RSPCA staff who are parents to young children have taken part in a career development programme designed to help them continue to progress in their careers while raising their kids.
Seven members of staff at the charity have undertaken the award-winning, cross-sector Leaders Plus Fellowship programme, which supports parents to progress in big careers whilst juggling small children.
Through workshops, roundtable events and online learning resources, the Leaders Plus Fellowship enables parents to stay on the leadership pipeline whilst still enjoying time with their children. The programme aims to create a positive movement for change – so no parent has to choose between their career and their family; by tackling the root cause of the gender pay gap and supporting parents to progress in their careers.
Emily Wilton, Head of Talent & Career Development said:
“Sadly, sometimes parents feel they must choose between an ambitious career and their family life, and that’s something we are very keen to tackle with our people.
“At the RSPCA, we are creating a better world for every animal and we want to do the same for our colleagues, so I am delighted that we’ve been able to offer these fantastic career progression opportunities for our people.
“Leaders Plus offers a fantastic solution, giving our staff the opportunity to sign up to the programme and receive ongoing support and mentorship, as well as a community of likeminded people for a whole year, to give them a step-up to learning practical skills and tools to progress their careers into leadership roles.
“The Leaders Plus Cross-Sector Fellowship is a nine-month programme designed to support parents with children aged between 0-18, in progressing into senior leadership positions while balancing their commitments as parents.”
According to research carried out by Leaders Plus, 40% of people believe women are less committed at work once they have a child. In addition, a man’s flexible working request is twice as likely to be rejected compared to a woman’s.
Leaders Plus is a social enterprise working with individuals during maternity leave, paternity leave, shared parental leave, and beyond to progress in their careers whilst enjoying their young families.
Sadly, too often parents feel they have to choose between being a good parent and a fulfilling leadership career. Leaders Plus exists to change this.
As part of its ongoing equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, the RSPCA aims to create an environment where new parents can thrive in leadership roles.
Imara Ó Niocail, a Chief Inspector for the charity, took part in this year’s programme and said:
“I was curious about the programme and what skills I would learn from being involved with it. The programme has exceeded my expectations, and I find myself dealing with tasks in a different way and having a more positive outlook on my role as a mother, wife and line manager. I don’t feel that I need to choose between the three and feel confident to challenge anyone in the inspectorate who suggests that being a parent means you have divided loyalties or cannot commit time to work.
“Actually, being a parent means I am more considerate of other families, I adopt a fair approach to all and the compassion I show towards my family life is something to be proud of. It’s not about being available 24 hours but making sure that there is a fair compromise, so I am doing the best I can in my home and work life.”
Vikki Starling, Senior Project Manager at the RSPCA also took part in this year’s programme and said:
“It’s been a real game-changer. The Fellowship has given me a confidence boost to take bold steps in my career without sacrificing family priorities. I’ve benefited immensely from the support of my peers and the programme’s focus on creating sustainable leadership habits. Plus, it’s refreshing to be part of a community that genuinely champions ambitious parents.
“The biggest impact for me has been on mindset. LeadersPlus has shifted how I view success – helping me realise that being present and effective at work doesn’t have to mean sacrificing quality time at home. It’s about working smarter, not harder. With the strategies I’ve learned, I now focus on high-impact activities that matter most, both professionally and personally. This means I’m able to switch off without the lingering guilt, knowing I’m making meaningful progress in both areas.”
The RSPCA will be offering the programme to seven members of staff once again for 2025 with a further 5 aspiring managers undertaking the newly launched Future Leaders Plus programme.
More information about working at the RSPCA is available on the charity’s website.
