Deadline: 28-Oct-2025
The Acumen Academy has launched its UK Acumen Fellowship Programme to bring together a cohort of extraordinary individuals with an entrepreneurial mindset and a commitment to solving problems of poverty across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Fellowship aims to nurture leaders who give people living in poverty the dignity of choice—through jobs, education, products, and services. Participants who complete the program become part of a lifelong network that continues to grow leaders capable of reshaping systems, organisations, and societies.
The program curriculum includes Polarity Management, Good Society Readings, Adaptive Leadership, and Authentic Voice. These components help participants operate in a world of opposing views, explore moral and historical foundations of social change, understand stakeholders and navigate uncertainty, and tell stories that inspire action.
Fellows remain in their jobs and participate in an eight-month hybrid program consisting of virtual sessions, in-person immersives, and self-paced learning. The structure includes three four-day full-time in-person immersives held at different locations in the UK and two five-week-long virtual workshop series that combine self-paced learning, facilitated sessions, and group calls.
The Fellowship covers program-related expenses during the Fellowship year, including accommodation, food, and venue costs for residentials. Participants are expected to cover their transport costs, with provisions available for reimbursement where necessary.
Eligible applicants are social entrepreneurs or senior decision-makers solving problems of poverty, such as Founders, CEOs, and senior leaders with at least five years of work experience. They must work with an organisation or initiative that has a clear track record of social impact and an established legal entity. Fellows may come from for-profit, non-profit, hybrid social enterprises, or serve as social intrapreneurs within corporate or government sectors. The program seeks individuals who demonstrate a track record in solving problems of poverty, possess a growth mindset, and exhibit Fellowship readiness.
Beyond eligibility, they look for individuals deeply embedded in their communities who are already leading or building impactful organisations and initiatives. Applicants should show purpose alignment, self-awareness, persistence, and the ability to learn from their experiences. Fellows are expected to engage in a cohort environment that values diverse identities, beliefs, and experiences while reflecting on their values and actions.
As part of the application process, candidates are required to submit a C.V., résumé, or any equivalent document that includes highlights of their work experience demonstrating the roles they have taken on, the work they have done, and what they have learned from it. It should also include highlights of other relevant experiences such as academic qualifications and volunteering that add to the story of their work and growth over time.
Applicants may upload a .doc, .docx, .pdf, or .rtf file with a maximum size of 5MB, limited to 1–2 single-sided pages. Documents longer than two pages will not be considered. Alternatively, applicants may share a written summary as part of the form, limited to 500 words, in either bullet points or paragraphs as per their preference.
The deadline for applications is 28 October 2025.
For more information, visit Acumen Academy.
