City Leadership programme

Information on the City Leadership Programme and how to apply

What is the City Leadership Programme

The City Leadership Programme identifies and invests in the lives of high-ability, high-aspiration students from backgrounds of disadvantage and groups which are under-represented in leadership.

The programme is a launch pad for future leaders in business, politics and non-government organisations. 

It targets students in their first year of sixth form but will accept applications from upper sixth and year 11.

The curriculum will take 12 to 14 students on a journey of:

• personal development
• envisioning and life planning
• academic enrichment
• skills building
• exposure and networking  

What does the programme include

The programme includes:

• two-week intensive summer course built around personal development, academic enrichment, networking, exposure and skills-building
• a graduation dinner
• five months of mentoring provided by leaders from business, politics and the public sector, coordinated by Babbasa
• an alumni network of participants and contributors, including an annual alumni dinner

How to nominate

Students must be nominated by a teacher, lecturer or youth leader.

Nominations are not currently being accepted for 2020.

Background

Bristol is challenged by gender, race and class fractures. Young talent are lost to the city every year because the social, economic and political structures that nurture leadership aren't equally available to all. 

The City Leadership Programme aims to break this cycle by: 

• bringing city institutions and businesses together to invest in Bristol's future as an inclusive, sustainable and thriving world city
• creating the space for current leaders to connect with and begin investing in these young people
• giving participants the tools they need to build their vision and skills and identify, develop and exploit opportunities

We believe it's not good enough for political and business leaders to wait for the next generation of leaders to come about by social circumstance.  

It's in all our interest to take a proactive approach to growing the talent and values that'll lead us tomorrow. We believe the leadership talent pool must be bigger than it's been before, bringing diversity of thought to our decision making that'll be needed in a world of challenges, and as evidence of a fairer society.

The City Leadership Programme won't be appropriate for every student. It should sit with other city programmes that support the development of leadership at all levels. 

It's important that schools and colleges work with us to support unsuccessful applicants and build on their expressed desire to develop their leadership potential. We would encourage nominating organisations to find other opportunities for these students.