The Scholars’ Programme

A three-year fellowship for leaders who want to lead with Excellence.

The Scholars’ Programme is the heart of Twelve Scholars Institute — a rigorous, handcrafted development experience for leaders who expect more of themselves. Across three years, you will refine who you are, how you lead, and the impact you create in the world around you.

This is not a course. It is a commitment to becoming a leader of depth, character, and Excellence.

Apply via Admissions

Introduction

A pathway to mastery — delivered in three distinct stages.

Leadership is a craft. It cannot be rushed, downloaded, or reduced to tactics. It requires discipline, reflection, conversation, and real-world application.

The Scholars’ Programme is designed around that truth.

Each stage builds upon the last, bringing structure and depth to how you think, act, and lead — guided by our EGSP® Leadership Model and supported by coaching, community, and real-world practice.

The 3-Year Structure

The programme is built around three stages of leadership:

1. Essential Scholar — Leading Yourself
Year One

Excellence begins within.

You will examine who you are as a leader, clarify your principles, and build the habits that underpin sustainable Excellence.

You will:

  • Establish your leadership philosophy.

  • Strengthen decision-making and discipline.

  • Develop self-awareness and personal clarity.

  • Understand the EGSP® Leadership Model and how to apply it.

  • Produce meaningful progress in your real-world project.

This is the year where most leaders experience their first meaningful shift.

2. Applied Scholar — Leading Teams
Year Two

Excellence now extends beyond the self.

This year deepens your ability to set direction, influence culture, align people, and deliver results through others.

You will:

  • Apply the EGSP® Leadership Model in team environments.

  • Strengthen communication, alignment, and accountability.

  • Build trust and collaboration.

  • Lead multiple projects with measurable outcomes.

  • Practice the habits of a high-performing team leader.

This is where leaders begin shaping the world around them.

3. Master Scholar — Leading Organisations
Year Three

The final stage: Excellence at organisational scale.

You will learn how to shape culture, shift systems, and advance your organisation.

You will:

  • Work with senior leaders and organisational systems.

  • Understand how culture is built, lived, and reinforced.

  • Lead change with integrity and clarity.

  • Develop strategies rooted in purpose and principle.

  • Create lasting organisational impact through Excellence.

This year prepares leaders to influence organisations from the inside — not through power, but through presence, clarity, and character.

Programme Design

Built for depth, not speed.

Each year blends immersive learning with real-world practice so leadership becomes something you do, not something you study.

Each year combines:

  • Small, handcrafted cohorts of twelve leaders.

  • Guidance, challenge, and support throughout the year.

  • Apply your learning immediately in your context.

  • Revisit tools, sharpen behaviours, deepen Excellence.

  • Your personal tool for orientation, clarity, and choice.

  • Sustained development—far beyond the classroom.

What you can expect

  • 1, Welcome pack with personal introduction

  • 2, Individual and cohort onboarding

  • 3, Lifetime access to Learning Platform

  • 4, Limited edition 176-page Leadership Playbook

  • 5, A precision engineered EGSP® Leadership Compass

The Scholars’ Experience

Small cohorts. Serious work. Meaningful progress.

  • Maximum twelve scholars per cohort.

  • Three in-person sessions per year.

  • Monthly coaching and applied learning.

  • Real-world projects that generate tangible results.

  • Access to the EGSP® Leadership Compass.

  • A cohort of leaders who challenge, support, and strengthen you.

  • Twelve months of support each year.

This is leadership development the way it should be — personal, demanding, transformative.

Our core sessions take place in Manchester city centre.

Who This Is For

Leaders who want more — of themselves and for their work.

The Scholars’ Programme is designed for individuals who:

  • Are already contributing at a high level.

  • Want to deepen their character and effectiveness.

  • Seek a meaningful alternative to a traditional MBA.

  • Prefer small cohorts and handcrafted learning.

  • Value Excellence, discipline, and purpose in their leadership.

If you want to become the kind of leader others trust, follow, and remember — this is for you.

A serious Alternative to an MBA

The Scholars’ Programme represents three years of:

  • Personal transformation

  • Applied leadership practice

  • Real-world project work

  • Coaching and advisory

  • Culture and behavioural depth

  • Study grounded in EGSP® Leadership Model.

