ERA Foundation and the University of Birmingham Launch Engineering and Science Leadership Academy
The ERA Foundation is partnering with the University of Birmingham to launch the Engineering and Science Leadership (ESL) Academy, a programme designed to develop the next generation of engineering-trained leaders in UK industry.
The Academy equips technical professionals with the strategic vision, interdisciplinary expertise, and systems-thinking skills needed to lead complex organisations, preparing engineering and science graduates for leadership roles that extend beyond their technical backgrounds.
Inspired by the successful leadership model at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and customised to the UK’s unique industrial landscape, the ESL Academy is built on the principle that it is more effective to develop leadership and business skills in individuals who already have deep technical expertise than to teach technical fluency to those from non-technical backgrounds. Engineers and scientists are natural systems thinkers. They understand data, are fluent in the technologies creating the future, and when equipped with planned, commercial, and interpersonal skills, become uniquely capable of leading innovation from the front.
The Academy operates across two stages: the Engineering and Science Leadership Academy (ESL 1) and the Advanced Engineering and Science Leadership Academy (ESL 2). Together, they develop increasingly sophisticated leadership capabilities in some of the University’s most motivated undergraduate and postgraduate students from the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences.
The University of Birmingham is well placed to lead this project. The Russell Group institution has a globally recognised College of Engineering and Physical Sciences; its faculty includes internationally renowned researchers and educators, many with direct experience working alongside industry and Government. Its community of over 40 Industrial and Honorary Professors, including those with advisory appointments within UK Government departments, combines both academic backgrounds and applied expertise.
The programme is designed as a model for the wider higher education sector, aiming to build a national ecosystem that invests in engineering-trained leaders who will influence the future of the UK economy.
To achieve this vision, the Academy invites active participation from current leaders and forward-thinking organisations. Now is the time to lend your expertise and help shape future industry leaders:
- Joint leadership of capability workshops
- Delivery of workshop content, including presentations, case studies, and Q&A sessions
- Individual or group mentoring
- Support of networking events with student delegates
- Sponsorship of impact internships for ESL 2 delegates
If your organisation is interested in getting involved, please contact Sam Crutchley or Brian Robb