UK Social Entrepreneurs: Learning and leadership development programmes

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The Social Leadership Project using philanthropy to equip the UK’s social leaders to drive real change.

“In 2025, Britain faces profound problems. The economy has been growing slowly for a decade. Poverty has deepened, economic inequality remains high and Britons now have the lowest life expectancy in Western Europe….

Given the seriousness of the problems that society faces, Britain needs to invest much more in social leadership development.”

The project team has three aims.

Map existing training and leadership development opportunities for social leaders in the UK
Gain insight into the experiences of social sector leaders, and the extent to which their development needs are being met
Design and test different philanthropic solutions to support the field to flourish.

To help shape this project, the project leads put together a survey to understand what support social leaders need and what they’re getting now.

The survey had a useful list of of initiatives that develop the skills of social leaders, so I’ve pulled out those mentioned in the survey below, using AI to add a short description of each and a link to their website, with the aim of signposting support for social leaders.

ACEVO

ACEVO runs specific programmes to support civil society leaders so they can inspire their own communities and make the biggest possible difference in other people’s lives, from staff to beneficiaries. They are passionate about nurturing new and emerging leaders and have put together a programme to help explore how they can be at their best in their current role and also progress their career. Their flagship programmes include the Aspiring CEOs programme, New & Emerging Leaders programme, and various coaching and mentoring services specifically designed for charity sector leaders.

Find out more: https://www.acevo.org.uk/skills/programmes/

Acumen Academy UK

The UK Fellowship is a reflective program that brings together a cohort of extraordinary individuals with an entrepreneurial mindset and a commitment to solving problems of poverty across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We equip them with the tools and community to strengthen their leadership, scale their impact, and create meaningful change. Their transformative, cohort-based leadership programs are for entrepreneurs who want to solve and scale solutions to poverty.

Find out more: https://fellowship.acumenacademy.org/uk

Advocacy Academy

The Advocacy Academy are youth organisers working to create a more fair, just, and equal society, by building the collective power of young people to bring about change. We train young people with lived experience of injustice to achieve long-term systemic change for themselves and the communities they live in. Their flagship programme is the Social Justice Leadership Fellowship, an immersive six-month crash-course in social justice. Made up of three residential retreats and weekly evening gatherings, the Fellowship is delivered by an outstanding faculty of 250 expert change-makers from more than 50 partners.

Find out more: https://www.theadvocacyacademy.com/

Allia

Allia is a leading social impact organisation that supports entrepreneurs and organisations to create positive change. They offer various programmes including business incubation, investment readiness, and leadership development specifically focused on social enterprises and impact-driven organisations.

Find out more: https://www.allia.org.uk/

Ashoka

For those elected as Fellows, Ashoka provides tailored lifetime support to scale their solutions’ impact. This ranges from initial monetary support, in the form of a stipend for up to three years, to strategic advice from a global network of peers, experts, and key decision-makers. Ashoka UK and Ireland has worked for over 15 years to support outstanding social innovators with transformative solutions to social issues and focuses on building an “Everyone a Changemaker” society through its fellowship programmes and changemaker schools network.

Find out more: https://www.ashoka.org/en-us/country/united-kingdom

Bayes Business School – Centre for Charity Excellence (Bayes CCE)

The Centre for Charity Excellence at Bayes Business School offers specialist education and development programmes for charity and social sector leaders. Their programmes combine academic rigour with practical application to help leaders navigate the complex challenges of running charitable organisations.

Find out more: https://www.bayes.city.ac.uk/faculties-and-research/centres/centre-for-charity-effectiveness

Bethnal Green Ventures

Bethnal Green Ventures is a tech for good accelerator that supports startups using technology to tackle social and environmental challenges. They provide intensive programmes combining funding, mentorship, and community support to help tech entrepreneurs scale their impact.

Find out more: https://bethnalgreenventures.com/

Big Change

Big Change focuses on transforming education through innovative programmes and partnerships. They work to improve educational outcomes and opportunities, particularly for disadvantaged young people, through various leadership development and systemic change initiatives.

Find out more: https://bigchange.org/

Big Education

Big Education works to improve educational outcomes through research, policy development, and practical programmes. They focus on evidence-based approaches to education reform and leadership development within the education sector.

Find out more: https://www.bigeducation.org/

Breakthrough Impact

Breakthrough Impact specialises in developing leaders and organisations in the social sector. They offer coaching, consultancy, and development programmes designed to help social sector leaders and organisations increase their effectiveness and impact.

Find out more: https://breakthroughimpact.org.uk/

Business in the Community

Business in the Community is a business-led membership organisation that helps companies create positive social impact. They offer leadership development programmes that focus on responsible business practices and community engagement.

