“ Common Purpose has for years done brilliant work in forging valuable links between the private, public and voluntary sectors. And it has helped to make better citizens of individuals and institutions.”

Robert Peston, , BBC Business Editor

“We thought long and hard about our choice of partner to develop an innovative community based leadership development programme. Common Purpose stood out for their understanding of, and depth of contacts within, the private, public and voluntary sectors. Feedback from participants on the programme, and the voluntary organisations they worked alongside, has been exceptionally positive. I believe the programme has had a lasting and positive effect on everyone involved in the programme.”

Mark Schofield, Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (and Project Leader for the PwC Responsible Leadership Programme)

“Common Purpose is an important player in achieving cohesive working between the public, private and voluntary sectors. It provides a great opportunity to learn about a variety of work-streams. Common Purpose has enabled us as an organisation to forge valuable partnerships that assist us deliver a quality policing service to all communities in Northern Ireland.”

Paul Leighton, Deputy Chief Constable, PSNI

“Of all the leadership programmes that I know of, those run by Common Purpose are by far the best, you only have to see the lasting effect on those who have participated in them to know that they work and work well. Civil society in a wide range of countries has benefited hugely from Common Purpose.”

Professor Charles Handy, Management writer and broadcaster

“Common Purpose has given so many different people opportunities to learn about how society works, how power is used and abused, and to see just how effective organisations work. And these were opportunities that might not otherwise have been possible. It has challenged many of us to think differently.”

Janet Paraskeva, First Commissioner, Civil Service Commissioners

“I’m delighted to say that Common Purpose has had a lasting impact on me! It is without a shadow of a doubt the best training programme I’ve been on since going to University. It helps broaden the mind and gives you the ability to communicate much more effectively with others.”

Gordon Carey, Chairman of careyjones architects in Leeds and President of the British Council for Offices and Senior Vice Chairman of the British Urban Regeneration Association

“I am a trustee of Common Purpose because I passionately share its objectives of developing emerging leaders to lead beyond their boundaries. The embedded approach to encourage leaders from different backgrounds to address shared challenges is exemplary and a model for other institutions to follow. I am inspired by Common Purpose's civic contribution to the betterment of life in the UK.”

Olu Olanrewaju, Managing Director, Urban/Focus Heart Ltd and Common Purpose UK Trustee

“I support Common Purpose’s work in bringing together leaders and decision-makers from a wide range of diverse backgrounds and experiences, in powerful leadership educational experiences. I am delighted that all sectors use Common Purpose programmes to develop their leadership talent and encourage these leaders to push their perspectives and horizons outwards, to produce positive change in their workplaces and the communities in which they live.”

Jude Kelly OBE, Artistic Director, South Bank
and Chair of Trustees, Common Purpose Charitable Trust

"Common Purpose is one of the most impactful leadership organisations in the country. Its broad range of programmes equip leaders at every stage of their career, from school children to professionals in retirement, to develop the skills to inspire others and to transform their communities and society for the better. Where Common Purpose is different from many other leadership organisations is that it has a profound commitment to diversity, and to promoting programmes which bring participants from many different backgrounds, experiences, ethnicities and religions together to achieve "common purpose". It is an inspirational organisation, led by an inspirational management team."

Mark Carroll, Director Catalyst Foundation (Former Director, Cohesion and Tackling Extremism, Home Office)

“As the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Common Purpose International, I have seen Common Purpose be instrumental in helping inspire all kinds of people to come together and to recognise how much they have in common, and how, together they can start to change things. I believe this work has an important part to play in today’s world and I am pleased to offer my full support.”

David Bell, Chair, FT Group and Chair of Trustees, Common Purpose International

"Leaders need to be dynamic, to be able to lead and connect – however different their backgrounds, viewpoints, communities or cultures. Common Purpose helps them do this. I am the Chair of the Board of Trustees for Common Purpose UK, as I passionately support the need for leaders to be able to cross boundaries to find solutions to their shared issues.”

Chris Mathias, Chair, CMG partners and Chair of Trustees, Common Purpose UK

“Common Purpose is an exceptional organisation bringing thoughtful people together who by sharing their ambitions for society influence each other create more outstanding leaders and do so in a framework of ethics and integrity.”

Andrew Cubie, Consultant, Fyfe Ireland

"Young people have so much to offer to society. Common Purpose has recognised this through their leadership development programmes and award schemes that develop and celebrate the potential of young people. The more active, informed young people there are making a positive contribution to their local schools and communities - the better. I'm pleased to wish Common Purpose every continued success with their contribution to this through the Your Turn programme and CHANGEit awards."