It is a serious, respected alternative to traditional leadership education—designed for leaders who prefer depth, craft, and practice.

Call to action

If you want to pursue Excellence—within yourself, your team, and your organisation—we’d be delighted to start a conversation.

Admissions
Enquire

FAQs

Further detailed information—just in case.

1, I’m not a leader, is it for me?

We believe everyone is a leader—if they choose. Leadership is about stepping up and wanting to make a difference. You’ll soon discover that leadership is required at every level—at work and at home.

2, When will I receive access to the course?

You’ll get instant access to the learning platform. And you can start the course immediately. The Leadership Playbook and Leadership Compass will take a few days—they will be sent via recorded post. Put down your device, switch off for a moment, and focus on the important things. The course curriculum is also presented as a beautifully bound set of notes.

3, How long do I have access to the course?

The Learning Platform is the course curriculum at your fingertips. Lessons filmed as bite-sized tutorials. Over 12 hours of content. (Yes, we’ve gone to town on this course!). You’ll have 12 months anytime access to the learning platform. his allows plenty of time to digest the content. Of course, the Leadership Playbook and Leadership Compass are yours for life!

4, When will I meet the coach?

THE ESSENTIAL SCHOLAR has been written, designed and ‘perfected’ by Bob Buckley. With 25 years’ experience in front line operations, project management and leading corporate turnarounds, Bob’s specialist subject is Leadership Behaviour Design.

Our aim is to schedule a 30-minute onboarding call with Bob Buckley within your first 12 days (or most convenient to you). From experience, this is an essential step to the onboarding process. An opportunity to ask questions, get to know your coach. We get a better understanding your needs, and you get an enhanced level of support.

5, Is the course accredited?

Yes. Dust down the mantle. Make space on your desk. Successful scholars will be awarded a rather special certificate. Accredited and awarded by Twelve Scholars, add ‘certified scholar’ to your resume. A clear signal that you’ve developed the necessary skills to make Excellence the mission.

Note 1—We do not seek ILM accreditation or wish to become a CIPD approved course provider. However, for CPD purposes, the course is equivalent to 60 hours of study (roughly 4 hours per week).

Note 2—Our vision is for The Essential Scholar to become a globally-recognised leadership development programme.

6, What’s the assessment criteria?

Demonstrate an ability to make step change improvement—to you, your team or your organisation. Evidence learning across each of the 7 chapters, by delivering a personal project. Showcase your skills as a highly effective leader.

7, Did you say project?

Yes. The Essential Scholar has been designed to help you move up a gear. Put things into practice. Focus the mind. Gain support and encouragement. Often, the best way to learn is by doing. And so we’re here to help you deliver a mini-project—one that’s meaningful to you.

8, How long does the course take to complete?

Work at your own pace or follow a recommended timetable (12 days/weeks/months). We recommend you spend 4 hours a week invested in the programme (that’s half an hour a day). If you follow through on all the actions, it will take 12 weeks as a guide. Depended on your personal circumstances and level of commitment, it may take you longer—or shorter.

9, What does the cost include?

The cost of The Essential Scholar leadership development programme includes:

  • 12 months access to the Learning Platform.

  • 1x first edition Leadership Playbook.

  • 1x unique Leadership Compass.

  • 30-minute onboarding call.

  • 12 months email support covering any aspect of the course content.

  • Bonus leadership guides (PDFs to download).

Total investment (GBP) = £TBC inc VAT

Includes postage and packaging to anywhere in the world.

10, What does the ‘special offer’ include?

For early scholars, those willing to place their trust in Twelve Scholars, you will also receive:

  • 60-minute coaching call within your first 12 weeks.

  • Priority email support throughout the programme.

  • Lifetime access to the Learning Platform.

  • All future online updates, templates and bonus tutorials.

  • A second edition of the Leadership Playbook with minor edits and revisions complete. (Bonus points if you can spot any errors in the first edition!)

  • An opportunity to provide valuable feedback and shape the direction of the programme. For example, we are keen to start a community of scholars via a monthly mastermind. You would be amongst the first to join this exclusive group of like-minded leaders.

