Moving Up: supporting diversity in leaders and managers

We hear from Lisa Govier, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Dimensions, along with her colleagues Sharon Ngwenya, Locality Manager, and Ifeoma Igwe, Assistant Manager, about their experiences with the Moving Up programme.

During Race Equality Week 2025 we’re shining a spotlight on Skills for Care’s Moving Up Programme and how it can support individuals to progress in their careers, and organisations to be more inclusive and support diversity in leadership roles.

Our Moving Up programme supports Black and Asian managers or aspiring managers in health and social care to overcome challenges and progress their career. The programme gives participants an increased understanding of who they are, their strengths and weaknesses and a variety of techniques to help overcome any personal challenges.

Our data reveals that while 32% of the adult social care workforce comes from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds, this diversity is not reflected in leadership roles. The Moving Up programme addresses this gap by providing a blend of classroom-based and in-person learning to help participants build confidence, enhance self-belief, and foster career growth.

The programme focuses on key areas such as personal branding, raising your profile within your organisation, and evaluating your leadership style to increase your effectiveness and influence. Participants are encouraged to identify their strengths and areas for improvement, harness the power of networking, and apply specific techniques to overcome challenges. Additionally, the programme increases awareness of how protected characteristics and culture shape workplace practices, offering a platform to share experiences and learn from peers.

In this article, we hear from Lisa Govier, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Dimensions, one of the country’s largest not-for-profit organisations supporting people with a learning disability, autism and those with complex health needs, along with her colleagues Sharon Ngwenya, Locality Manager, and Ifeoma Igwe, Assistant Manager, about their experiences with the programme.

Lisa Govier – Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

When I first heard about the Moving Up programme, almost a decade ago now, I immediately knew it was something I wanted to find out more about it. As someone deeply invested in equity, diversity and inclusion within our organisation, I could see how useful this programme could be in addressing one of our key challenges: increasing the ethnic diversity of our managers and leaders.

At Dimensions, we’ve had a clear goal for a number of years now — to ensure that our management teams better reflect the ethnic diversity of the people we employ and support. While we’ve always had strong representation in our frontline roles, we recognised that as we moved up to more senior positions, that diversity wasn’t as visible. And it wasn’t enough to just recognise it — we had to actively work on changing it. That’s where our equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy came in. It’s something we live and breathe across all areas of our work, and it’s supported by KPIs and measures to help us track our progress.

The Moving Up programme felt like a natural extension of our strategy. Since 2015, we’ve had around 42 people from Dimensions participate in the programme, and the results have been great — 41% of those who’ve completed it have gone on to receive promotions. That’s a significant impact, but it’s not just about the numbers. The personal growth that participants experience is always evident on their completion of the programme. Many people have shared how the programme helped them develop their confidence, realise their value as well as learning management techniques and skills.

Seeing those changes in our staff — in their professional development and their ability to take on leadership roles — has been incredibly rewarding. It reaffirms why programmes like this are so important, not just for the individuals involved but for the organisation as a whole.

The Moving Up programme aligns perfectly with our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, and it’s played a key role in helping us create a more inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong and can thrive in their roles. I’m proud to be part of an organisation that’s taking concrete steps to make real change, and I’m excited to see even more of our colleagues benefit from the programme in the future.

Sharon Ngwenya – Locality Manager

Before applying for Moving Up, I was totally unaware of it and had applied for a different programme run by my employer, Dimensions, but when I submitted my application, the panel suggested that the Moving Up Programme might be a better fit for me. I think it was because I was passionate about progressing in my career and had an interest in addressing the lack of representation for people from Black backgrounds in my area. This made it the perfect choice for me to both learn the new skills I needed and pursue my equality and diversity interests.

The programme turned out to be exactly what I needed. I loved everything about it – the atmosphere, the face-to-face sessions, and the amazing facilitators. The day I spent with the NHS Leadership Group in Leeds was one of the biggest highlights for me. It was so inspiring to be surrounded by so many driven people who were all focused on their growth. The programme helped me learn so much about myself and helped me address some self-limiting beliefs I had.

When I joined the programme, I had just stepped up to an Assistant Locality Manager role, but after the programme, I was promoted to Locality Manager within a few months. I believe a large part of this was due to the confidence and self-belief I gained. It also gave me a voice within my organisation – I joined the Diversity Matters Group within Dimensions and started contributing to some really important conversations around equality and diversity.

The leadership skills I developed have been super valuable. I’m able to use them to positively encourage my team and make sure they feel part of the organisation, which has been crucial for improving performance and creating a better connection between colleagues.

The opportunity to enrol in the course, and the concepts I learnt while on it, have really made me feel valued and like I can have a significant impact on the organisation. Ultimately, it helped me feel like I can be myself when I come to work, which is a big part of why I enjoy my job.

Ifeoma Igwe – Lead Support Worker

I first found out about the Moving Up programme when my manager recommended it to me. I wasn’t sure what to expect and didn’t feel too keen at the start, but once I found out that the programme is intended to support Black and Asian people in leadership, I saw how it could be beneficial for me and decided I would commit to enrolling. My manager really encouraged me to apply, seeing it as a great opportunity for my development. Looking back, I’m glad they did.

One of the things I enjoyed most was the online coffee mornings. The programme often has quite a lot of participants, but the coffee morning group was smaller and more intimate. These group discussions were a highlight for me – hearing about other people’s experiences, challenges, and successes helped me feel supported. It was a space where we could share ideas and learn from one another, and it really helped boost my confidence.

The programme didn’t just help my confidence, it also made a difference in my career. I’ve been able to create a culture of collaboration within my team, encouraging everyone to share ideas and acknowledge each other’s work. I’ve also gained a deeper understanding of different cultures and my own leadership style, which has been incredibly valuable. It even gave me the confidence to introduce new foods to our daily menu for those we support, which is amazing!

One thing I would say to anyone considering this programme is that when you’re enrolled it’s really encouraging to see and hear other people in a similar place to you. It really helped me feel able to share my values with others. Not just that, the new skills I learnt made me much better at leading groups and making my own mark on the organisation.

Finding out more about the Moving Up programme.

If you’d like to find out more about how to enrol yourself or colleagues on the Moving Up programme, visit our Moving Up webpage. We'll be taking registrations in the new year for the next cohort which starts in late April 2025, with the mandatory online workshops taking place on the 7 May, 4 June and 9 July.

For resources and support in driving equality in your workplace visit our Race Equality Week webpage.

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