The Scale-up Leaders’ Academy (SULA), delivered by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, has been recently promoted from the ScaleUp Institute’s “One to Watch” list to a fully endorsed programme, recognised for its excellence in developing scaling leaders across the North East. Since its inception in 2017, SULA has been dedicated to closing the leadership gap for scaleup founders, helping them strengthen strategic capacity, build growth-focused teams, and connect within a vibrant peer network.

Born out of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum’s participation in the ScaleUp Institute’s Driving Local Economic Growth through Scaleup Ecosystems course, SULA continues to be the North East’s only leadership development initiative exclusively designed for ambitious entrepreneurs. It has now supported over 70 business leaders, whose companies collectively employ more than 2,000 people and contribute substantially to regional growth and innovation.

Delivered in six-month cohorts, the programme combines peer group coaching, expert-led workshops, and strategic planning sessions grounded in Verne Harnish’s scaling methodology. Participants work intensively on the core principles of People, Strategy, Execution, and Cash, culminating in the creation of a one-page strategic growth plan. Alongside this, business leaders and their senior teams engage in four targeted workshops on team effectiveness, core values, sales excellence, and strategic planning, each designed to enhance cohesion and long-term impact.

In 2025, SULA strengthened its offering through new alumni fireside chats and dedicated alumni workshops revisiting key topics such as people, strategy, and execution. These sessions provide real-world perspectives on how learning translates into measurable business outcomes, while new social and networking opportunities further deepen peer-to-peer connections. The Entrepreneurs’ Forum also facilitates mentoring and tailored introductions through its 350-strong founder network, ensuring ongoing access to inspiration, expertise, and collaboration.

By bringing together founders, senior teams, and alumni in an environment of trust and challenge, the Scale-up Leaders’ Academy is embedding a culture of lifelong learning and scaleup ambition across the North East, supporting the ScaleUp Institute’s mission to unlock the UK’s growth potential.

The programme’s measurable outcomes underscore its transformational effect. Across all cohorts, participants have experienced an average 400% increase in net assets, 21% annual employment growth, and an average immediate turnover uplift of 10.9% six months after the start of the programme. Many have gone on to raise investment, secure international expansion, and achieve successful exits. This year’s alumni examples include founders who have scaled internationally, introduced new products, and doubled their headcount within two years.

SULA’s impact is evident not only in business performance but in leadership confidence. Every member of the 2025 cohort reported improved leadership capability, decision-making, and clarity of purpose. With net promoter scores consistently above 9/10, the Academy remains one of the highest-rated leadership interventions in the region.

“We’ve doubled the size of our team, restructured, and are already seeing the results. We are more profitable and are on track to achieve our goals this year.” – Jessica Williams, Founder, Just Williams

“As a business, we’ve really found our niche and our team has worked super hard to drive year-on-year growth of 70%, which is phenomenal. SULA came along at just the right time… before relocating to Boston to establish the company’s first international office.” – Raman Sehgal, Founder, Ramarketing

Entrepreneurs’ Forum: Scale-up Leaders’ Academy website