Professional women working in the SME or not-for-profit sectors in East Anglia are being invited to apply for one of two sponsored places on a Women’s Leadership Programme due to start early next year.

The New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which covers Suffolk and Norfolk, and the Blossom Charity, which works to help women in London and East Anglia build their confidence and skills, are each sponsoring 50% of the cost of a place on the programme.

New Anglia is supporting a place for a female employee from an SME (small or medium-sized enterprise) in Suffolk or Norfolk while Blossom is part-funding a place for a women working for a charity or not-for-profit business based anywhere within the East of England.

The Women’s Leadership Programme was launched earlier this year by regional recruitment specialist Pure Resourcing Solutions, in partnershiop with strategic HR consultancy People & Performance, and is already proving popular.

Among those to have completed the programme already are Liz Cobbold, head of marketing at Adnams, and Jane Stanbridge, senior manager planning at Hutchison Ports UK.

Delegates have the opportunity to explore their leadership style, to build a future plan and the confidence to deliver it, and ultimately increase their chances of performing at a senior executive level in the future.

The next programme, places on which would normally cost £2,700, takes place on January 21 and 22 and March 18 and 19 next year at Paddock House in Newmarket.

Lynn Walters, co-founder and director of Pure, said: “The programme’s generous sponsors could help two aspiring women fulfil their career ambitions, while helping to make positive change and setting standards and expectations for other women.

“Diversity is widely understood to be fundamental to the sustained growth of any business and therefore, having a talent pipeline of future executives including both male and females will lead to increased future profits and help boost the bottom line.”

Davina Tanner, chief executive of Britannia Enterprises, who is an New Anglia LEP board member and its lead on economic equality, said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring a place on Pure’s Women’s Leadership Programme as part of our Economic Equality initiative for Norfolk and Suffolk.

“We aim to encourage gender equality at work to boost growth, innovation and productivity in the New Anglia economy. Since the programme reflects our own goals, it makes sense that we join forces to give an aspiring female professional a potentially career-changing opportunity.”

Bridget McIntyre, founder of the Blossom Charity, added: “I am thrilled to be sponsoring a place on the Women’s Leadership Programme for a second time.

“As a business women myself I want to help others develop the confidence to go for top jobs, while being true to themselves and maintaining a positive work-life balance. I am very much looking forward to meeting the delegate.”

To be eligible for the SME place, applicants must work for a business employing fewer than 250 people and with an annual turnover of less than £50million.

For full details on eligibility for both places and on how to apply, email lynn.walters@prs.uk.com or call 01223 209888. The deadline for applications is November 28 but would-be delegates are advised to apply as soon as possible.