Find out more: https://www.bitc.org.uk/

The Cambridge Social Venture Incubator supports early-stage social enterprises through mentoring, workshops, and networking opportunities. They help social entrepreneurs develop their ideas into sustainable ventures that create positive social and environmental impact.

Find out more: https://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/entrepreneurship/programmes/social-venture-incubator/

Charities Aid Foundation

The Charities Aid Foundation offers various programmes to support charity sector leadership and effectiveness. They provide training, research, and development opportunities focused on improving charitable giving and sector capacity.

Find out more: https://www.cafonline.org/

CharityWorks

CharityWorks offers a graduate programme that places talented graduates in charity and social sector organisations. The programme combines professional development with meaningful work experience in organisations working to address social challenges.

Find out more: https://charity-works.co.uk/

Chief Officers Third Sector (CO3)

CO3 provides leadership development and support specifically for chief executives and senior leaders in Scotland’s third sector. They offer training programmes, networking opportunities, and advocacy to strengthen third sector leadership.

Find out more: https://www.co3.scot/

Citizens UK

Citizens UK is the National Home Of Community Organising. Through community organising, we build people’s power to lead change for the common good, develop community leaders and strengthen civic institutions. Their three-day, online training is built around an introduction to our three strategic aims: social justice, leadership development and institutional development. This curriculum focuses on giving leaders the knowledge and skills to participate effectively in a Citizens UK alliance. Over the last 30 years, we’ve worked in alliance with 500+ members, trained 4,000+ community leaders, accredited 16,000 Living Wage employers, and won hundreds of campaigns.

Find out more: https://www.citizensuk.org/leadership-training/

City Year

City Year is a youth development programme that places young adults in schools to provide student support and mentoring. Participants develop leadership skills while helping students stay in school and on track to graduation.

Find out more: https://www.cityyear.org.uk/

Civic Future

Civic Future focuses on developing civic leaders and strengthening democratic participation. They offer programmes that build skills in community engagement, public policy, and civic leadership.

Find out more: https://www.civicfuture.org/

Civil Service Fast Stream

The Civil Service Fast Stream is a prestigious graduate development programme that accelerates the development of future senior civil servants. It offers structured development across various government departments with mentoring, training, and rapid career progression.

Find out more: https://www.faststream.gov.uk/

The Clore Social Leadership Programme is a highly selective fellowship for experienced leaders in the social sector. It provides time for reflection, learning, and development through a structured programme of personal development, project work, and peer learning.

Find out more: https://cloresocialleadership.org.uk/

Common Purpose

Common Purpose develops leaders who can cross boundaries and create positive change in their communities and organisations. They offer leadership programmes that focus on building collaborative leadership skills and understanding complex challenges.

Find out more: https://commonpurpose.org/

Creo Incubator

Creo Incubator supports early-stage social enterprises through intensive development programmes. They provide mentoring, workspace, and funding opportunities to help social entrepreneurs turn their ideas into successful ventures.

Find out more: https://creo.org.uk/

Crisis – Venture Studio

Crisis Venture Studio develops innovative solutions to end homelessness. They support entrepreneurs and organisations working on homelessness-related innovations through incubation programmes and impact investment.

Find out more: https://www.crisis.org.uk/ending-homelessness/innovation-and-change/venture-studio/

Do It Now Now

Do It Now Now focuses on youth leadership development and civic engagement. They create opportunities for young people to develop leadership skills while working on community and social issues.

Find out more: https://www.doitnownow.org.uk/

Echoing Green

Echoing Green is a global organisation that finds and funds emerging social entrepreneurs. Their fellowship programme provides seed funding and support to individuals with innovative ideas for creating positive social change.

Find out more: https://www.echoinggreen.org/

Fair Education Alliance

The Fair Education Alliance brings together organisations committed to closing the educational attainment gap. They offer leadership development opportunities for those working to improve educational equity and outcomes for disadvantaged students.

Find out more: https://www.faireducation.org.uk/

Feminise Politics Now!

Feminise Politics Now! works to increase women’s representation and influence in political life. They offer training programmes and development opportunities to support women entering and advancing in political careers.

Find out more: https://www.feminisepolitics.co.uk/

Frontline

Frontline is a graduate programme that fast-tracks outstanding graduates into children’s social work. It combines academic study with hands-on practice and provides comprehensive leadership development for future social work leaders.

Find out more: https://thefrontline.org.uk/

Fulbright

The Fulbright Programme offers international educational exchange opportunities for students, scholars, and professionals. It provides leadership development through cross-cultural learning experiences and academic exchange.

