As the one of the top 3 Students’ Unions in the country, we've employed many BNU graduates on our management and wider staff team. One of our key strategic priorities for the coming years is ‘Employability and Life After University’ and, to assist us in achieving this, we run The Leadership Academy to recognise the value of developing future leaders early on.

The Leadership Academy is available to all students and entirely bespoke to the individual. We will create a development programme based on your goals for the year and beyond. Whether you're in your first or third year we can create a programme for you. We'll offer you training courses specific to your needs, funding for recognised, certified qualifications and networking opportunities to give you the best possible chance for success - all free of charge courtesy of The Big Deal. 

We will be recruiting our next cohort at the beginning of the first term to start the programme at the end of October. You may be invited to participate by the Students’ Union, nominated by your course staff, or volunteer yourself and you will need to apply via the link below before mid-October in order to be considered for a place.

Applications are now OPEN for the 2025/26 Academic Year! 

Are you going into your 2nd or 3rd year in 2025/26? You can now apply for the Leadership Academy programme for the 2025/26 academic year! Get a head start on your personal development now

To apply, complete our online application form HERE

To apply:

Applications for the 2025/26 academic year are now OPEN!

For all 2025/26 2nd and 3rd Year students, you may now apply for The Leadership Academy programme for the 2025/26 academic year!

To apply, please complete our online application form HERE

See what some previous students had to say:

“I am incredibly grateful for the flexibility and individual planning that the Leadership Academy does. It makes a huge difference in facilitating those on busy/diverse courses being able to partake.”

“The Leadership Academy has given me access to bespoke training courses relevant to my industry. It has also allowed me to take tests to analyse my strengths as an individual, look through and improve my CV, and overall has given me great guidance on how to cope with a busy workload and stay resilient!”

“It has helped me challenge myself by taking courses in areas which are considered weaknesses”

“The Leadership Academy has given me the support and confidence I needed to pursue a graduate career”

“The Leadership Academy helped me to “keep on track” with both my studies and my future endeavours, by finding opportunities which I wouldn’t/couldn’t have found on my own”

If you would like to find out more, please pop down to the Students’ Union office or email sutraining@bnu.ac.uk and we'll be in contact with you to arrange a meeting or phone conversation.