The On Purpose Associate Programme
About this Programme
Start your journey towards an impactful career as an On Purpose Associate through our leadership programme that allows you to earn whilst you learn
Salaried retraining
Programme type
Applications Open
Applications Close
London
Location
Facilitated By
On Purpose
Since 2010 On Purpose has been helping people change their career, develop as leaders and increase the capacity of the impact-driven economy. We are a broad community that helps you find your place in the world through doing work that matters and work you care about. We believe that only by growing the impact-driven sector through developing new leaders will we have a chance of solving society's most difficult problems.
Our world needs an economy that works for everybody and operates within the means of our planet and without the injustices of today. To achieve this will require innovative thinking, creativity and diversity of thought and experience. On Purpose therefore welcomes applications from people with diverse backgrounds and experiences and people often under-represented in the impact sector including from all ethnicities, those with disabilities, from all cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, gender identities, sexualities and religions.
Join us on our mission to drive widespread change in how our economy works and bring about a fair and equitable society.
About the Programme
Seeking a purposeful career change? Start on your transformative journey with the On Purpose Associate Programme, offering a unique opportunity for mid-career professionals to transition into impactful work. This paid, year-long leadership programme is designed for those ready to pivot their professional journey towards creating a regenerative, equitable and just future.
Key info:
- Based in London, UK
- Full-time (4.5 days at placement & one half day training weekly)
- £27,010 per annum salary (pro rata)
- Programme dates: April 2026 - March 2027 (49 weeks)
- Apply by Monday 20th October, 9:00 am (BST).
About On Purpose:
On Purpose is tackling the greatest challenge of our time: transforming our economy from profit to purpose. Our leadership programmes develop people who will play their part in this transformation.
Together, we learn to see a different future and take action towards realising it in the organisations we work in. Our programmes seed a vibrant community who care, inspire, challenge and support one another as we make this transformation a reality.
Programme structure:
- Two 6 month placements - Through work placements with organisations driving impactful change, you'll gain hands-on experience tackling pressing social and environmental issues 4.5 days of the week. Some of our current partners include Better Society Capital, Save the Children, BAFTA and VISA.
- Expert-led learning - Our intensive Learning & Development programme involves weekly in-person sessions led by experts from across sectors. This blend of professional training and academic rigour equips you with the skills, knowledge and mindset to lead organisational and systemic change.
- 1:1 mentoring & coaching - Receive support through fortnightly mentoring sessions and quarterly executive coaching, fostering both your personal and professional growth.
- Join a supportive, impactful community - You’ll be part of a tight-knit cohort of 20 Associates, participating in training sessions every Friday afternoon together. You’ll also join the wider On Purpose community, connecting with a global, influential network of impact-driven professionals offering life-long inspiration, collaboration and opportunities.
Benefits:
- Earn a £27.01 k (pro rata) salary - On Purpose stands out by offering a paid learning and training opportunity, saving you significant costs compared to paying for other leadership programmes or MBAs, all the while offering extensive learning and development.
- Develop your ability to make an impact- Equip yourself with the skills and insights needed to drive meaningful change. You’ll join nearly 1000 purpose-driven alumni who are leading transformative change worldwide in all parts of the system, with 92% currently working in the impact sector.
- Unlock purpose-driven career opportunities - Our Associates have moved into a range of sustainability and social impact roles, ranging from CEOs of social enterprises to leadership positions within traditional companies driving change from within. We have a former music label business owner now the CEO of Hubbub, a former Consultant now Director of Impact at B Lab UK and a former civil servant now Climate Lead at Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
- Standard UK holiday allowance
- A 3-day residential (all expenses paid)
Who we’re looking for:
This programme is ideal for:
- Individuals seeking a career change into the environment and social impact sector.
- Individuals already in the impact sector who want to develop new skills, have the opportunity to work in more commercial organisations, or to join an engaged network of people who share your values and are working toward the same goal.
Specific sector or industry experience is not important. We’re looking for talented people from diverse industries who have a determination to bring their skills and experience to purpose-driven projects and to driving systemic change. We seek ambitious individuals with:
- A minimum of three years full-time professional experience
- The right to work in the UK for the full duration of the programme
- Fluency in English
- Office environment experience
- Skills in project management, stakeholder engagement, adaptability, interpersonal communication, problem-solving, quantitative analysis and strategic thinking.
- Excitement and commitment towards building a career that helps transform our economy from profit to purpose.
Diversity and Inclusion:
We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and experiences and those who are often under-represented in the impact sector, including but not limited to individuals with disabilities and those from diverse ethnic, gender identities, sexualities, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds.
How to apply:
- Read our Associate Programme brochure for more information.
- Register your interest via our website to receive a link to your online application form.
- Closing date for applications: Monday 20th October, 9:00 am (BST).
- Interviews will be held in mid-late November.
What our alumni say
Our associates come from a diverse range of backgrounds, here's what some of them had to say about the programme...
Jawad
“I had expected to learn a lot about leadership, systems change and social impact. This I am doing in some of the most interesting ways possible. With expert guidance, challenging insights and radical vision, paths and possibilities have opened up, which, before, I couldn't even see.”
Borja
“In terms of training, I couldn’t appreciate more the time from dozens of experts who volunteered their time to share their knowledge with us.”
Dario
“It gave me a ton of exposure to different kinds of projects and an instant network in the industry. Networks are powerful and the On Purpose one is the best one if you want to get into the purpose-led sector.”
Patrick
“My year with On Purpose set me on a completely different pathway. I'm now considering jobs and a career that I wouldn't even have been able to consider… And I’m very much happier for it.”
Kush
“I learned to remain focused on my calling. If you take this attitude, then I believe that financial remuneration will eventually follow suit. If you can enjoy what you do every day, then it’s not work and On Purpose helped me to realise this.”
Reem
“Above all else I would say the year offers an opportunity to start building and consolidating a network of friends, peers and collaborators who can provide support, inspiration and a sense of belonging.”
Gallery
Programme FAQs
All your questions should be answered here.
Associates can help with discrete projects as well as learning about the day-to-day running of the organisation.
For example, at HCT Group one of our Associates developed and implemented the first framework for measuring social impact with the Deputy CEO, and our Associate at O2 created and launched O2Learn together with the Head of Brand Strategy.
Here is a more detailed description of what work you could be doing in your placements.
In both your placements you'll be assigned a line manager who will help ensure that both you and the placement organisation benefit from your experience. You will meet this manager at least once a week.
In addition, On Purpose provides support through your cohort and peers, via our mentoring and coaching offer, through our Learning & Development programme, and through the On Purpose community.
On Purpose works with both our Associates and our placement hosts to determine which Associates will work with each placement over the course of their year on the Associate Programme. We take your background and interests into account, as it might be that you want to make use of your existing skills and experience, or to try something different.
On Purpose allocates placements through a two-stage matching process which takes into account Associates’ and placements’ preferences and finds a combination that works for the entire group, ensuring each Associate works with two placements and vice versa.
Yes. The programme is full-time, and Associates work in their placements 4.5 days a week, joining their cohort and On Purpose for our Learning & Development programme every Friday afternoon.
We will certainly help you find a job after On Purpose. We hope that it might be in one of the placement organisations or other organisations in the On Purpose network. Obviously, we can’t guarantee you a job, but you will be part of a powerful network.