FAQ

To improve the leadership skills of those managing engineering scaleup SMEs in the UK, through which we aim to support excellence in engineering.

We're looking for changemakers in engineering and technology SMEs that are experiencing scale-up growth challenges. Applications from engineers and non-engineers are welcome - if you're a senior decision maker, such as a founder or managing director (MD), and you have plans to scale your SME, then you should apply. Your title doesn't have to be founder or MD, but you need to be actively involved in the business in a decision-making capacity to make scale up decisions. If not, the programme wouldn't be suitable because the aim is to support leaders of scale-ups. The programme is not suited for Non Executive Directors (NEDs). 

The Academy is committed to diversity and welcomes nominations and nominees from women and other groups who are currently under-represented across engineering, as well as recognising the full breadth of engineering

No, we are looking for leaders of engineering companies regardless of background. As long as you're in a senior decision-making role, you can apply.

Only one individual from a company can apply per round of the programme.

One additional application associated with the same company will be considered in another application round if the candidate belongs to a group that is underrepresented within UK engineering.

Please note this also includes those who were successful in gaining a place on the previously named SME Leaders programme.

Please see full eligibility guidance or email the programme team at [email protected] if you'd like to discuss your eligibility. If applicants have been unsuccessful, they can reapply in another round.

The Academy defines engineering in a broad sense, as can be seen from the range of past participants who worked in companies operating across different sectors, including: robotics, medtech, cleantech, hardware, AI, automotive and materials. 

Software companies must exhibit engineering as their core component and should be innovative and protectable. We unfortunately cannot support consultancies. If you are unsure that your company's activities qualify as engineering, please contact the programme team at [email protected].

If you are successful, your funding will be awarded under the Basic Terms and Conditions found on the Academy’s website.

This agreement has been developed to ensure funding aligns with our Academy values, is used for the purposes for which it was awarded and is managed in compliance with our own funders’ agreements, UK legislation and funding best practice.

The company must be based in the UK and registered with Companies House. For multinational companies, the Head Office must be based in the UK and the measures above on company eligibility must apply to the entire company, not just the UK office. 

Travel and accommodation costs are covered to attend the in-person growth training modules which take place in London. This is to encourage participation from individual applicants from companies across the whole of the UK.

The programme will begin in March 2025 and applicants must be committed to the programme for twelve months, until March 2026

One-to-one coaching is a compulsory part of the programme. You will have one 1.5 hour session per month, over six months.

You will be expected to complete a leadership course of your choice within the twelve months.

You will access four out of six training modules most relevant to your needs from the list in Annex B of the Guidance Notes. We offer an estimated 36 hours of interactive and practical workshops and optional individual sessions with the trainers as part of the growth training over a six-month period.

Successful applicants will be required to attend the induction day on 24 March 2025, a midway review in September 2025 and a graduation ceremony in March 2026.

We also recommend that you see or speak to your mentor once a month.

For compulsory events at the Enterprise Hub in London, we will cover travel and accommodation costs within the UK.

You can also claim travel and accommodation costs within the UK for attending the leadership course as part of your £10,000 grant. We cannot cover international expenses if your leadership course is based outside the UK.

Shott Scale Up Accelerator is made possible by funding from the UK Government Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and private donor, Ian Shott CBE FREng, Academy Fellow and serial entrepreneur.

• Employees < 250 people
• Turnover < £50 million per annum
• Leader = CEO, Founder, MD, other senior decision maker

All applications will be reviewed by an assessment panel consisting of Fellows of the Academy with entrepreneurial and industrial experience and representatives from the alumni of the accelerator and the investment community. Applications will be reviewed against the criteria listed in the guidance notes. Please read the Guidance Notes on How to apply carefully.

Each application is assessed and scored by at least two members of the Review Panel. The panel then meet and discuss all the applications and their assessments and select which applications will be invited to interview. Performance at interview will then determine who is awarded.

All applications will be assessed against the following selection criteria:

• How the making of an award would contribute to excellence in engineering.
• Quality, ambition and vision of the applicant.
• Effectiveness and innovativeness of technology, in providing high impact products or services that meet an unmet or poorly met market demand/need.
• Innovativeness of the technology, product or service described by the applicant to demonstrate effectiveness against competing technologies.
• The potential for that technology, product or service to grow in scale (evidenced in business model/plan or strategy document uploaded by the applicant)
• Financial viability and scalability, in terms of cash runway, burn rate, profitability, and the company's five-year growth plan.
• Potential benefits to the UK economy (such as job creation) and/or expected benefits to wider public.
• Impact the award would have on success of the applicant, his or her company, and therefore potential impact on the UK engineering sector and UK economic growth.
• The potential shown by the applicant to make valuable use of the award and implement learning points, and to act as an ambassador for the Enterprise Hub and its pursuit of excellence in engineering.

Applications will be judged on their individual merits, there is no specific number of awards that the Academy must make in each year. If an application does not meet the standard of excellence required by the assessment process, it will not proceed, regardless of the number of other suitable applicants.

Yes, providing you fulfil the programme's eligibility criteria. If you would like feedback on your previous application, please contact the programme team.

The Shott Scale Up Accelerator selection panel is composed of 35+ reviewers who agree to a confidentiality agreement before they join the panel. If they declare a conflict of interest with any applicants or their companies, they will not have access to that particular application. Members of the Enterprise Hub team will also be able to view the applications. Details of the applications will be kept confidential within the review process.

You can sign up for alerts when we next open the programme by completing this form on our landing page.

We are a charity and do not charge any fees nor take any equity in exchange for our support.

If you have any queries after reading the Essential Guidance Notes and the above FAQs, please do not hesitate to contact us. All questions should be sent to [email protected].

We offer flexibility and, as much as possible, meet the needs of parents and those with caring responsibilities, enabling them to participate fully in the programme. We will share the programme dates at the start, have no workshops scheduled on weekends and will minimise any evening engagements. In your cohort you will find a supportive peer group who also combine caring responsibilities with the demands of scaling up a high-growth company.
We can also offer programme extensions, should you need to go on maternity/paternity or adoptive leave during the programme.