Scale-up Leaders' Academy

Since 2017, our Scale-up Leaders' Academy (SULA) has been empowering leaders to achieve their growth ambitions. Recognised as a ‘One to Watch’ programme by the ScaleUp Institute, SULA stands as a benchmark for impactful scale-up support.

Our next cohort launches January 2026, secure your place on our flagship six month leadership programme today!

Want to Learn More? Join an Upcoming Taster Session

• 14th October, 9.30am - 11am, Middlesbrough
• 15th October, 11am - 12noon, Online
• 21st October, 11.30am - 1pm, Darlington

• 22nd October, 10.30am - 12noon, Gateshead
• 23rd October, 1pm - 2pm, Online

Who Is SULA For?

Founders who have achieved initial success and want to step up to the next level
Founders who can't find the time to work on the important tasks, despite best intentions
Founders with a growth mindset
Founders who want to learn from those who've actually done it (it's not just theory with us)
Those open to contributing within a like-minded peer cohort
Those willing to invest in their own self development
Those with three+ direct reports

Who's It NOT For?

Founders who've already scaled to a level they are happy with
Those who like academic led courses
Founders with a closed mindset
Those who would prefer 1-1 coaching
Those with a desire to scale, but existing order book is enough for the foreseeable future
Those with teams < 10 people and no plans to expand

Why?

Most SMEs fail to scale
Most founders get caught in the reactive trap, chasing revenue and fighting fires
Most founders don't give themselves the space they need to break free from the busy-ness that's holding then back

Alumni Stories

Ben Tansey,
Reheat

"Our turnover has doubled – the Academy put us on the right track in terms of thinking about the business holistically."

Read Case Study

Samantha Vassallo, Horizon Works

"I now have a refreshed approach to help me drive the business forward thanks to the Scale-up Leaders' Academy."

Read Case Study

Key Programme Features

Group scale up coaching for the founder AND their leadership team
Focus your strategy into an achievable one page plan
Your team learn alongside the founder
Turn your BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) into a plan
Learn from our entrepreneurs in residence
Get a free ticket to our Spring Conference
Accredited by the ScaleUp Institute as a 'One to Watch' programme

What's New for 2026

Your senior leadership team are now encouraged to attend the coaching sessions meaning it will be quicker to embed the learning into your business.
Entrepreneurs in residence have been appointed who will be your mentors and ensure you can see the practical application to the learning.

Alumni

Raman Seghal (ramarketing), Jo Feeley (Trend Bible), Richard Lane (durhamlane), Ralph Thompson (Siilvermoor), Dominic Lusardi (Annimerson), Gill Burgess (R/evolution), Lisa Easton (Fabric), Alex Ingham (MI Suppliers), Steven Rawlingson (Samuel Knight International), David Park (Park Commercial Insurance), Louis Freeman (Jump 360), Sam Read (APM), Ben Tansey (Re:heat), Alisdair Beveridge (The Build Directory), Claire Rutherford (Definition IP), Chloe Clover (Wander Films), Emma Gaudern (EMG Solicitors), Joel Marks (Cheviot Insured), David Porter (Surge Marketing), Jon Dudgeon (Blu Sky), Charlotte Nichols (Harvey & Hugo), Sam Spoors (Talentheads), Louise Kennedy (Oculus HR), Chris Carroll (Resolve), Andrew Greenwell (NB&MS), Ellen Hedley (Viva Creative), Danny Wade (Wade Construction Management), Jessica Williams (Just Williams)... and more!

Impact

After the course, cohort members grew their teams by an average of 117%, raised a total of £7 million in investment, and celebrated three successful business exits.

Course Dates

Our next cohort starts January 2026 and runs over six months, finishing June 2026.

Course Fee

Our Scale-up Leaders' Academy costs £4,000 + VAT. Partial funding up to 50% may be available depending on the location of your business.

To secure your spot on our 2026 cohort, apply using the form below. Have any questions? Please send them to michael@entrepreneursforum.net or call 0191 500 7780.

Apply

“SULA came along at just the right time for me and has really opened my eyes. Not only has it introduced me to a lot of brilliant people I now regard as friends, but it also helped me to realise that lots of entrepreneurs are going through very similar challenges to me and I’m not on my own.”

Raman Sehgal, ramarketing