Nature Recovery Leadership Programmes

North of England and Scotland

The Nature Recovery Leadership Programmes for the North of England and Scotland were piloted in 2024. In total, 95 emerging leaders took part from many different fields such as local and national government, conservation, land management, water,  energy, farming, museums, forestry, academia, community development, regulatory bodies, housing, horticulture, finance and enterprise.
 

The challenge of biodiversity decline in the UK demands more than individual or isolated efforts. It calls for unprecedented collaboration.

The aim of these programmes was to develop a cohort of emerging leaders:

  • equipped with the cross-boundary leadership skills to create collaborations that will deliver for nature
  • empowered to advance within their organization, their sector, and beyond.


Two poeple walking while talking_NRLP
Video cover

Participants share their experience of the programmes and sector leaders explain why the leadership development is a crucial part of the story of restoring nature across the UK.

Independent Evaluation Reports

Common Purpose commissioned independent evaluations of the Nature Recovery Leadership programmes in the North of England and Scotland. These were conducted by Ellie Brodie, Director, Grounded Insight.

84.3%

feel better prepared to influence beyond their circle of authority

83.1%

feel more confident in their voice as a leader working in nature recovery

78.3%

feel that this community will help them to have a greater impact on nature recovery

79.5%

feel better prepared to work collaboratively

Quote mark graphic
Quote-placeholder
Richard Hore
Yorkshire Dales Milennium Trust (North of England Participant)
"The Nature Recovery Leadership programme has helped me to recalibrate what effective leadership looks like in the nature recovery space. It has left me feeling better equipped to navigate complex multi-stakeholder settings, which is a must if we are to deliver nature recovery at scale."
Quote-placeholder
Cora Cooper
Cooper Farms (Scotland Participant)
"Nature recovery will never be achieved in the UK without involving and discussing food security on an island. The Nature Recovery Programme has provided me as a food producer to make connection within the nature recovery sector. Working together we can produce sustainable food whilst also delivering for nature."
Quote-placeholder
Aliza Ayaz
TORI Global (North of England Participant)
"The one word I'd use to describe the programme is transformational. It’s not just a leadership programme; it’s changing the way you think, work, and collaborate for a greater purpose."
Quote-placeholder
Lee Oliver
Head of Sustainability, the Woodland Trust (Scotland Participant)
"The Nature Recovery Leadership Programme has succeeded in challenging my assumptions of both my own leadership skills and those more broadly within the conservation sector. This is much needed and I hope it continues to happen."
Page
Page
Page
Quote mark graphic
Quote-placeholder
Nicole Paterson
Chief Executive, Scottish Environment Protection Agency
"Leadership skill is at the heart of tackling our environmental challenges. It is at the heart of how we collaborate and how we build partnerships. Plus we need a broader perspective; to understand the whole system not just our part of it; to see the world through other people’s eyes. That is why a programme like this is so critically important for the regeneration of nature in Scotland and across the UK."
Quote-placeholder
Mike Innerdale
Regional Director North England, National Trust and Partnership Board Member, Nature North
"We can’t regenerate nature without collaboration between people of many different backgrounds and sectors. Collaboration isn’t easy – it is an ability that we learn. This is why Nature North is supporting the Nature Recovery Leadership Programme. It is a great opportunity for emerging leaders across the North to develop that ability and become part of the solution for the recovery of nature."

Funders

NLHF_Logo

Thanks to National Lottery Players.

EEF_Logo

We would like to acknowledge and thank the following organisations whose support has helped to make these programmes possible:
Logo
Logo
Logo
Logo
Logo
Logo

Important information

We are also committed to and accountable for advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in all its forms. 

We actively encourage applications from people of all faiths, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, economic circumstances, backgrounds, and those from disabled communities.  

If you require adjustments to take part in the application process or to participate in the programme due to a disability, neurodiversity, caring responsibilities, or any other reason, you will be able to provide details in the application form or contact us by phone or email to discuss further.  

Frequently asked questions

Yes, if you have any further questions or would just like to discuss the programme in more detail, please reach out to a member of our team in your specific location who would be delighted to help.

Get in touch

We are a global not-for-profit leadership development organization on a mission to develop people who can cross cultural, social, and institutional boundaries. We work passionately with people to help push the boundaries of what is possible, all so that they can become those who can help us to work better together, be the connectors of our unique lived experiences and lead, with a difference.

Yes! The Common Purpose Charitable Trust was established as a charity in 1989. It is registered with the Charity Commission under the Registered Charity number 1023384.

The benefits of Common Purpose leadership programmes include gaining increased:  

  • Agility in adapting to changing circumstances and environments.  

  • Empathy to what other people feel, think and need. Seeing things from their point of view.

  • Influence in leading change with limited decision-making power.  

  • Openness to new ideas, possibilities and perspectives, including views they might deeply disagree with.    

  • Purposefulness in leading with intentionality, determination, commitment and resilience.

  • Self-awareness to their behaviours and outlook, and how they interpret and respond to situations.

When it comes to learning, there is no substitute for the power of real experience and fresh perspective. Our approach uses a robust behaviour and mindset change philosophy rooted in real life leadership challenges and experiences. To turn those experiences into real learning we follow five tried and tested steps that lead to habitual change in how people think, feel and act.    

  1. Experience: Being presented with new experiences. Engaging with leaders across multiple boundaries and being immersed in new environments.   

  1. Reflection: Learning activities to gain a deeper and more personalized understanding of the learning.    

  1. Translate: Exploring how to relate new ideas and thought processes back into the learner’s role or context.

  1. Practice: Developing a set of leadership practices that can be used to turn new behaviours into habits.

  1. Assess: Embedding numerous assessments to help learners track their progress pre, during and even beyond the programme.

Experiential learning is a core component of our programmes.

Our programmes create a carefully constructed microclimate to explore real-life leadership challenges in a safe environment, often leading to the types of purpose-driven conversations needed to achieve transformative change.

We also focus on the importance of active learning, by getting people out of their comfort zones and into the world, seeing things, meeting people, taking part, and taking advantage of processes that stimulate multiple neural connections in the brain and promote memory.