Cohort Five – Coming Soon!

Redefine what’s possible alongside your peers

Climb brings future leaders together for a 10-month programme. This course will connect you with a new network of change-makers all looking to confront our greatest societal challenges. It is lead and delivered by world-leading researchers, professors and experts at the forefront of change.

Create the possible alongside your peers

Climb brings future leaders across Wales together for a 10-month programme. This course energises multigenerational networks, confronts our greatest societal challenges, and provides access to researchers, professors and leaders at the forefront of change.

“We need a revolution in leadership; not another reorganisation but a revolution. Climb is developing the revolutionaries.”

Professor Sir Muir Gray, Founder of the National Library for Health and inaugural Chief Knowledge Officer of the NHS

What to expect

This is a highly select programme with a very limited number of places. We choose candidates who show aptitude in the following areas:

  • Emotional intelligence
  • Courageous and compassionate leadership
  • Hunger for innovation
  • Tolerance for ambiguity
  • Entrepreneurial mindset
  • Cognitive flexibility

If you are accepted, the course will hone these competencies in you so you can walk into the fire, navigate disruptive change, and achieve the extraordinary. You’ll also become part of a community of like-minded leaders supporting you to make an impact on the landscape.

Completion of the Climb can count towards a Post-graduate Certificate in Advanced Management (Applied Innovation) at Swansea University.

What to expect climb
What to expect climb
Requirements to apply
Requirements to apply

Requirements to apply

All applicants will need to ensure they receive the support of their organisations in a variety of ways, including the provision of study leave, travel and accommodation expenses, and opportunities to implement their learning in the workplace (alternatively you may wish to explore sponsorship or self-fund). 

Climb is a truly inclusive course and there are no conditions to entry other than the qualities mentioned above. This means that no prior management or leadership experience, or minimum grade/salary is required.

When applications open, you can apply to join the Climb programme in its fifth year by submitting a short video about yourself, why you want to join Climb and what you believe are the greatest challenges facing the public sector.

If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be invited to an assessment day in either North Wales, West Wales or South-East Wales. Following this, a final cohort of 30 delegates will be selected to join the programme.

Should you be successful, you’ll be invited to attend the graduation event for the previous cohort, or Summit, taking place on the 24th June 2025.

The programme will commence in full in September 2025 and comprise around 16 full days of study plus coaching sessions with the Climb faculty and a series of guest speaker sessions throughout the year.

If, for any reason, you cannot complete the video submission to start your application, please contact us.

“I no longer feel disillusioned. I feel hope. I feel like we are starting something with Climb that we can use to make things better.”

Dr Mark Knights

Meet your teachers

At Climb, we pride ourselves on our world-leading teachers. The profiles on our website offer a glimpse into the exceptional educators who have contributed to our program so far. As we continuously refine and enhance our curriculum, we introduce new and exciting teachers each year, ensuring that you benefit from the latest insights and expertise in the field.

Hahrie Han - DHI

Hahrie Han

Director of the SNF Agora Institute and Professor of Political Science at Johns Hopkins University

Muir Gray - DHI

Professor Sir Muir Gray

Honorary Clinical Researcher at the University of Oxford’s Centre for Evidence-based Medicine

Mark Prain - DHI

Mark Prain

Founding Director of the Hillary Institute of International Leadership

What you will learn

Discover your unique leadership style and how you relate to the world and those around you.

Learn to strategise and think systemically, understanding the power of belonging.

Develop new tools and skills to make change by inspiring and mobilising others to your cause.

Uncover new strengths and push beyond your comfort zone through challenge-based learning.

Gain a supportive network of friends and peers who share your journey, every step of the way.


Programme dates

The dates for Climb Cohort 4 have been scheduled as follows. Dates for Climb Cohort 5 will be announced shortly.

  • 2024
    • 9 September – Virtual Introduction Meeting
    • 8 -10 October In- person residential and orientation session
    • 3 – 4 December – virtual 2-day learning session
  • 2025
    • 28 – 29 January – In-person 2-day learning session
    • 3 – 4 February – West Wales 1:1 coaching sessions
    • 5 – 6 February – North Wales 1:1 coaching sessions
    • 10 – 12 February – Cardiff 1:1 coaching sessions
    • 24 – 25 March – Virtual 2-day learning session
    • 28 – 30 April – In-person 2-day learning session
    • 8 May – In-person short learning session
    • 9 May – Submission deadline for coursework
    • 3-5 June 2025 – In-person 3-day immersive residential session
    • 24 June 2025: Climb Cohort 4 Summit

“Climb was the moment that things changed for me… it is like no other leadership programme. This network has become the necessary scaffolding that I needed.”

Anita Pierce, Deputy Medical Director MHLD and Consultant Psychiatrist

Programme fees

Individuals who work in health and publicly-funded social care in Wales will have their course fees covered in full by a bursary provided by the Welsh Government’s Intensive Learning Academy programme.

The fee for candidates from outside of health and care in Wales is £4,950.

All applicants will need to ensure they receive the support of their organisations in a variety of ways, including the provision of study leave, travel and accommodation expenses, and opportunities to implement their learning in the workplace (alternatively you may wish to explore sponsorship or self-fund). 

Applications for Cohort 5 are coming soon.

Sign up to gain ongoing access to leading resources, development opportunities and, above all, the extraordinary people who make up our network.

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