Elevate – Application Information

Step 1: Express interest to your firm
Contact your HR team or line manager to express your interest in Elevate. Your firm will run an internal selection process. 

Step 2: Complete your firm’s internal application
Your firm will provide you with the details and timeline of the internal application process (the guidance and questions are provided below for firms to use). 

Step 3: Your firm nominates you to Inclusion in Finance
If selected through your firm’s internal process, they will submit your nomination to us by 17 April 2026. 

Step 4: Confirmation
We will confirm final programme places by 4 May 2026.

Eligibility: 

• Senior professional in Investment & Savings
• From an ethnically diverse background
• Career trajectory pointing towards ExCo roles
• Employed by a Inclusion in Finance member firm (or firm willing to join)
• Available for the full programme commitment (June 2026 – April 2027)
• Committed to pursuing ExCo progression

Questions about applying?
Speak to your HR team or contact Emma Smit-Hamilton on emma@inclusioninfinance.com if you are unsure who to reach out to at your firm. We also recommend you to attend the Information Session on 17 March 2026 for Candidates.

Step 1: Run your internal selection process
Use the guidance and application form questions provided below to identify your candidate.  

 Step 2: Nominate one candidate
Complete the nomination form and submit it to Inclusion in Finance by 17 April 2026. You may nominate at any time before this deadline. 

Step 3: Receive confirmation
If there are more than 15 nominations across all member firms, we will make the final selection. Places are confirmed by 4 May 2026 to both the firm and the candidate. 

Questions about the process?
Join the information session on 17 March 2026 for Firms , or contact Emma Smit-Hamilton at emma@inclusioninfinance.com

Elevate is designed to accelerate the progression of senior ethnically diverse talent into ExCo roles across our industry. Your nominations are critical to ensuring the success of this initiative and creating meaningful impact. 

Key Criteria for Selecting Candidates  

• Proximity to Senior Leadership: Operating at ExCo minus one or two levels, with emerging or established strategic responsibility, and clear capability or potential to transition into C-suite or ExCo-level leadership in the coming years.  

• Track record of impact: Evidence of delivering results, influencing decisions, or leading significant projects.  

• Growth mindset and ambition: A clear aspiration to progress into senior leadership, combined with openness to challenge, coaching, and continuous development.   

• Diversity lens: This inaugural cohort is for ethnically diverse professionals, reflecting the significant underrepresentation of ethnically diverse leaders at senior levels across the investment and savings industry. 

A note on “invisible talent” The programme is explicitly designed to include candidates who are high-performing but under-visible, those who may not appear on existing succession plans despite operating at executive level. Firms are encouraged to look beyond their established leadership pipelines when identifying nominees. If a candidate meets the must-have criteria but lacks visibility or sponsorship, that is not a disqualifier. It is precisely the gap this programme exists to close. 

Each firm may nominate only one candidate. The nominee must have an internal ExCo sponsor who will actively support their career development throughout the programme. 

The inaugural cohort is capped at 15 candidates. If we receive more than 15 nominations, the Elevate Programme team will select the final cohort based on the criteria outlined and overall cohort composition.  

​​​Suggested Internal Process 

• Attend the Information Session on 17 March 2026 (For Firms | For Candidates) 

• Identify an ExCo member who will serve as sponsor and involve them in candidate selection. 

• Advertise the programme internally and/or identify potential candidates through existing forums and networks (e.g., talent discussions, ERGs, or relevant senior committees).

• Invite candidates to apply with a CV and the provided application form, which includes several questions explaining why and how the programme would support their progression.  

• Conduct an initial review by a small internal panel to filter unsuitable candidates. 

• Seek feedback from line managers for additional insight and support. 

• Shortlist candidates for interviews focused on readiness, motivation, and barriers to progression. 

• Confirm ExCo sponsor commitment, including their plan to advocate for the candidate’s progression during and after the programme. 

• Hold a group discussion to decide on the successful candidate. 

• Nominate the candidate through the online nomination form by 17 April 2026. 

Note: If you identify multiple strong candidates during your internal process, consider retaining their details for future cohorts. This supports longer-term pipeline continuity and reduces sourcing effort in subsequent years.

Timeline 

• Information session: 17 March 2026 – Register here: For Firms | For Candidates 

• Nomination deadline: 17 April 2026 – Nomination Form 

• Programme places confirmed: 4 May 2026 

• Programme begins: w/c 15 June 2026