A leadership programme for health and care staff across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland has been recognised nationally for its significant contribution in advancing inclusive leadership.
Developed by the LLR Academy and supported by the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (LLR ICB), the Developing Diverse Leadership programme has been shortlisted in the Workforce Initiative of the Year category at the HSJ Awards 2026.
Recognised as one of the most prestigious awards in UK healthcare, the HSJ Awards celebrate innovation, excellence and outstanding contributions to improving health and care services. More than 1,300 entries were submitted this year, with only 231 projects and individuals reaching the final shortlist. The winners will be announced at the HSJ Awards ceremony on Thursday 19 November 2026.
The Developing Diverse Leadership programme was created to address the under-representation of colleagues from diverse backgrounds in senior leadership roles across health and care. Over three years, it has supported more than 200 aspiring and sponsor leaders across three cohorts, providing psychologically safe development, executive sponsorship, action learning and cross-system collaboration.
The programme has demonstrated measurable impact, with participants progressing into more senior roles, reporting increased confidence and leadership capability, and contributing to more inclusive organisational cultures across the system. By combining evidence-based leadership development with robust evaluation and long-term tracking of outcomes, the programme is helping to build a sustainable, diverse leadership pipeline that benefits staff, organisations and ultimately the communities they serve.
Bina Kotecha, Deputy Chief Officer for Culture, Organisational Development and Inclusion at the LLR ICB, said: “We are incredibly proud that Developing Diverse Leadership has been shortlisted for the HSJ Awards 2026. This recognition reflects the commitment, passion and collaboration of colleagues across our health and care system who have worked together to create meaningful opportunities for inclusive leadership.
“The programme has always been about more than developing individuals; it has been about creating lasting cultural change, removing barriers to progression and ensuring our leadership better reflects the diverse communities we serve.
“As the LLR Academy reaches the end of its journey, this shortlisting is a wonderful recognition of its legacy and the impact it has had across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Whatever the outcome in November, we are immensely proud of what has been achieved together.”
Pete Burnett, Chief Strategy Officer at the LLR ICB, said: “It has been inspiring to see the confidence, ambition and leadership capability of our participants grow throughout the programme. Their achievements demonstrate the value of investing in inclusive leadership development and creating environments where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. This recognition belongs to every participant, sponsor, facilitator and partner who has contributed to the programme’s success.”
HSJ Editor Alastair McLellan said: “It always gives me great pleasure to congratulate our finalists at this stage of the judging process and this year is no exception as we acknowledge Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB & LLR Academy for being shortlisted in the category of Workforce Initiative of the Year. We can’t wait to welcome our finalists to the awards ceremony in November and to recognise and applaud such impressive achievements across the sector.”
