Nottingham Business School expands unique leadership programme across the East Midlands
Nottingham Business School has expanded its highly successful Nottingham Leadership Transformation Programme (NLTP) into a new regional initiative - the East Midlands Leadership Transformation Programme (EMLTP).
By Helen Breese | Published on 15 October 2025
Categories: Press office; Nottingham Business School;
Since its launch in 2022, the NLTP – which was co-created with Nottingham City Council - has supported more than 90 leadersfrom Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, Nottinghamshire Police, Nottingham City Council, and the Integrated Care Board.
Participants have tackled real-world challenges through cross-sector consultancy projects, developed strategic leadership skills, and built lasting professional networks.
The newly expanded EMLTP welcomes middle to senior managers from across the East Midlands, including Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), and Ashfield District Council in the latest cohort.
Participants will engage in ten days of classroom learning, action learning sets, and a final conference where they present consultancy projects to senior leaders.
Projects from previous cohorts have addressed pressing issues such as homelessness, public building co-location, and independent living for older and disabled residents. The projects have not only shaped policy but also delivered measurable impact.
Dr Mel Bull, Director of Executive Education at Nottingham Business School and programme lead, said: “This programme breaks down silos and encourages leaders across the East Midlands’ core public services to work together and understand their own needs in relation to those of the region. The cohorts have benefited greatly from the collaborative nature of the course.”
Charlotte Weatherall-Smith, who was Station Manager at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service at the time of programme and has since been promoted to Group Manager, described the programme as: “The most impactful leadership course I’ve ever taken. It gave me the confidence to consider a future senior management role and equipped me with practical tools to navigate challenging situations.”
Stephen Chartres, previously Performance and Improvement Manager, at Nottingham City Council, commented: “The programme enhanced my confidence and strategic capabilities, enabling me to step into leadership gaps and influence decision-making at the highest level. A positive outcome from the programme has resulted in a current secondment opportunity, as Visitor Economy Lead, with East Midlands County Combined Authority (EMCCA)”
The expansion to a regional model reflects a growing commitment to collaborative public service reform. The EMLTP is designed to strengthen leadership capacity across councils, emergency services, and health bodies, supporting joined-up solutions to complex challenges.
Adrian Smith, Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: "The only way we deliver lasting, meaningful improvements across public sector for our communities is by working together, and that’s why developing our leaders using a collaborative partnership approach is important. This programme recognises that and helps build the vital skills required.
“It takes real commitment and courage to invest in personal development while balancing the demands of public service, so I want to thank everyone who is stepping up to lead in this way.
“Looking ahead, public service reform will require us to think, act and lead differently – so I’m proud and delighted to see such a strong investment in the current and future leaders who will drive change across the East Midlands."
Public sector organisations across the East Midlands are invited to nominate participants.
The programme offers formal accreditation from Nottingham Trent University and can contribute credits towards further qualifications, including the Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership and Management Practice or the Executive MBA.
NBS is triple crown accredited by EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA - globally recognised hallmarks of excellence and quality for business education. It actively engages industry professionals and stakeholders in the design and delivery of its courses, as well as developing research that influences business, management, and public policy.
For further information visit the NBS website or email mel.bull@ntu.ac.uk
Notes for Editors
Press enquiries please contact Helen Breese, Public Relations and Research Communications Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8751, or via email.
About Nottingham Business School at Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Business School (NBS) at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is a leader in experiential learning and personalisation of business, management and economics education and research, combining academic excellence with positive impact on people, business and society. NBS has an unrivalled level of engagement with business, public and voluntary organisations. With more than 8,500 students, NBS is also one of UK’s largest business schools.
NBS is triple crown accredited by EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA, placing it amongst the top 1% of business schools globally. NBS is also accredited by Small Business Charter, providing support and development for SMEs, and is a PRME Champion - held up as an exemplar and beacon by the United Nations Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME).
In The Guardian University Guide 2026, all NBS courses were ranked in the UK Top 20. Subject areas covering Accounting and Finance, Business and Management, Economics and Marketing and PR were all recognised for excellence in teaching, high student satisfaction and strong graduate career prospects.
About Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has been named UK ‘University of the Year’ five times in six years, (Times Higher Education Awards 2017, The Guardian University Awards 2019, The Times and Sunday Times 2018 and 2023, Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023) and is consistently one of the top performing modern universities in the UK.
Students have voted us the best university in the UK and 1st in the UK for student employability (Uni Compare 2025).
NTU is 4th in the UK for number of undergraduate students (HESA 2023-24) with over 36,000 students and more than 4,000 staff located across six campuses. It has an international student population of 6,000 and an NTU community representing over 160 countries.
NTU owns two Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for outstanding achievements in research (2015, 2021). The first recognises NTU’s research on the safety and security of global citizens. The second was awarded for research in science, engineering, arts and humanities to investigate and restore cultural objects, buildings and heritage. The Research Excellence Framework (2021) classed 83% of NTU’s research activity as either world-leading or internationally excellent.
NTU was awarded GOLD in the national 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) assessment.
NTU is a top 10 for sport (British Universities and Colleges Sport league table 2025) and was named as Sports University of the Year (Daily Mail University Guide 2025). It has also been ranked as 25th in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2026.
NTU is a holder of the University Mental Health Charter recognising the commitment an institution has shown towards continuous improvement in the area of mental health and wellbeing.
NTU is the most environmentally sustainable university in the UK and second in the world (UI Green Metric University World Rankings, 2024).