Note — This is a limited time offer with a limited number of places available.

11, Do you offer additional coaching, workshops or consultancy support?

Yes. Please contact us to discuss your enquiry or request a quote.

12, Do you offer instalments?

Yes. We operate a pay-as-you-go structure. It’s a novel idea. You pay upfront for The Essential Scholar, then if needed, you pay for additional coaching and support as required. This allows you to create a tailored experience whilst controlling your costs. This structure helps to reduce your upfront course fees and spread the cost of payment.

13, Do you offer discounts?

Yes. We offer a small discount if multiple people (10+ for example) are ordering at once, within a company. Please contact us to discuss your enquiry or request a quote.

14, Is there a refund policy? A money-back guarantee?

Yes. Advance your leadership skills within 90 days—or your money back guarantee. It’s a pretty bold statement. Seriously, if you haven’t seen improvement in your leadership skills in the first 12 weeks, then we’ll offer a full refund. All we ask is that you agree to an exit phone call with Bob Buckley. Our aim is to make the course the best it can be. We all have blind spots and we may have missed something. No hard sell. We just want to learn and improve.

15, What about international sales, beyond the UK?

That’d be amazing! The Essential Scholar has already been received in US, Canada, Australia and Hong Kong. You’ll receive the Leadership Playbook and Leadership Compass tracked to your door via international mail. Of course, the Learning Platform is accessible no matter where you live!

16, Is there a freemium model or a taster course?

We have a demo page that you can visit. There’s also plenty of short videos available our YouTube channel.

17, What are the bonus leadership guides?

It can be both exciting and daunting when a leader starts a new position. Whether it’s you or a member of your team, it’s important that you have a plan. When you join Twelve Scholars, you’ll receive three bonus guides with your Leadership Playbook. Your first 12 days as a leader. Your first 12 weeks as a leader. Your first 12 months as a leader. Each guide includes the 12 most relevant lessons (from 84 lessons available) that a new leader needs to know and do when starting out. In essence, they are a quick start guide to modern leadership.

18, Why do I need the playbook?

Good question. We’re convinced that print encourages you to put down your device, switch off for a moment, and focus on the important things. Whilst the learning platform is organised seamlessly with video tutorials and online content. The playbook is different. It’s a valuable resource that you’ll go back to time and time again. A place to capture your thoughts and a catalyst for action. It brings the online course to the physical world—something that you’ll appreciate when you receive your copy.

FYI. The playbook is lithographic printed on wood-free uncoated paper. Cover (300gsm), inner pagers (110gsm). Paper sourced from FSC approved forests. Product dimensions: 240mm x 170mm x 14mm. 176 pages.

19, What’s with the wooden block?

Good question. That little wooden block is central to your learning. Each chapter references the Leadership Compass in a very specific way. It’s been designed to illustrate key learning points, improve decision making and demonstrate step change improvement. It’ll help you set standards, raise performance, and—make Excellence the mission. (Did I mention the superior communication skills that will result?) Interestingly, many scholars comment that their Leadership Compass works very well as a stress reliever. Who knew!

Made from maple. Hand finished by Twelve Scholars. You will receive a unique wooden block. Designed to reinforce the 7 essential skills in a very specific way. The Leadership Compass will be central to your leadership journey.

FYI. We source our maple wood from sustainable forests in Germany. Designed in house by Twelve Scholars. Precision-engineered in Macclesfield. You’ll find plenty more behind the scenes info and footage over on our YouTube channel.

20, What’s so special about the bee?

Excellent question—that’s our friend the Scholar Bee.
And he/she/they derive from a maple tree.

Now imagine this little scholar bee as your future self.
He/she/they are the leader you want to be—deserve to be.

Someone who can make a dent.
Someone who can deal with poor performance.
Someone who can combat perfection paralysis.
Someone who can reset expectations.
Someone who can measure performance.
Someone who can avoid setbacks.
Someone who can lead with Excellence.

This little scholar bee is your opportunity to make a difference.
And with a little guidance and support, you too can become a highly effective leader.