Develop the leadership skills in your business

Are good leaders born that way—or can it be taught?

Many experts now agree that there’s no truth in the idea that great leaders are simply born that way. The current thinking is that a collaborative approach to leadership delivers the most benefits for everyone.

Why are we concerned about leadership?

Stronger leaders mean stronger businesses, which in turn mean a stronger economy for Yorkshire & Humber. Therefore, Yorkshire Forward is supporting a series of initiatives which help to develop the leadership skills of board directors and senior management in our region.

There is a £30bn gap between the North’s economic output and that of England on average, and we aim to help reduce this gap by boosting the leadership abilities, confidence and entrepreneurial skills of our business leaders.

What are ‘leadership skills’?

Leadership skills are needed by senior managers (including board-level leaders in medium-sized and large enterprises) and, in smaller companies, by owner/managers. They are distinct from management skills, requiring an ability to anticipate and react to change. Leaders must inspire trust, develop clear vision, and motivate management and their teams. There is some consensus that strong leadership skills are necessary for the development of an innovation culture within business (the development of new products, processes, marketing strategies, or organisational structures).

The Northern Leadership Academy

The Northern Leadership Academy (NLA) was created in 2006 as part of Northern Way’s strategy to bridge the economic gap between the North and the rest of England. (Northern Way is a partnership of three northern regional development agencies).

Who’s behind the NLA?

The academy is a collaboration between Lancaster University Management School, Leeds University Business School, and the University of Liverpool Management School.

What does the NLA do?

The NLA supports and stimulates leadership throughout the North in order to improve business performance and generate measurable, sustainable growth. It raises the awareness of the benefits of leadership skills development, whilst directing people to relevant suppliers. The NLA’s objectives are:

  • To collect and disseminate best practice in leadership
  • To stimulate the market and raise awareness of the need for leadership development
  • To identify and support good leadership training delivery
  • To learn what works well, identify best practice and provide a positive impact on leadership in our region
  • To support the development of leadership skills which will have a major positive impact on regional productivity and competitiveness.

The NLA web portal is a one-stop-shop for leadership, bringing all leadership information together and acting as a support tool for individuals and employers wanting to become better leaders.

Yorkshire Forward has made an additional investment in the NLA which further develops our leadership development services in Yorkshire & Humber. This extends the current network of NLA providers, provides better geographical coverage, and invites representatives from universities, private suppliers and further education institutions.

Leadership services from Train to Gain

Leadership and Management Brokerage is a discreet service within Train to Gain. It’s available to owners and managing directors (and their senior teams) in all sectors throughout Yorkshire & Humber. Targeted at SMEs, it’s also available to organisations with up to 5,000 employees. Train to Gain offers an analysis of individual skills training needs, with a training grant to help meet these needs. For those looking to develop their management teams, further skills analysis and training may be available.

Leadership services from Yorkshire Forward

YF will shortly be commissioning a leadership skills programme aimed at fostering the link between innovation and enterprise. 

Support from Business Link Yorkshire

Business Link is your single gateway to all business-related information. Visit their website section on skills and training for directors and owners and take the free online assessment of your own leadership skills.