The Accelerated Progress Programme is a cross-firm progression programme for talented employees from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Progress Together's research shows that talented employees from lower socio-economic backgrounds continue to progress more slowly into senior leadership than their peers, not because capability is lacking, but because progression is shaped by visibility, sponsorship and access to opportunity as much as by performance.
APP was created to address this directly, bringing together participants, sponsors and mentors from across UK financial services to strengthen leadership pipelines and unlock high-potential talent.
A programme built on three roles
Most programmes focus on participants. APP works on three interconnected levels at once because progression is not an individual outcome. It is a system outcome.
Who is this for?
- Middle managers or emerging leaders from lower socio-economic backgrounds who are ready to progress.
- Senior leaders who want to strengthen their sponsorship practice and play an active role in developing diverse leadership talent.
- Mentors who can provide structured challenge, reflection and support, and member firms committed to strengthening progression into senior leadership.
What makes APP unique?
- Cross-firm by designParticipants, mentors and sponsors learn alongside peers from across UK financial services.
- Focused on progressionDesigned to influence real progression outcomes, not simply learning outcomes.
- Built around sponsorshipDeveloping both individual capability and the mechanisms that influence advancement.
- Grounded in diagnosticsEach cohort begins with discovery work across participants, mentors and sponsors.
- Expert-led and evidence-basedDelivered by partners with deep expertise in sponsorship, leadership and organisational change.
- Backed by sector insightPowered by Progress Together's unique understanding of progression across UK financial services.
Programme at a glance
- CohortAround 30 participants from across Progress Together member firms.
- Participant commitment3-5 hours per month outside the two in-person events, including workshops, coaching, mentoring and project work.
- Sponsor commitmentDeveloping both individual capability and the mechanisms that influence advancement.
- Mentor commitmentAround seven hours across the year, including induction and six structured mentoring conversations.
- Line manager engagementThree structured touchpoints throughout the programme, culminating in an invitation to the graduation event.
- Duration12 months, November 2026 to November 2027.
- Investment£3,000 per participant, excluding VAT. Travel and accommodation covered by participating firms.
- Deadline31st August 2026. Contact app@progresstogether.co.uk to discuss nominations and participation.
What participating firms gain
APP supports firms to move beyond individual development and address the conditions that shape progression. Participating firms gain a stronger progression pipeline for talented colleagues from lower socio-economic backgrounds, participants with increased confidence, visibility and strategic awareness, and sponsors who are better equipped to advocate intentionally and create access to opportunity.
Firms also gain mentors with clearer tools to support progression-focused conversations, cross-firm insight into progression barriers and enablers across financial services, applied project outputs focused on live sector challenges, and anonymised diagnostic and evaluation insight to support internal learning. Together, this represents a practical and measurable contribution to sector-wide progress on socio-economic inclusion in senior leadership.
Testimonials
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It definitely felt like you could be yourself. You didn't have to come across as something you weren't. You could be open and honest, and you just felt as if you were among people who got you.
Jason Wilde, Head of Sales, Paragon -
The magic in the mentoring is that the mentor is somebody who is totally removed from the organisation. It opened up a level of transparency and honesty in conversations.
Beth Stoker, Director of Talent Management and Inclusion, Nationwide -
One of the things I learned from APP is that you can't always wait for people to put their hand up. Not everybody feels confident to put themselves forward for development.
Sarah Mayne, Chief Internal Auditor, Paragon -
How different I felt graduating to how I felt going in were worlds apart in a short space of time.
Siannon Pothecary, Strategic Planner, Nationwide -
I only started realising my career ambitions when I was on the APP course. Before that, I would read job descriptions and convince myself I wasn't good enough. Now I look at roles and think: yeah, I could do that. That's the difference.
Lee Fisher, Operations Manager, Nationwide -
It gave me more confidence to volunteer for things and search for opportunities, rather than waiting for them to come to you.
Jayne Murphy, Manager, Paragon