43% of global majority midwives progressed to senior roles within one year of the CapitalMidwife Fellowship
| Outcomes at a glance |
|---|
| • 43% of Fellows from the first cohort moved into more senior roles within one year |
| • Subsequent cohorts saw 44% of Fellows secure new or more senior NHS roles overall |
| • 100% of Fellows said they would recommend the programme |
| • Winner of the 2023 Royal College of Midwives Award for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and shortlisted for two Health Service Journal awards |
The challenge
Global majority midwives in London faced persistent, systemic barriers to career progression. Workforce Race Equality Standard data and NHS Staff Survey findings consistently showed they were significantly less likely than white peers to view career progression as fair. Dr Gloria Rowland’s 2020 ‘Turning the Tide’ report named this directly, identifying underrepresentation in leadership and a workplace culture that reinforced rather than removed the glass ceiling within maternity services.
Our approach
Working on behalf of the NHS England London Regional Maternity Team, and alongside an advisory group of maternity professionals with lived experience of racism, TPHC designed, implemented and managed the CapitalMidwife Fellowship, a six-month leadership and development programme for band 6 and 7 global majority midwives working across London’s NHS trusts.
TPHC co-designed the curriculum with global majority maternity leaders, covering leadership development, quality improvement, career progression and influencing skills. External specialists were commissioned to deliver targeted training alongside the core programme. TPHC managed London-wide recruitment and onboarding, coordinated learning agreements with Heads and Directors of Midwifery, and provided end-to-end programme management throughout, including pastoral support, stakeholder communications, budget oversight and continuous engagement with Fellows. Feedback was collected and analysed across cohorts to refine delivery and inform decisions about scaling and sustainability.
The impact
In the first cohort, 43% of Fellows (13 out of 31) moved into more senior roles within one year. Subsequent cohorts showed consistent results, with 33% progressing to senior roles and 44% securing new or more senior NHS roles overall.
Every Fellow reported they would recommend the programme and said they were applying what they had learned in their workplace. Fellows described increased confidence, greater visibility and a stronger ability to contribute to organisational change. Participating trusts observed increased engagement and motivation among global majority staff, and the programme created a psychologically safe space for honest discussion, peer support and professional growth.
The Fellowship has since become a flagship EDI workforce initiative within London maternity services. Its success drove continued investment and national recognition: the programme won the 2023 Royal College of Midwives Award for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and was shortlisted for two Health Service Journal awards, a strong signal of the standard TPHC and its partners set. Discussions are underway to extend the model beyond London.
What our clients say
‘Our collaborative partnership with THPC has been remarkable, thanks to their expertise, seamless processes, and robust infrastructure. Their dedication to surpassing our needs has been evident, making them an invaluable part of our team and contributing significantly to our success’ Nina Khazaezadeh, Interim Regional Chief Midwife for London, NHS England
Ready to start a conversation? Use the links below to find out more about our services, explore our case studies, or reach out to start a conversation with one of our specialists about your challenges.
Next steps
Working with us
Our approach to working with clients, and what you can expect from a relationship with TPHC.
Contact us
Get in touch with our team to discuss your requirements and how we can support you to achieve your goals.
