Background  

The White Rose University Consortium works collaboratively across the universities of Leeds, Sheffield, and York, to enable individuals from all backgrounds to thrive within our institutions.  As a strategic partnership, we actively engage with institutional, regional, and national partners to propel positive change and create sustained impact.  

The Consortium’s core principles are to add value, deliver practical solutions, and complement existing efforts across our institutions through: Empowering careers; strengthening communities; facilitating cultural shifts; amplifying our collective voice; and leading impactful change.   

We support professional services colleagues and researchers from our partner universities, from postgraduate researchers and postdocs to fellows and academics.  

The Advance HE (2024) Equality in higher education statistical reports states “that although ethnic representation among professors is increasing across the years, this varies widely across the different minority ethnic groups, with Black professors still being those most underrepresented. This is true when looking at representation across both UK and non-UK professors”.  

At White Rose, we have developed the Equity in Leadership programme to promote diversity in higher education leadership. This programme offers targeted leadership development for staff from global majority backgrounds, including those in academia and professional services who identify as Black, Asian, or other Minority Ethnicities.  

However, we recognise that achieving diversity in leadership necessitates the cultivation of a robust and diverse talent pipeline. YCEDE, in collaboration with the Office for Students (OfS), Research England, and partner institutions (York, Bradford, Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam, and Leeds), has made significant strides in increasing access to doctoral studies for UK-based graduates from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.  

Building on this foundation, we aim to further demystify academic pathways and encourage global majority ECRs to consider pursuing academic careers. To support this, we are commissioning a project to identify and learn from best practices across our partner institutions and the wider sector. These insights will be used by the appointed consultants to co-design and deliver a pilot programme tailored to supporting global majority ECRs in navigating and progressing within academia.  

Project objectives  

The consortium is commissioning a project to co-design a programme that demystifies academic systems and support structures for global majority ECRs who wish to pursue an academic career across partner institutions. The objectives of this project are to:  

1. Conduct institutional and sector analysis: Evaluate current practices within partner institutions and across the wider sector to identify and learn from examples of best practice. 
2. Engage with the global majority ECR community: Collaborate with early career researchers from global majority backgrounds to understand their specific needs and challenges in continuing their academic careers. 
3. Collaborate with institutional service providers: Consult with service providers across partner institutions to ensure the programme complements and enhances existing support structures. 
4. Engage with senior stakeholders: Work with senior leaders to ensure the programme aligns with institutional priorities and expectations. 
5. Develop an evidence-based programme: Design a development programme that responds directly to the needs of the community and addresses gaps in current provision. 
6. Pilot and evaluate the programme: Deliver the programme on a trial basis, gather feedback, and assess its effectiveness to inform future iterations. 
7. Create comprehensive guidance notes: Produce detailed documentation, including the rationale and design principles, to support in-house delivery of the programme following the pilot. 

Project remit  

We are seeking to appoint a consultant(s) to undertake this project. Their remit will include: 

1. Design the study: Select appropriate methodologies and research tools to ensure robust and inclusive data collection. 
2. Conduct research and manage administration: Carry out all research activities, including interviews, focus groups, and surveys, and oversee all associated administrative tasks. 
3. Analyse and evaluate data: Interpret findings to inform the development of an evidence-based programme that responds to identified needs. 
4. Produce an interim report: Summarise areas of best practice across the sector and partner institutions, and present the rationale for the proposed development programme. 
5. Pilot and evaluate the programme: Implement the pilot across White Rose partner institutions and gather feedback to assess impact and refine the approach. 
6. Develop programme guidance: Create comprehensive guidance notes to support future delivery, including the programme’s rationale, structure, and implementation strategy. 

Approach  

This project is anticipated to be nominally qualitative and can be conducted on a full or part-time basis between January 2026 and 1 August 2026. A budget of up to £12,000 is available for this project (including expenses and VAT). 

It is envisaged that the project will involve consultations across Leeds, Sheffield, and York with: 

• Global majority ECRs  

• Colleagues from resource/training providers (YCEDE, Researcher Developers, Research and Innovation)  

• Colleagues from institutional EDI departments or initiatives  

• White Rose Equity in Leadership academic participants  

• Heads of Departments/Schools 

• Deans and Vice-Deans 

 As well as colleagues from other HE institutions and industries.  

Reporting  

The research consultant(s) will report directly to the Head of the White Rose University Consortium. The successful bidder will be fully briefed at the initial project meeting but will be expected to provide their own administrative support and work autonomously to complete the project.  

The research consultant(s) will meet monthly with the Head of the White Rose University Consortium to report progress. 

Timescale  

Format and submission of proposals  

The White Rose University Consortium is commissioning this project and invites interested parties to submit a quote. To do so, please complete the online Microsoft Form, which asks you to address the following criteria (each with a 1500-character limit): 

Project outline
Describe the methodology you propose to achieve the project objectives. Explain why this approach is appropriate and how it will contribute to the development of a meaningful and impactful programme for global majority ECRs. 

Evidence-based recommendations
Demonstrate your experience in developing practical, evidence-based programmes and/or recommendations informed by research or evaluation findings. Share specific examples that highlight your approach and impact. Additionally, outline how you will assess the effectiveness and outcomes of this programme, including any evaluation frameworks or tools you plan to use. 

Work plan and timeline
Outline your proposed work plan, including key milestones and a realistic timeline for delivering each phase of the project. 

Budget and value for money
Provide an estimated cost for the project, specifying the number of delivery days this represents. Include a brief justification of the resources required, demonstrating cost-effectiveness and value for money. 

 Project delivery
Explain why you or your team are well-suited to deliver this project. Highlight relevant experience, expertise, and previous work that demonstrate your capability to meet the project’s requirements effectively. 

Applications close at 23.59 pm on Sunday 23 November 2025.  

Evaluation of proposals  

The consortium will assess proposals based on the five criteria outlined above. Each criterion will be equally weighted and scored on a scale from 1 to 5, with a maximum total score of 25.  

As this programme is designed for Global Majority colleagues, we encourage the team to demonstrate evidence of lived experience. In the event of a tie, this criterion will be used as the deciding factor.  

Terms and conditions  

The White Rose University Consortium will appoint an external consultant subject to the University of York’s Terms and Conditions of contract.  

 This request for proposals has been issued in good faith however the White Rose University Consortium, a part of the University of York, does not commit itself to award a contract as a result of any particular Proposal received. 

Enquiries

The point of contact regarding this project is: 

Dr Karen Hinxman 
Head, White Rose University Consortium 
Email: k.hinxman@whiterose.ac.uk  

 Any requests for clarification or information should be sent to the email above.