Programmes
Aspiring Leaders Programme
Applications are now open, and will close on the 11th October 2026.
Our Programmes
Inspiring the upcoming generation of change-makers.
A 1-week intensive programme that will run during the October Half Term (Monday 26th – Friday 30th October 2026) designed to empower students personally, academically, and professionally. Through group coaching sessions, one-on-one mentoring with professionals, interactive assignments students will be given the tools they need to develop core employability skills such as financial literacy, entrepreneurship, communication and much more!
In Partnership with
In Partnership with
Value Offering
Enhance Your Professional Experience and Personal Growth
In today’s world, employers highly appreciate students who display initiative and present themselves as well-rounded candidates. Our programme offers an excellent opportunity to showcase these qualities. The curriculum we’ve meticulously crafted is tailored to help you cultivate essential employability skills that will greatly benefit you in the professional arena. Simultaneously, it equips you with the tools necessary for personal growth and fosters independence, making you a standout candidate in the eyes of potential employers.
What to expect
Skills to lead your future
- Stream-Specific Learning: Choose the Business Professional stream or the Effective Growth stream, and go deep into the topics that matter most to where you are heading.
- Everyday Leadership: Learn what leadership actually looks like day to day, from taking initiative and setting goals to handling setbacks and bringing others with you.
- Employability Skills: Build the practical skills that open doors, including communication, networking, personal branding, interview technique, and how to deliver an elevator pitch with confidence.
- Career Awareness & Mentorship: Get a clearer picture of the paths available to you through live coaching and one-to-one conversations with a professional working in a field you care about.
Live Coaching Sessions
Four two-hour live sessions delivered by industry coaches across the October half term, each followed by a task and quiz to consolidate what you have learned.
1:1 Mentorship
Get matched with a professional mentor and take part in three one-to-one sessions between November and December, exploring their career journey and your own questions.
A Cohort Community
Join a dedicated group alongside your fellow students, coaches, and mentors, where you can ask questions, share ideas, and build connections that last beyond the programme.
Graduation & Awards
Finish the week with a live graduation ceremony celebrating what you have achieved, with awards recognising standout contributions across both streams.
Apply Now!
How the Programme Works
What could one week change? For 80 students, the Aspiring Leaders Programme is a week of live coaching with people who have built the careers you are curious about, followed by months of one-to-one mentorship. Places are limited across both streams and applications are competitive, so don’t leave yours until the last minute.
Application process
Our four-stage process is designed to make sure every selected participant is ready, supported, and able to make the most of the programme.
Stage 1
Submit Your Application
Read the programme guide carefully, choose the stream that suits you best, then complete and submit your application form before the deadline. Take your time over the written questions and let your motivation come through in your own words.
Stage 2
Application Review
Once applications close, every submission is reviewed against our published review framework. We assess each application holistically, looking at motivation, curiosity, and potential rather than polished writing alone.
Stage 3
Parental Consent
Where consent is required, we will contact your parent or guardian with a short form to complete. Returning this form by the deadline is a mandatory part of the process, so please let your parent or guardian know to expect it.
Stage 4
Confirmation & Commitment Call
Successful applicants receive their offer by email, along with everything needed to prepare. We then arrange a short call with you and your parent or guardian to run through the programme commitments together before the first session.
Application criteria
To apply and benefit fully from this opportunity, please make sure you meet the following criteria before submitting your application.
Who should apply
- Be between 14 and 18 years old at the time of the programme
- Be able to attend live online sessions from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026, 12pm to 2pm each day
- Have access to a computer or tablet and a reliable internet connection
- Be motivated and eager to learn, with a genuine interest in developing your leadership and employability skills
- Be willing to commit to three mentoring sessions between 2 November and 18 December 2026
- Be able to provide parental or guardian consent where this is requested during the application process
Programme agenda
One week, two streams. Choose the stream that fits where you are heading, then come together with the full cohort for Communication and Graduation.
Induction
Before 26 Oct 2026
Financial Literacy
26 Oct 2026
LIVE 12pm to 2pm
S.M.A.R.T Goals
26 Oct 2026
LIVE 12pm to 2pm
Personal Branding
27 Oct 2026
LIVE 12pm to 2pm
Productivity
27 Oct 2026
LIVE 12pm to 2pm
Entrepreneurship
28 Oct 2026
LIVE 12pm to 2pm
Wellbeing
28 Oct 2026
LIVE 12pm to 2pm
Communication
29 Oct 2026
LIVE 12pm to 2pm
Graduation
30 Oct 2026
LIVE 12pm to 2pm
Frequently asked questions
Have questions about the Aspiring Leaders Programme? We've got you covered.
ALP is open to students aged 14 to 18 who want to build their leadership, employability, and personal development skills. You do not need prior experience, a leadership title, or a perfect set of grades, and you do not need to have your future mapped out. We are looking for curious, motivated students who are ready to engage. Previous ALP participants are welcome to apply again.
No, the programme is completely free for all selected students. All sessions, materials, and mentoring are provided at no cost to you or your family.
ALP is fully virtual, so you can take part from anywhere with a computer or tablet, a reliable internet connection, and somewhere you can join the live sessions each day. Bring a notebook, a pen, and an open mind. We send a short joining guide to all confirmed participants ahead of the first session.
The coaching week runs from Monday 26 to Thursday 29 October 2026, with a graduation ceremony on Friday 30 October. Each day includes a two-hour live session from 12pm to 2pm, followed by a short task and quiz. Mentoring then continues beyond the week: you will be matched with a professional mentor through Mentornity, our mentoring platform, for three one-to-one sessions between 2 November and 18 December 2026, where you can explore their career journey, ask the questions you have, and think through your own next steps.
The Business Professional stream covers Financial Literacy, Personal Branding, Entrepreneurship, and Communication. The Effective Growth stream covers S.M.A.R.T Goals, Productivity, Wellbeing, and Communication. You apply to the stream you are most drawn to, and both streams come together for the Communication module and graduation.
Applications are reviewed against a published framework covering spelling and grammar, research, clarity of communication, growth mindset, motivation, aspiration, and personal initiative. We assess holistically and prioritise motivation, curiosity, and potential over polished writing. Up to 80 top-scoring students are selected across both streams. Once applications close, our team reviews every submission and notifies all applicants of the outcome by email, with successful applicants receiving everything they need to prepare, including their stream and joining details.
In some cases, yes. Where consent is required, we will email a short form to your parent or guardian during the review process, and it must be returned by the deadline given. Please make sure the contact details you provide for them are correct.
Absolutely! ALP is just the beginning. Participants are encouraged to stay engaged with the Doceo community through our events, programmes, workshops, and online platforms. We provide ongoing opportunities for learning, networking, and career development, ensuring continued support long after the programme ends.
