Springboard Personal & Professional Development Course for Women
Work & Personal Development Course for Women
The Springboard Work & Personal Development Programme for Women is a structured personal and professional development journey that helps participants reflect, build confidence and move forward with greater clarity and intention in both their work and personal lives.
For more than 35 years, Springboard has supported hundreds of thousands of women worldwide to develop greater self-awareness, strengthen communication and influence, and take intentional action in the choices they make about their careers and lives.
Delivered through a series of workshops, reflective exercises and peer learning, the programme creates the time, space and practical tools participants need to step back from the pace of everyday work and consider their strengths, priorities and future direction.
Attend Discovery Event
Springboard Discovery Events
Check out our latest events via our development platform where you can learn all about the Springboard programmes, workshops, delivery and impact.
Open Programmes
Springboard Open Programme Dates
- Sept 2026
- Jan 2027
- May 2027
Discover our upcoming accessible open programmes available for individuals and teams to book on immediately via our development platform.
Closed Programmes
Springboard Closed Programmes
For more information on our bespoke closed programmes that are tailored to your organisation and are ideal for larger groups, please get in touch.
Why Organisations Invest in Women’s Personal Development
In many organisations, development opportunities focus primarily on technical skills or role-specific training. Yet the ability to communicate effectively, reflect on decisions, manage energy and build meaningful relationships is equally important to long-term success.
Research from the CIPD’s Good Work Index highlights that:
- Opportunities for development, voice, and supportive relationships are essential for fulfilling and sustainable work.
- Reflecting on priorities and understanding personal strengths helps individuals build confidence.
- Improved communication and decision-making skills provide benefits that extend to teams and the wider organisation.
Personal development programmes that create space for reflection therefore play an important role in supporting engagement, collaboration and long-term progression.
Springboard was designed to provide exactly that space: a structured development experience that helps participants think more clearly about themselves, their choices and the direction they want to move in.
Research Shows That Women Experience Different Workplace Barriers
While personal development is important for everyone, research continues to show that women often experience different patterns of support and progression in the workplace.
Findings show that:
- Women often receive less sponsorship and advocacy.
- Many experience higher mental load balancing work and caregiving.
- Confidence and visibility can be shaped by workplace culture and support.
Sources:
- McKinsey & Company and LeanIn – Women in the Workplace reports
- Deloitte – Women at Work research
These realities do not mean women are less capable or less ambitious. They simply reflect the conditions and expectations that can shape how confidence, visibility, boundaries and career decisions are experienced.
Springboard’s women’s personal development programme offers a psychologically safe space to explore topics that might be overlooked in mixed settings. By joining a dedicated cohort, participants address challenges and perspectives directly relevant to their realities.
This environment enables honest reflection and practical learning that participants apply to both their professional and personal lives.
Programme Outcomes for Participants and Organisations
Springboard provides a structured development journey that helps participants reflect, reset and move forward with greater clarity and intention.
Through facilitated workshops, reflective tools and shared discussion, participants explore the factors that influence confidence, communication, decision-making and personal direction in both work and life.
Participants Gain
- stronger confidence and self-belief
- improved communication and influence
- greater clarity around priorities and career direction
- healthier boundaries and resilience
- increased self-awareness and motivation
- practical tools for long-term growth and wellbeing
- stronger peer networks and support systems
Organisations Benefit From
- improved employee engagement and motivation
- stronger communication and collaboration
- clearer progression and leadership pipelines
- more inclusive development opportunities
- increased retention and sustainable performance
- measurable long-term programme impact
Who Is Our Women's Personal Development Course For?
The Springboard programme is open to women at any stage of their career, regardless of role, sector or level of experience.
Many development programmes focus primarily on leadership or management roles. Springboard offers something slightly different: personal and professional development that supports women earlier in their career journey as well as those progressing towards leadership.
Participants join the programme for a wide range of reasons, such as:
- Strengthening confidence, communication, or influence in the workplace
- Reflecting on priorities
- Exploring career direction
- Developing practical tools to support resilience and wellbeing
Because the programme connects professional development with wider life experience, participants often find the learning relevant across multiple aspects of their lives.
Every Springboard cohort brings together a unique mix of perspectives, experiences and ambitions, meaning no two programmes are ever the same.
Programmes can be delivered as closed organisational cohorts for a single organisation or as open programmes where individuals and smaller groups from different organisations participate together, creating cross-industry learning and networking opportunities.
What Participants Will Learn on our Personal Development Course for Women
Springboard is a holistic women’s personal development programme that recognises the connection between professional development and wider life experience.
Participants explore a series of interconnected themes designed to strengthen self-awareness, communication and intentional decision-making. These include:
- understanding personal values and priorities
- recognising strengths and achievements
- building confidence and self-belief
- communicating with clarity, influence and assertiveness
- maintaining motivation, energy and resilience
- living and working with intention
- setting meaningful goals and taking action
- navigating change and transition
- developing self-awareness and personal impact
- sustaining personal growth over time.
The programme also explores contemporary topics that many participants recognise in their own experience, such as healthy boundaries, inner critic and imposter phenomenon, navigating key life stages, and building sustainable confidence.
