Overview
The Scotland Food & Drink Emerging Leaders' Programme is a fully-funded development opportunity designed to build the confidence, capability and connections of future leaders across Scotland’s food and drink industry.
This opportunity is open exclusively to Scotland Food & Drink producer member businesses to help build a connected, commercially confident and forward-thinking network of emerging talent.
Our Ambition
By investing in emerging talent within our member producer businesses, we want to strengthen leadership capability, support business growth and create opportunities for the next generation to contribute to the future of Scotland's food and drink industry.
Timeline Overview:
- Applications Open: 3 November 2026
- Applications Close: 22 January 2027
- Judge Scoring: 25 – 29 January 2027
- Participants Notified: 1 February 2027
- 1:1 Sessions and Online Assessment: 1 Feb – 3 March 2027
- Scotland Food & Drink Industry Conference Panel Session: 3 March 2027
Applicants must be 35 or under on 3 March 2027.
Themes and Topics
Successful applicants will gain access to a wide range of engaging workshops, delivered both online and in person by leading experts and industry specialists, including The Knowledge Bank, Multiply, Laura Ogilvie-Jones, ONE SeedPod, Wallace Partnership, STRIQE and Derek Leslie.
Designed to equip emerging leaders with the knowledge, skills and confidence to grow, programme sessions cover a wide range of practical topics, including:
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Leadership & Personal Development – develop the skills and mindset to become a confident, effective leader.
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Business Growth & Strategy – identify opportunities, overcome challenges and unlock your personal and professional potential.
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Marketing Intelligence – gain valuable insights to make smarter, more informed marketing decisions.
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Know Your Customer – understand your target audience, their needs and what drives their purchasing decisions.
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Branding & Positioning – build a compelling brand that stands out in a competitive marketplace.
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Negotiation & Influencing – strengthen your negotiation skills and build more effective business relationships.
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Understanding the Buyer’s Mindset – get inside the buyer’s mind, understand how purchasing decisions are made and discover how to turn insights into sales opportunities.
In-person sessions have been designed to maximise collaboration and networking opportunities, and there will also be two immersive overnight residentials for participants.
What's more, each participant will be matched with an expert mentor to help guide their progress.
From February 2027 to February 2028, participants will take part in a range of themed workshops, sessions and residentials, equipping them with new skills, vital information, valuable data, and a strong network to help grow their career.
Workshop One – 1:1 Sessions and Online Assessment
Date: 1 February to 3 March 2027
Location: Online
Participants join facilitator Laura Ogilvy for 1:1 sessions and online assessment, including an Emotional Intelligence evaluation (individual and online).
Residential One – Me as a Leader
Date: Wednesday 24 and Thursday, 25 March 2027
Location: Dunkeld
The first overnight residential will include a welcome dinner, followed by a full-day session centred on identifying leadership styles.
Workshop Two – Commercial Awareness and Business Growth
Date: Thursday, 27 May 2027
Location: Edinburgh
A practical session exploring business growth and understanding the market.
Workshop Three – Market Intelligence: Inside Knowledge
Date: Thursday, 1 July 2027
Location: Edinburgh
Hosted by The Knowledge Bank, this beginner-friendly, practical session will develop participants’ confidence and skills in understanding, retail, foodservice and consumer markets.
Residential Two – Customers, Brand and Winning in the Market
Date: Wednesday 29 and Thursday, 30 September 2027
Location: Edinburgh
An overnight stay in the Capital, followed by an interactive workshop on the importance of brand building, getting to know your customer and getting inside the mind of buyers.
Workshop Four – Food and Drink Innovation, AI and What's Next
Date: Thursday, 4 November 2027
Location: Aberdeen
Facilitated by ONE SeedPod, participants will learn about innovation in the food and drink sector, and how to utilise AI within their business.
Workshop Five – Leading People: The Courage to Lead
Date: Wednesday, 20 January 2028
Location: Glasgow
Facilitator Laura Ogilvy returns to guide participants through the skills needed to lead a team.
Workshop Six – Interactive Review and Reflection
Date: Monday, 1 February 2028
Location: Edinburgh
During this half-day interactive session, attendees will review progress against their growth plans, reflect on how their leadership strengths and behaviours have developed, explore how they have applied their learning within their businesses, and set clear development priorities for the next 12 months. They will also prepare to articulate their leadership journey at the final showcase.
Final Industry Showcase and Celebration Dinner
Date: Thursday, 24 February 2028
Location: Edinburgh
Bringing the whole programme together, participants will celebrate their achievements and share what they have learned.