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| Leadership Network (United Kingdom) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Leadership Network (United Kingdom) |
| Type | Non-profit organisation |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Region served | United Kingdom |
| Leader title | Chief Executive |
| Leader name | Jane Smith |
| Purpose | Leadership development, public service leadership |
Leadership Network (United Kingdom) is a British non-profit organisation focused on identifying, developing, and connecting leaders across the United Kingdom's public, private, and third sectors. Founded in 2010, it operates through fellowships, training programs, research partnerships, and convenings that aim to accelerate leadership practice across civic institutions and national initiatives. The organisation collaborates with universities, think tanks, charities, corporations, local authorities, and international bodies to translate evidence into applied leadership development.
The network was established in 2010 with support from stakeholders associated with London School of Economics, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, King's College London, and policy institutes such as Institute for Government, Chatham House, and Centre for Policy Studies. Early advisory input included figures from Cabinet Office (United Kingdom), Greater London Authority, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and civic leaders formerly connected to City of London Corporation and Manchester City Council. Initial pilot programs drew on curricula influenced by executives from NHS England, British Army, Royal Navy, and leadership models observed in firms like Barclays, HSBC, BP, and Rolls-Royce (engine manufacturer). By 2014 the Network expanded through partnerships with Nesta, Royal Society, Wellcome Trust, and Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and engaged with European bodies such as European Commission and Council of Europe.
Between 2015 and 2019 the organisation launched initiatives alongside higher education partners including University College London, Imperial College London, University of Edinburgh, University of Manchester, and Durham University. It engaged leadership scholars associated with Harvard University, Stanford University, Yale University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology for comparative research. During the COVID-19 pandemic the Network convened policy roundtables involving representatives from Public Health England, NHS Wales, Scottish Government, Welsh Government, and Northern Ireland Executive, and liaised with charities such as Oxfam, British Red Cross, Save the Children, and Shelter (charity) to coordinate leadership responses.
Governance is overseen by a board drawing trustees with backgrounds in institutions including Goldman Sachs, KPMG, PwC, Linklaters, Freshfields, Sainsbury's, Tesco, BBC, and ITV plc. The executive team includes directors with prior roles at City of London Police, Metropolitan Police Service, Ofsted, Financial Conduct Authority, and Bank of England. Advisory panels feature academics from London Business School, Judge Business School, Saïd Business School, and think tanks such as Policy Exchange and Demos (UK think tank). The Network's constitution reflects charity law under Charity Commission for England and Wales and company law regulated by Companies House. It operates regional hubs aligned with combined authorities like Greater Manchester Combined Authority, West Midlands Combined Authority, and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
Programs include an executive fellowship informed by models used at Ashridge, INSEAD, and Centre for Creative Leadership, an emerging leaders pipeline patterned after initiatives at Teach First, The Prince's Trust, and National Citizen Service. Activities feature residential courses at venues in Blenheim Palace, Windsor Castle, and university colleges such as St Catherine's College, Oxford and Trinity College, Cambridge. The Network runs sector-specific strands for public servants from Ministry of Defence, HM Treasury, Home Office, and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office as well as corporate leadership cohorts drawn from Unilever, Diageo, GlaxoSmithKline, and AstraZeneca. It convenes annual summits with speakers from United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and philanthropic partners including Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Programmatic research collaborations have included projects with Rand Corporation, King's Fund, Institute for Fiscal Studies, Resolution Foundation, and Social Mobility Commission. The Network publishes case studies on leadership practice referencing historical examples such as Battle of Britain, Suez Crisis, and policy turning points like Good Friday Agreement, using comparative governance lessons from Nordic model countries represented by partnerships with University of Copenhagen and Stockholm University.
Membership comprises senior leaders, mid-career professionals, elected officials, and charity executives from organisations including Labour Party (UK), Conservative Party (UK), Liberal Democrats (UK), Scottish National Party, and Plaid Cymru; elected local representatives from Greater London Authority and councillors from major local authorities such as Birmingham City Council and Leeds City Council. Corporate members have included executives from Vodafone, BT Group, Virgin Atlantic, National Grid (Great Britain), and Transport for London. Third-sector members include Cancer Research UK, Mind (charity), Age UK, and RSPB. International associates link to United Nations Development Programme, OECD, World Economic Forum, and bilateral partners such as USAID and DFID.
Impact assessments have been conducted with academic partners from University of Manchester, LSE, and University of Warwick and evaluation consultancies like McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, and Kantar Public. Metrics tracked include leadership progression into roles at Cabinet Office (United Kingdom), Home Office, major NHS trusts, city mayors such as Mayor of London, and board seats at FTSE 100 companies like Royal Dutch Shell and Glencore. Independent studies referenced governance outcomes linked to policies such as Localism Act 2011, public service reforms influenced by Munro Review of Child Protection, and crisis responses compared to 2008 financial crisis leadership.
Funding sources combine grants from foundations including Wellcome Trust, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, corporate sponsorship from Barclays, HSBC, and project contracts with public bodies such as Department for Education, Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, and devolved administrations. Strategic partnerships extend to universities like University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University College London, cultural institutions such as British Library and British Museum, and professional bodies including Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and Institute of Directors. International collaboration includes memoranda with European Commission, Council of Europe, and networks such as C40 Cities.
Category:Non-profit organisations based in the United Kingdom