Through guided reflection, practical exercises and guided discussion, participants explore how these themes apply to their own lives and identify realistic steps they can take moving forward.
Programme Structure
Springboard is delivered as a structured development journey consisting of four interactive workshops.
Each workshop lasts one day and can be delivered either as full-day sessions or as consecutive half days. Workshops are typically scheduled two to four weeks apart to allow time between sessions for reflection, discussion and practical application.
The programme is designed to build progressively, with each workshop developing ideas and insights introduced in earlier sessions.
Alongside the workshops, participants often form smaller peer learning groups or coaching circles that support discussion and accountability between sessions.
Participants receive a Springboard certificate of completion and CPD recognition, acknowledging their commitment to personal and professional development.
Optional bolt-ons include:
- action learning sets
- follow-on development workshops
- coaching sessions
- celebration events
These can be incorporated to deepen learning and sustain momentum after the programme has finished.
Programme Delivery
Springboard can be delivered in several formats to suit organisational or participant needs which can be in person, online or as a blend between the two.
Each programme is run by experienced practitioners who create a supportive and psychologically safe learning environment.
Guest speakers are also a valued part of the programme. Each workshop typically includes a guest speaker who shares personal insights and lived experience relevant to the themes being explored, helping bring the learning to life and stimulate meaningful discussion.
Key Elements of the Women’s Development Course
Several key features contribute to the distinctive experience of the Springboard programme.
Structured reflective learning
Participants work with a research-based reflective journal that supports deeper self-awareness and captures insights throughout the programme.
Psychologically safe learning environment
Workshops create space for open discussion and reflection, allowing participants to explore ideas and experiences honestly and constructively.
Peer learning and shared experience
Participants learn alongside a small group of peers, building relationships and networks that often continue long after the programme has finished.
Experienced facilitators
Programmes are led by facilitators with extensive experience supporting personal and professional development.
Guest speakers and real-world perspectives
Guest speakers share insights and personal experiences that enrich discussion and broaden perspectives.
Practical tools for life
Participants leave with practical frameworks and reflective tools they can continue to use long after the programme has finished, supported by ongoing access to online resources and networks.
Why Organisations Invest in Springboard
Organisations invest in the Springboard Women’s Work and Personal Development Programme because it provides a development experience that resonates strongly with participants while also supporting wider organisational goals.
When employees gain greater clarity, confidence and communication skills, the impact often becomes visible in everyday work through stronger collaboration, engagement and participation.
Evaluation Reporting
Structured evaluation features participant feedback, pulse-check surveys throughout delivery, a full evaluation report following completion and follow-up surveys typically conducted 6 to 12 months later to understand longer-term impact.
Quality Assurance
Facilitators participate in ongoing professional development, and the programme continues to evolve through participant feedback, research and modern workplace insights.
Explore real examples of programme impact through our Springboard case studies.
Download Women’s Personal Development Programme Brochure
What People Say About Our Women’s Personal Development Course
“The Springboard programme allows women from all areas of an organisation to meet when delivered as a closed programme, and these perspectives can be beneficial to employees because of the encouraged
communication between departments leading to new levels of networking and problem-solving.
My favourite part of each of the sessions was the internal speakers. There have been women from across our organisation that I had known or had come across, but getting to know them as people and hearing their stories made me realise they hadn’t had
straightforward journeys. They have challenges and they’re not perfect. I learned that the more successful leaders are the more authentic ones, and it made me
feel so much more forgiving towards myself and realise that I could also get to that level.”
“We wanted to support women by covering things that all women will experience; particularly in male-dominated environments, and National Grid statistically has a lot more males than it has females, so we wanted to ensure that they feel equally important and valued.
The programmes have been massively popular and they still are. We even have a waitlist! There’s lots of demand for them because of the great experiences that people have had the feedback is amazing.
We’re seeing women growing and developing with us and this is leading them to apply for roles to progress or even sidestepping into new roles. We have also had more women join WiNG [Women In National Grid] to get their voices heard and are enjoying being part of our supportive network”.
Contact Springboard Today
Whether you’re looking to develop your own potential or support the women in your organisation, Springboard is a proven pathway to lasting personal and professional growth.
Contact us today to book a free discovery call and explore how the Springboard Development Course for Women can make a meaningful impact.
Women’s Development Course FAQs
How long does the Springboard programme last?
The programme typically consists of four workshops delivered over several weeks or months, allowing time between sessions for reflection and application of learning.
Can the programme be delivered online?
Yes. Springboard can be delivered online, in person or through a blended format depending on organisational or participant needs.
Are there open programmes available?
Yes. We run scheduled open programmes for individuals and smaller groups from different organisations, as well as closed programmes delivered exclusively for organisations.
Is Springboard only for women in leadership roles?
No. The programme is open to women at any stage of their career and is particularly valuable for those who may not yet have access to leadership development programmes.
Is the programme suitable for different sectors and industries?
Yes. Springboard has been delivered across a wide range of sectors, including public services, manufacturing, professional services and education.
How is the impact of the programme measured?
Evaluation includes participant feedback, pulse checks during the programme and follow-up reviews to understand longer-term impact.
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