Find out more: https://www.fulbright.org.uk/

Hatch Enterprise

Hatch Enterprise supports entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds to start and grow their businesses. They offer incubation programmes, mentoring, and access to networks specifically designed for underrepresented entrepreneurs.

Find out more: https://www.hatchenterprise.org/

Homeless Link

Homeless Link is the national membership charity for frontline homelessness services. They provide leadership development and training programmes for organisations working to prevent and address homelessness.

Find out more: https://homelesslink.org.uk/

Huddlecraft

Huddlecraft focuses on developing entrepreneurship and innovation skills. They offer programmes that help individuals develop business and leadership capabilities in creative and innovative contexts.

Find out more: https://www.huddlecraft.co.uk/

Impetus Leadership Academy

Impetus Leadership Academy develops leaders in organisations that transform the lives of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. They provide intensive development programmes for CEOs and senior leaders in the education and youth sectors.

Find out more: https://www.impetus.org.uk/leadership-academy/

Koreo

Koreo provides leadership development and organisational change support for the social sector. They offer programmes that help leaders and organisations increase their impact and effectiveness through improved leadership practices.

Find out more: https://koreo.com/

Lightful

Lightful provides digital and leadership development support for charities and social enterprises. They offer training programmes that help organisations leverage technology and develop leadership capabilities to increase their impact.

Find out more: https://lightful.com/

Local Government Association

The Local Government Association offers leadership development programmes for councillors and local government officers. Their programmes focus on building effective local leadership and governance capabilities.

Find out more: https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/leadership-workforce-and-communications

Locality

Locality supports community organisations and social enterprises through various development programmes. They offer leadership training and capacity building services to strengthen community-led organisations.

Find out more: https://locality.org.uk/

London Business School

London Business School offers various executive education programmes including those focused on social impact and leadership. Their programmes combine world-class business education with practical application.

Find out more: https://www.london.edu/

LSE – Marshall Institute

The Marshall Institute at the London School of Economics focuses on philanthropy and social entrepreneurship education. They offer programmes that develop leaders in the philanthropic and social investment sectors.

Find out more: https://www.lse.ac.uk/marshall-institute

NHS Innovation Accelerator

The NHS Innovation Accelerator supports the spread and adoption of proven innovations within the NHS. They provide development programmes for innovation leaders and entrepreneurs working to improve healthcare.

Find out more: https://www.england.nhs.uk/aac/what-we-do/how-can-the-aac-help-me/innovation-accelerator/

NHS Leadership Academy

The NHS Leadership Academy develops leaders across the health and care system. They offer a range of programmes from emerging leaders through to senior executive development, all focused on improving healthcare leadership.

Find out more: https://www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/

Obama Foundation

The Obama Foundation develops the next generation of leaders through various fellowship and scholarship programmes. They focus on civic leadership and community organising skills development.

Find out more: https://www.obama.org/

On Purpose

On Purpose is a 12-month associate programme that develops leaders for the social impact sector. Associates work across social enterprises, charities, and impact-focused businesses while receiving comprehensive leadership development.

Find out more: https://onpurpose.org/

Pilotlight

Pilotlight matches business professionals with charities to share skills and expertise. They provide leadership development opportunities through skilled volunteering and consultancy relationships.

Find out more: https://pilotlight.org.uk/

Police:Now

Police:Now is a graduate leadership programme that fast-tracks exceptional graduates into policing careers. It provides accelerated training and development for future police leaders.

Find out more: https://www.policenow.org.uk/

Public Practice

Public Practice places talented architects, planners, and other built environment professionals in local government roles. The programme develops public sector leadership capabilities while improving planning and development outcomes.

Find out more: https://publicpractice.org.uk/

Reach Foundation

Reach Foundation provides skilled volunteers to charitable organisations. They offer leadership development through board-level volunteering opportunities that help both individuals and organisations grow.

Find out more: https://reachskills.org.uk/

The School for Social Entrepreneurs offers practical programmes for social entrepreneurs at different stages of their journey. They provide learning programmes that combine peer support, practical tools, and expert guidance.

Find out more: https://www.the-sse.org/

Social Business Trust works with high-potential social enterprises to scale their impact. They provide intensive support programmes that help social entrepreneurs grow their organisations and increase their effectiveness.

Find out more: https://www.socialbusinesstrust.org/

Teach First

This option combines leadership development and teacher training, giving applicants the chance to become an inspirational leader in classrooms that need it the most. It is a two year salaried programme, leading to a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) qualification. Our trainees are over seven times more likely to progress to senior leadership early in their career. The programme focuses on developing exceptional teachers and leaders for schools in disadvantaged areas.

Find out more: https://www.teachfirst.org.uk/training-programme