SME Leaders Programme

To sign up for alerts when we next open the programme, please sign up to alerts on the How to Apply page.

This six-month programme, run twice a year, supports individuals in executive roles in high-growth engineering and technology SMEs to develop their leadership skills.

If you have plans to scale-up your enterprise and want guidance on navigating the challenges and growing pains, then this programme is for you.

Please see the Essential Guidance Notes for the full eligibility criteria. Please read these notes before completing the application form.

If you have any questions about the programme, please contact Catherine.Capone@raeng.org.uk or call 020 7766 0615 (calls to this number will still be answered during COVID-19 period)

What do we provide?

• A grant of up to £10,000 to pay for leadership courses of your choice
• Expert business mentoring
• One-to-one personal development coaching
• Workshops, roundtables, speaker events
• Access to the Taylor Centre, our co-working and meeting space in central London
• PR and IP support
• All travel and accommodation expenses covered

What should you expect from the SME Leaders programme?

This programme is designed to prepare you to scale up your company. It's an opportunity to refine your strategy and enhance your leadership skills while continuing to work on your business.

Join the community

We welcome around 10 SME Leaders per cohort, who you will meet on the induction day, along with the Hub team and some of our key partners. Throughout the six months and as part of your lifetime Hub Membership, you will have the opportunity to share learnings and work with the Enterprise Hub community through training and regular events.

Make invaluable connections

We’ll connect you with a mentor with the right expertise to meet your needs from the Academy’s Fellowship, which is made up of some of the most successful engineers in the UK. Your mentor will be available throughout the six months to help you with your leadership development and business challenges.

As well as connecting you to a mentor, you will also have the opportunity to connect with the Hub’s wider community, which includes investors, government agencies and corporate partners.

Accelerate your growth

Whatever your focus for the six months – whether it’s building your team, developing a strategy for growth or improving your management skills – we’re here to help you. As well as providing one-to-one coaching and mentoring, we will promote your business, host a variety of networking events and introduce you to Academy Fellows, investors, industry experts and other entrepreneurs that are designed to help you grow.

Hub Member for life!

Even when the six months is over, our support continues. You will join our alumni community of Hub Members, and continue to have access to networking events and relevant opportunities that will help grow your business. You can also continue to use the Taylor Centre facilities free of charge to host your own events or meetings. 

What do we expect from you?

We are a charity, so we don’t charge for our services or take any equity. We expect you to commit a few hours per month to the programme. The requirements on the programme are

• Attend one coaching session per month lasting 1.5 hours (compulsory)
• Attend at least three events or workshops over the six months (compulsory)
• We recommend meeting with your mentor once a month (but this isn’t compulsory)

 And remember – the more you put in, the more you get out!         

We run this programme twice a year. If you want to apply another time and to be notified when we re-open applications, please register here and select Support for SME Leaders.