Zenna Atkins, Chair of OFSTED

“I have been involved with Common Purpose over a number of years during my time as Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council. I have never failed to be impressed by the quality of the courses and training run by Common Purpose, and the degree of forethought that is put into the design of each programme. I believe that the insights and experience gained by Common Purpose leadership graduates is immensely valuable, and has had a significant impact on both the public and private sectors, with knowledge being shared across and between different sectors in a way that is not replicated elsewhere. From my own experience, I know that the skills and leadership capacity of Sheffield City Council were significantly enhanced by having a number of managers who had participated in Common Purpose programmes.”

Sir Bob Kerslake, Chief Executive – Homes and Communities Agency

"Common Purpose programmes have provided Council employees who have attended with useful insight into and knowledge of other organisations and their agendas. This is very much in keeping with our believe that increased working across organisational boundaries is beneficial to Manchester and its residents."

Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive, Manchester City Council

“I first got involved in the mid-nineties because I supported the Common Purpose aspiration: 'to create positive change in society'. As a trustee I have been able to play a (small) part in the evolution and growth of an organisation dedicated to delivering that aspiration, and seen at first hand how the programmes inspire leaders from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds to make a positive difference in their jobs and communities. For me, Common Purpose epitomises an organisation which is a force for good within a democratic society.”

Vincent McGinlay, Retired Director of Supply Chain and Technology, Marks & Spencer and Common Purpose UK Trustee

“I became a trustee of Common Purpose following my experience as a participant in the Matrix programme. This gave me a unique and very valuable insight into some of the issues facing the people who lived in my city. I believe that Common Purpose promotes healthy and constructive debate, bringing people together to explore differences and to respect diverse views. It is a learning organisation which opens the minds of the participants in its programmes to the complexity and variety of life in our society.”

Kieran McPolin, Financial Controller, Openreach and Common Purpose UK Trustee

Common Purpose graduates
repeatedly say that they:

work more effectively with people from diverse backgrounds or disciplines and with different ways of thinking
can handle complex, multi-disciplinary tasks more successfully
develop their management skills and ability to lead beyond authority
make better decisions because they are more aware of the context in which the decisions are made and of their wider
impact throughout the cities or towns in which they work
understand how to make something
happen in their areas, with a better grasp
of levers of power.

The Common Purpose effect:

75% said the Common Purpose network is important or very important to their success
95% said Common Purpose was definitely a good investment of time
90% said they had already recommended Common Purpose to a friend.

Find out more about people’s
experiences of Common Purpose

Read comments from Zenna Atkins, Chair of OFSTED, David Bell, Chair, FT Group, Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive, Manchester City Council, Mark Carroll, Director Catalyst Foundation (Former Director, Cohesion and Tackling Extremism, Home Office), Andrew Cubie, Consultant, Fyfe Ireland, Professor Charles Handy, management writer and broadcaster, Jude Kelly OBE, Artistic Director, South Bank, Sir Bob Kerslake, Chief Executive - Homes and Communities Agency, Paul Leighton, Deputy Chief Constable, PSNI, Olu Olanrewaju, Managing Director, Urban/Focus Heart Ltd, Chris Mathias, Chair, CMG partners Mark Schofield, Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and others on this site.

Participants have posted comments on mycommonpurposeexperience.worldpress.com or read a range of their stories below.

Read recent press coverage about Common Purpose in our press room, including
The Observer, The Guardian, Director and
The Financial Times.

Graduate stories

Read a selection of case studies from the Common Purpose website and read participants and graduates postings at mycommonpurposeexperience.wordpress.com.

Neil Barker, Partner, MacKellar Schwerdt
Neil Barker works for an architectural firm and was a participant on the first Common Purpose programme in Newcastle in 1989/90. Here he explains why he joined the programme and what he and his colleagues got out of it.

Jovial Rantao, Editor of the Sunday Independent and Deputy Editor of The Star
Jovial Rantao, relates his experience of Common Purpose in the new South Africa.

Jan Mayer, Head of the Frankfurt International Theater
For two years, Jan came to the Frankfurt Matrix programme to presenting one of his challenges as head of the Frankfurt International Theater and inviting participants to put themselves into his shoes.

Baroness May Blood, Board Member, Greater Shankill Project, Belfast
May Blood works with a number of groups across Northern Ireland on issues of sustainability and regeneration. She is also involved in peace and reconciliation work. May was a participant on the 1994 Belfast programme. Read about the impact of Common Purpose on her life.

