Application guidance Jo Cox Women in Leadership Programme 2023

See here for more information on the Jo Cox Women in Leadership Programme.

Apply for the Jo Cox Women in Leadership Programme here.

What does the leadership programme do?

The Jo Cox Women in Leadership Programme aims to train hundreds of women to be future leaders in the labour movement.

This round of the programme (Cohort 6) will:

  • Include a mix of online and in-person (including one residential) training events delivered by experts from Labour Women’s Network;
  • build a diverse and intersectional network of women from across the country who can support one another in their future endeavours;
  • develop participant skills in all aspects of politics, including as candidates at every level, as campaigners, organisers, spokespeople, leaders and political activists;
  • identify and train talented women from a variety of backgrounds in all regions and nations;
  • establish a pipeline of talent to diversify the people who stand for election and play leading roles in the labour movement and wider public life.

What we are looking for?

We’re looking for women members who:

  • display a determination to make things happen, change lives, improve communities and achieve a Labour government;
  • show that they are able to build strong relationships and motivate others;
  • demonstrate some experience of running a campaign or project, either through the Party, their trade union/socialist society or their community;
  • can communicate well through a variety of mediums;
  • demonstrate creativity and the ability to come up with innovative solutions to problems;
  • can demonstrate an intention to pay forward to other women what they gain through this scheme;
  • want to work hard to help Labour win elections at every level.

As this is an advanced programme of high-quality training, candidates must already have some level of involvement with the Labour Party.

Applicants must be able to attend sessions on the following dates in order to participate in this programme on the dates stated

  • Day 1: In-person session 9 December 2023 
  • Day 2: In-person session 20 January 2024 
  • Residential Weekend on 16-17 March 2024 
  • There will also be two online catch ups in between.   

There will also be supplementary tasks which must be completed in between these events, which can be done flexibly to fit around other commitments. Travel, subsistence and accommodation at the residential weekend will be covered and all events will be free to attend. There may be some additional costs which will need to be borne by participants, but these will be kept to a minimum.

How to apply.

Applicants should complete the online form including the monitoring form by the stated deadline 1st November . Please note that there is no flexibility in the deadline, and it will not be extended for any individual.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their applications in late November .

We are expecting a high number of applicants for this course and are therefore unable to provide feedback to unsuccessful candidates.

We welcome applications from those who were previously unsuccessful.  This programme is highly competitive, and the application form is the only selection process – there will be no interviews – so it is essential that applicants provide as much relevant information as possible clearly and concisely.

Guidance for Applicants

Please read the below carefully:

  • Applicants must complete all the sections on the form. Incomplete applications will not be accepted or considered.
  • Applications will not be accepted or considered without the required two references. The names of referees alone are not sufficient. 
  • Applicants should note that, as part of its safeguarding process, the Labour Party will carry out due diligence checks on all successful applicants, and that you must therefore declare all your social media accounts, including any you no longer use, in the relevant section of the form.
  • Applicants must state their full name and their region in the subject line of the covering email they send in with their application form. Any information included in that email but not included in the form will not be considered as part of the application.
  • Applications will only be accepted in a Word and PDF format.
  • You must send in the application before the deadline – late applications will not be considered.
  • Please note that your application will be read by relevant officers of both the Labour Party and Labour Women’s Network. Everyone seeing applications, however, will be bound by a duty of appropriate confidentiality.
  • Labour Women’s Network and the Labour Party are committed to training a diverse and representative group of women and take positive action steps to ensure that this aspiration is achieved.

Any issues please contact [email protected] in advance of the deadline.