The Leadership Accelerator programme is designed to identify and nurture the next generation of industry leaders. It accelerates personal skills development for early career leaders in both academia and industry.

The programme is delivered through two sequential ‘My Future Plan’ (MFP) workshops and is led by Dr Tony Bradshaw of Biosocius Ltd and My Future Plan.

There are eight places available, free of charge, for late-stage PhD students, post-doctoral researchers, research technicians and research assistants within SULSA member institutions.

The Innovate UK funded Leadership Accelerator is designed to identify and nurture the next generation of medicines manufacturing industry leaders. This includes those interested in designing, developing and manufacturing medicines. While you don’t have to be working in this area to be eligible, an interest in working in this area is necessary.

Participants in the programme will gain:

• Resilience and workplace readiness
• Increased self-awareness of your behavioral traits and skills
• Understanding of optimal career strategies
• Key skills to build resilience and emotional intelligence

• Either a PhD student (late stage – penultimate or final year in Sept 2025), a Postdoctoral Researcher, Research Assistant or Technical Specialist
• Must work at one of the twelve SULSA Member Universities or the James Hutton Institute
• Working in research within the medicine manufacturing supply chain or an interest to do so in the future
• Be registered as a member on the RESILIENCE platform (this gathers data required by the funders of RESILIENCE – you can register as an individual and there is no cost involved)

My Future Plan’ Workshop 1 (MFP1)
Delivered remotely to small groups of up to 5 participants

• Completion of an online psychometric test and creation of individual behavioural profiling reports
• Analysis of behavioural traits
• A 1.5-hour co-learning session led by Dr Tony Bradshaw, with personalised time to explore participants’ traits
• A reflection period of 3-4 weeks post-workshop to develop personal insights

‘My Future Plan’ Workshop 2 (MFP2)
Delivered in-person to groups of up to 12 participants who have completed MFP1:

• A half-day workshop facilitated by Dr Tony Bradshaw, focusing on key early career skills: personal resilience, managing conflict, building trust, emotional intelligence, leadership and communication styles, and mentoring.
• Optionally includes additional psychometric tools to deepen understanding of resilience and emotion management.

The programme will run over two date ranges as detailed below. The date for MFP1 will be decided between the successful applicants and the programme coach Dr Tony Bradshaw once they have been awarded a spot on the programme. Please note, you will only need to attend one of the MFP2 in-person events, but we ask that you ensure you are available on both dates at the time of applying.

MFP1 (online): 12th October – 26th October 2025
MFP2 (in-person): Thursday 13th November 2025, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh

MFP1 (online): 12th January – 26th January 2026
MFP2 (in-person): Thursday 5th February 2026, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh

For more information on the programme please register for our information session on Thursday 5th June at 10:00am. The recording for this will be added here after the session. 

Application Deadline: 5pm on Monday 7th July 2025

How to Apply: Complete the RESILIENCE Application Form and e-mail to jill.inkster@glasgow.ac.uk by the above deadline

Outcome Notification: Awardees will be notified of an outcome w/c 14th July 2025