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AboutLocations
Nature Recovery Leadership Programmes
for the North of England and Scotland
The challenge of biodiversity decline in the UK demands more than individual or isolated efforts. It calls for unprecedented collaboration.
The Nature Recovery Leadership Programmes in the North of England and Scotland will bring together emerging leaders from different disciplines, communities, and backgrounds who share a common ambition: to restore and regenerate nature.
These new programmes will convene an exciting mix of people from diverse fields such as landscape restoration management, conservation, agriculture, energy, water, forestry, fisheries, and local and national government, and many more.
Crossing boundaries is key to collaboration and through these dynamic and experiential programmes you will develop your cross boundary leadership skills, forge connections, and unlock new inspiration - empowering you to advance within your organization, your sector, and beyond.
The first Nature Recovery Leadership Programmes for the North of England and Scotland ran in 2024. In this film participants share their experience of the programmes. We also asked senior leaders why a programme like this one is needed to help restore nature in the UK.
What is Cross Boundary Leadership?
Over 30 years Common Purpose has developed its cross-boundary leadership expertise by working with leaders from many different sectors around the world. The Common Purpose thought leadership of Leading Beyond Authority (LBA) and Cultural Intelligence (CQ) will guide the curriculum.
The ability to produce change beyond your direct circle of control. People who develop this ability are more effective in unfamiliar territory, where the authority (or credibility) gained in their own organization or sector is often not present.
The ability to cross divides and thrive in multiple cultures. Our simple and empowering CQ framework helps leaders unpack their own culture and confidently work with others.
How it works
The Learning Journey
1
Online platform
A learning resource available 24/7.
2
360-degree assessment
An online assessment process to identify strengths and blind-spots.
3
Live online sessions
Exploring cross boundary leadership.
4
Residential
An in-person gathering of the whole cohort focussed on cross boundary leadership and personal resilience.
5
Peer coaching
Small group sessions to share personal challenges, compare experience, and develop strategies for action.
1
Alumni gathering
In-person gathering to connect the North of England and Scotland alumni and build a community across the cohorts.
2
Live online alumni sessions
To embed the learning and share ideas, and strategies.
3
Peer Coaching
Live online sessions to build an ongoing support network.
Who is it for?
Successful applicants will be living, working (or doing work that covers) either the North of England or Scotland.
You will be:
- Working for nature recovery in any field, sector or discipline.
- Highly motivated, show commitment to bringing about positive change, and can demonstrate your leadership potential and/or capability.
- An emerging leader typically with over 5 years of professional and/or voluntary experience.
- Inspired to continue in the nature recovery field and ambitious for the regeneration of nature.
"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."
"If we are to achieve a nature rich future for Scotland, we need to invest in the next generation of leaders who are committed to regenerating our natural world – from whichever field, community, or sector they come. The Nature Recovery Leadership Programme is a first step to equipping emerging leaders with the skills and inspiration to meet this challenge."
Why take part?
Develop cross-boundary leadership skills
Enhance your ability to collaborate across boundaries of sector, geography, culture, and professional discipline; essential for the complex challenge of nature recovery
Improve self awareness and personal resilience
Giving you the tools and the support network to meet the challenges ahead
Develop your coaching capability
To support effective leadership and long term personal and professional growth
Grow new networks
Connect with a diverse group of participants, contributors, and speakers
Funders
Thanks to National Lottery Players.
We would like to thank the following organizations whose support has helped to make these programmes possible:
Start your journey
Next Steps
Speak with us
Curious to find out more about the programmes?
Applications are now closed for the Nature Recovery Leadership Programmes. We hope to run them again in 2025. If you would like to find out more please get in touch.
Find out more
Have questions about the programmes?
Learn more about the Nature Recovery Leadership Programmes by exploring our Frequently Asked Questions guide or watch a past webinar recording to get the key information you need.
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.
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:
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Agility in adapting to changing circumstances and environments.
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Empathy to what other people feel, think and need. Seeing things from their point of view.
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Influence in leading change with limited decision-making power.
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Openness to new ideas, possibilities and perspectives, including views they might deeply disagree with.
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Purposefulness in leading with intentionality, determination, commitment and resilience.
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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.
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Experience: Being presented with new experiences. Engaging with leaders across multiple boundaries and being immersed in new environments.
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Reflection: Learning activities to gain a deeper and more personalized understanding of the learning.
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Translate: Exploring how to relate new ideas and thought processes back into the learner’s role or context.
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Practice: Developing a set of leadership practices that can be used to turn new behaviours into habits.
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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.
