Leadership Exchange - FAQs

This Programme is open to leaders from middle, senior, and executive level from all sectors in Scotland. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, or if you would like to discuss if this programme is right for you, please do not hesitate to contact us.

The programme has now moved towards a cohort approach with application submission dates in Spring and Autumn. For exact dates see the Apply page

The programme has been designed with the busy schedules of leaders in mind. The format, length and frequency of your meetings are agreed by you and your match partner to suit. Some of our participants have found it useful to spend a week together, either in a block or e.g. one day per month spread over 6 months. Others are meeting for 2 hours every two months. We will be in touch with you at regular intervals to find out how your exchange is going.  After 12 months, we will ask you to fill out a short evaluation of the programme.

On the application form you will be asked to indicate what you would like to get out of an exchange, what you can offer or what sector you would like to gain more experience of. Based on this we will undertake a matching process to ensure a ‘good fit’ between applicants; taking into account the knowledge and experience offered and the desired outcomes of the exchange. 

The matching process may take us up to 3 months, although we will endeavour to offer you a suitable exchange partner quicker than this. On rare occasions, we may feel there is no suitable match in the participant pool, so we would initially seek out a bespoke match via our networks.  If none are available, we would then propose deferring your exchange until the next cohort of applications are received.  Once anonymous suitable matches are emailed to participants for approval, we will chase a response no more than 2 times over a 3 week period prior to marking an applicant as “No Longer Interested” in the programme. You will be offered up to a maximum of 3 exchange matches.  If two application cohorts have passed and we are still unable to find you a suitable match, we will reimburse you our matching fee.

You will have the opportunity to sign a confidentiality agreement with your match partner as you find suitable and according to the requirements of your organisations.

The programme is designed to be flexible and to suit individual needs and requirements.  Exchange activities to date have included: on-the-job shadowing, meeting your exchange partner’s colleagues or front-line staff, attending work meetings, paired conversations, attending events/conferences together.

There will be a £75 matching fee charge, payable on application for non-ACOSVO members.  (This charge will be waived for all ACOSVO members). 

For organisations interested in multiple employee Leadership Exchange programme applications, a discounted block matching fee charge is available which will be invoiced accordingly.  For more information please email the Service Co-ordinator at services@acosvo.org.uk

Please note: Our matching fee will be reimbursed if we are unable to find you an exchange partner after two application cohorts have passed.  You will be offered up to a maximum of 3 exchange matches.

Benefits for you as a leader

• The space to take time out and reflect on your leadership role

• An opportunity to enhance your awareness of another organisation and sector, developing an understanding of their challenges, business planning processes and governance

• An independent and confidential ‘sounding board’ to exchange and challenge ideas and explore innovative ways of working that both motivate and inspire you

• The ability to share best practice and encourage collaborative working

• A chance to develop a new relationship with a cross sector colleague, gaining essential connections and future networking opportunities

The wider impact of a Leadership Exchange

• An exchange creates stronger links and a greater understanding between organisations, highlighting areas of synergy and opportunity for mutual benefit

• Leadership Exchanges can act as a conduit between sectors once a strong link is built between individuals