LAUNCHING SUMMER 2026 | UK-SPEC: C,D,E | SIX MONTH PROGRAMME | CPD: 64 HOURS | ONLINE OR IN-PERSON
WISE Leadership Development Programme
September 2026 – February 2027
Online or in-person at IET Stevenage: Futures Place
About the development programme
Develop your leadership potential through a new programme from the IET, enriched by the expertise of WISE - now part of the IET family and recognised leaders in advancing women in STEM.
This 6-month cross-sector programme is designed specifically for women in STEM, and new to or aspiring to leadership roles.
Includes continued mentoring and support after the programme.
Estimated fee: £6000 + VAT per participant. This includes all training days, coaching, events, resources and community engagement.
The STEM sector continues to face a challenging bias for female leaders, particularly at mid‑career level – the point at which future leaders are most needed.
Research shows that:
- Women in mid-career leadership are leaving at a significantly higher rate than men.
Source: Gender, participation and attainment in STEM: A comprehensive overview of long‐term trends in the United Kingdom – Smith – 2025 – British Educational Research Journal – Wiley Online Library - Women are 1.5 times more likely to leave their jobs when they don’t receive the development support they need
Source: Lack of career development holds back women from leadership, survey says | HR Dive - Leadership development is one of the strongest predictors of Female talent retention, especially when paired with sponsorship and visible progression
- Replacing an experienced technical professional can cost 150–200% of their salary. This makes leadership development for women a high value investment with a strong return.value investment with a strong return.
Improving gender balance in leadership contributes to stronger organisational performance and creates more inclusive, innovative workplaces.
The WISE Leadership Development Programme addresses these challenges head‑on – supporting women with leadership identity and confidence to progress, stay, and lead.
Fully funded places
We’re pleased to be offering three fully funded places on the WISE Leadership Development Programme to disabled women working in STEM. To be eligible, you must be a woman employed in a STEM role in the UK who identifies as disabled under the Equality Act 2010.
Participant benefits
Participants will leave with:
Leadership identity and confidence: Understand your strengths, challenge self‑doubt and define your authentic leadership style.
Inclusive leadership skills: Learn how to challenge bias, champion fairness and lead cultural change.
Career progression and strategic decision‑making: Build a personalised progression plan and navigate work–life demands with confidence.
Power, presence and visibility: Raise your profile, communicate with authority and grow valuable cross‑sector networks.
Mentorship and long‑term support: Access senior mentors and leaders across the IET community.
Company benefits
Supporting a woman through this programme helps organisations:
- Increase engagement, motivation and retention
- Strengthen succession pipelines and improve gender balance
- Enhance team and organisational performance
- Showcase visible role models that empower wider culture change
- Reduce turnover costs by retaining experienced technical talent
Investing in this programme signals a genuine commitment to equity, development and long‑term retention.
This cross‑sector leadership programme, running summer – autumn 2026, is designed specifically for women in STEM, who are new to, or aspire to, leadership roles.
Participants will develop the clarity, confidence, credibility and purpose needed to step into leadership roles, while gaining the networks and visibility essential for long‑term career progression.
Delivered by experienced leadership coaches, senior mentors and industry experts, the programme blends:
- High‑impact in‑person learning
- Tailored 1:1 coaching
- Real‑world leadership tools
- Cross‑industry collaboration
Programme structure
The full experience includes:
- Launch event – cohort connection, intention setting, and programme induction
- Four in‑person training days
- Online post‑programme check‑ins – small group sessions to embed learning
- Five 1:1 coaching sessions with specialist leadership and executive coaches
- Celebration event – reflection, recognition, and next‑stage planning
- Post‑programme mentoring opportunities within the IET community
- One year of Associate membership of the IET.
Programme audience
This programme is ideal for:
- Women working in technical, engineering or STEM‑related roles
- Women early in their leadership journey or aspiring to move into leadership
- Women seeking to build confidence, influence workplace culture and accelerate progression
- Organisations committed to developing and retaining their female talent.