said: “I feel privileged to be in a leadership position in such a fantastic city. As someone new to the area, I have been so warmly welcomed by other leaders. I wanted to find a way to help other women develop their careers, and thanks to the willingness of our brilliant partners, this programme has been born!”

Professor Eunice Simmons, VC of the University of Chester, said: “The promotion of women to leadership positions cannot be taken for granted even in the 2020s. I am delighted to be part of an initiative which recognises and seeks to change this!”

For more details, including full terms and conditions, or for additional support prospective applicants should visit www.storyhouse.com or email exec.support@storyhouse.com.