Developing the next generation of leaders
University of Birmingham, in partnership with the ERA Foundation, is launching a transformative new initiative: the Engineering and Science Leadership Academy.
Designed for high‑achieving students across the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, the Academy equips future leaders with the strategic insight, entrepreneurial mindset, and real-world experience needed to drive innovation in industry, technology, and public service.
Why this programme? Addressing a national challenge
The UK faces a growing need for leaders who combine deep technical expertise with strategic, commercial, and leadership capability. It is far more effective to develop leadership and business acumen in individuals who already understand complex systems, data, and emerging technologies than to teach this technical fluency to non-specialists.
- Engineers and scientists already think in systems
- They understand evidence, data, and risk
- They shape the technologies of tomorrow
When empowered with leadership and enterprise skills, they become uniquely capable of driving innovation and leading high‑impact change across industry.
Inspired by the successful Gordon Engineering Leadership Program at MIT, and adapted for the UK’s industrial landscape, this Academy aims to develop a new generation of leaders who can help rebalance the UK’s trade position and strengthen its role as a global industrial powerhouse.
Programme Structure
Engineering and Science Leadership Academy (ESL1)
A selective extra-curricular programme for our outstanding undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Delivered as a series of ten interactive half‑day workshops across the academic year, ESL1 is led by senior industrial and academic leaders selected for their expertise and leadership insight.
Students develop capabilities including:
- Effective communication and relationship building
- Developing people and high‑performance teams
- Vision setting and persuasive proposal development
- Delivering change and transformation
- Project management and organisational systems
- Stakeholder and customer engagement
- Financial management and organisational control
- Decision-making under uncertainty
- Ethics, integrity, and courageous leadership
- Taking initiative and leading from the front
Workshops combine real‑world case studies, hands‑on group activities, and facilitated role‑play guided by experienced industry leaders.
Advanced Engineering and Science Leadership Academy (ESL2)
A highly selective progression route for the strongest ESL1 graduates.
ESL2 focuses on real-world leadership application through:
- One‑to‑one mentorship
Students receive personalised coaching from a senior industry leader, focused on their leadership development needs.
- An executive‑level summer internship
A prestigious eight‑week internship embedded with senior leaders in major UK companies, delivering a significant improvement or innovation project.
The programme funds these internships during the first 2–3 years, after which costs transition to partnered companies. Graduates of ESL2 emerge with an exceptional foundation to advance quickly toward senior technical leadership roles, equipped with strategic insight, innovation capability, and hands‑on experience working with industry decision‑makers.
Why the University of Birmingham?
- World‑class expertise
As a Russell Group university with internationally recognised engineering and physical sciences research, Birmingham brings together leading academics, industry specialists, and over 25 Industrial and Visiting Professors across the College.
- A proven track record of industrial collaboration
Our partnerships span organisations such as Rolls‑Royce, Siemens, National Grid, Manufacturing Technology Centre and more. We host national innovation centres including the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education, the Energy Institute, and the National Buried Infrastructure Facility.
- Located in the heart of UK industry
Based in the West Midlands—a region home to nine high‑growth industrial clusters—Birmingham plays a central role in shaping regional and national economic transformation.
- Exceptional student talent
University of Birmingham is one of the most targeted UK university by top graduate employers (Top in Highfliers, 2024 & 2025 and 2nd in 2026). Our engineering students combine academic excellence with ambition, creativity, and strong leadership potential.
How companies and leaders can get involved
We warmly invite industry leaders, alumni, and partner organisations to engage with the Engineering and Science Leadership Academy. Opportunities include:
- Co‑leading capability workshops
- Delivering presentations, case studies, or panel discussions
- Offering individual or group mentoring
- Supporting networking activities
- Sponsoring ESL2 industrial internships
Your involvement helps develop the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of UK industry.
Staff
To express interest or learn more, please contact:
Andy Hammond
Alumni Relations Manager
College of Engineering and Physical Sciences