Will Wakefield, Chief Executive, Nottingham YMCA
What does it take to create a beacon project from nothing? A good idea - and the realisation that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

Emma Hibbert, PR and Community Project Manager, Adnams
A major issue for every business is how to distinguish themselves from the competition. This was certainly one of the challenges facing Emma Hibbert at Adnams.

Rebecca Murley, recently completed a degree in Philosophy and Linguistics at York University and Tim Murley, Managing Director of Intermediary and Specialist Banking, Abbey National
What do a hard-headed banker and his idealistic daughter have in common? Tim was so impressed with his own experience that he encouraged his daughter to apply.

Olwyn Hocking, Head of Regional and Local Programmes, BBC
Olwyn has put her directors and producers on Common Purpose's programmes. She
explains why.

Fiona Malcolm is a community regeneration manager for Communities Scotland
”For me it was helpful to see myself as part of the bigger picture: to stop and step back and see how everything connects to everything else. You tend to think that you work in isolation but the opposite
is true."

Anil Singh, Chief Executive, Manningham Housing Association, Bradford
Grasping new opportunities, thinking on a grander scale and collaborating to achieve positive change…it’s all in a day’s work for Anil Singh.

Peter Connolly, Managing Director, Yorkshire Design
"Because I went on the programme, I'm much more involved in the city. I joined the Chamber of Commerce, I'm Deputy Chair of the Local Affairs Committee, I'm on the Leeds Architectural Design Initiative. I'm much more conscious of what I and other people have to offer."

Joanna Mee, Business Manager, John Lewis Partnership

Joanna Mee is Design Manager (Project) for John Lewis Partnership and was a participant on Common Purpose Navigator 2002. Here she describes how she recognises commonalities between the sectors

Steve Ellis, General Manager, St Petroc's Society, Truro, Cornwall
For Steve Ellis, a new career and a chance
meeting with Common Purpose was to change
the way he thinks.

Gary Cunningham, Director of External Relations, Proctor and Gamble
"Common Purpose offers a timeless benefit. Despite the technological changes that we face almost every day, I am not convinced that leadership in the 21st century is so very different to leadership in even the first century. The principles are very similar - the need to overcome challenges with innovative solutions."

Judy D'Albertson, Head of Sales and Acquisitions, HBOS Card Services
Judy D'albertson is the Vice President Marketing of HBOS Card Services. She explains how being a participant on 20:20 opened her eyes.

Common Purposes UK Trustees

Chris Mathias, Chair, CMG partners (Chair)
Andrew Cubie, Senior Partner, Fyfe Ireland
Anu Omideyi, Barrister, Furnival Chambers
David Bell, Director for People, Pearson Plc
Simon Darling, Founder, Quiet Riots
Mark Adams, Netcare Healthcare
James Ramsbotham, Chief Executive, NE Chamber of Commerce
Kieran McPolin, Financial Controller, Openreach
Lucy de Groot, Executive Director, Improvement & Development Agency
Vincent McGinlay, Retired Director of Supply Chain and Technology, Marks & Spencer plc
Pam Chesters, Chair, Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust
Olu Olanrewaju, Managing Director, Urban/Focus Heart Ltd
Miriam Mulcahy, Independent Media Consultant

Read more about the Common Purpose UK Trustees.

About Common Purpose

Common Purpose is an independent leadership organisation that aims to improve the way organisations and society work. Common Purpose operates throughout the UK and worldwide in France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, Ireland, South Africa, Sweden, and the Netherlands, and is developing programmes in Israel and Turkey.

Common Purpose was founded in 1988 by Chief Executive Julia Middleton. In his book The New Alchemists, Charles Handy said of her: “How Julia came to be the force she is, the values she holds and the way she applies them, contains messages for many who dream of making the difference she has done.”

In 2007, her book, Beyond Authority: Leadership in a Changing World, was published by Palgrave Macmillan. The book explores a different approach to leadership when leaders start to operate beyond their own spheres of control. “What you will learn from this book is worth more than money. Not only will you learn to lead beyond your authority, but also how to be a better leader within your authority too. If you were only to buy one book about leadership, then it should be this.” Lord Puttnam (David Puttnam), President of UNICEF UK), former film-maker.

Visit www.commonpurpose.org.uk and www.commonpurpose.org for more information about Common Purpose.

You can find information about Common Purpose in other countries at: www.commonpurpose.de, www.commonpurpose.org.za, www.commonpurpose.fr, www.commonpurpose.org.gh, www.commonpurpose.in, www.commonpurpose.hu, and www.commonpurpose.ie.

Find out more about the structure, governance and
finance of Common Purpose UK here: www.commonpurpose.net