The MCS Foundation has funded the Future Leaders Programme to help develop the next generation of leaders working across the renewable energy and retrofit sectors.  

Funding from the MCS Foundation has enabled emerging leaders from organisations including Aira, E3G, Nesta, HPA UK, ScottishPower and De Montfort University to access the programme. The Future Leaders Programme combines leadership training, mentoring, peer learning and practical project work to build the skills and confidence needed to drive change across the sector.  

Participants have completed four online learning modules, a three-day residential programme and a six-month project phase supported by mentoring. Working in small cohorts, they explored leadership, communication, collaboration and systems thinking, while developing practical skills that could be applied directly in their roles.  

Participants reported increased confidence, improved communication and leadership skills, and the ability to apply their learning in their professional work. They also highlighted greater confidence in stakeholder engagement, stronger strategic thinking, enhanced collaboration skills and a deeper understanding of leadership as a practice rather than a position.  

As part of the programme, participants also worked together on projects addressing challenges facing the renewable energy sector, including mentoring initiatives, community climate action concepts and approaches to improving quality management across the industry.  

The MCS Foundation’s support has enabled talented individuals from across the sector to access high-quality leadership development and strengthen the future leadership pipeline needed to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future.  

One participant, Olutayo, joined the programme from a research background in environmental resilience, initially unsure how his experience would fit within a cohort largely focused on renewable energy and retrofit. At the outset, he reflected: “I actually wondered if I really belonged in that room.” 

 Through participation in group discussions, practical activities, and collaborative learning, he began to recognise the value of diverse perspectives in addressing complex sustainability challenges. Over time, his confidence grew significantly, particularly in contributing to multidisciplinary conversations. The programme also helped him reframe his understanding of leadership, recognising that it is not solely about technical expertise or authority, but about facilitating collaboration and bringing different viewpoints together.