LeadershipAcademy
Three distinct pathways for young people ready to go further — an in-person intensive, an after-school programme, and a free foundation programme.
Most leadership programmes teach students what leadership is. EDGE develops how they show up when it matters.
EDGE: Mission
Ready for Life.
Inspired by elite leadership principles and adapted for young people, this structured multi-day intensive builds the confidence, composure and decision-making skills that schools don't teach, and life demands immediately.
It isn't classroom theory and it isn't a camp. Students rehearse real pressure in safe, structured conditions, making decisions, leading teams and owning the consequences, then receive expert coaching on how they actually showed up. For students aged 15 and above, Years 11 to 13 or Grades 10 to 12.
ILM Level 2 Recognised Certification
Greater confidence and composure in high-pressure situations
Sharper decision-making instincts — practised, not just taught
Structured, expert feedback on your leadership style
A personal action plan to take forward immediately
Stronger self-awareness and the language to articulate it
Reserve Your Seat
A 5-day premium experiential leadership academy for 15–18s. Scenario-based ops-room simulations and consequence-driven decisions, delivered by ex-Royal Marines, Sandhurst instructors and elite-sport instructors.
- Dates
- 12–16 October 2026
- Ages
- 15–18 (Years 11–13)
- Places
- 35 maximum
- Payment
- In full at booking
- Location
- GEMS Wellington Dubai Hills
What you walk away with
- The full 5-day academy
- Ops-room simulations
- Daily observation against 8 leadership attributes
- A live Day-5 command assessment
- A 30-day personal action plan
- Personalised instructor video feedback
Qualification gained
- ILM Level 2 (Young Leaders)
- ILM student membership
- A shareable digital credential, laddering toward Level 3 and UCAS points
Eight Core Modules
Every session is designed around what students leave with, not what they sit through: practical, facilitated, and grounded by tested real-world principles.
Self-awareness
Knowing your own behaviour and accepting feedback on it.
Composure
Staying steady, thinking clearly and acting well when pressure rises.
Judgement
Separating fact from assumption and weighing consequence before acting.
Communication
Briefing clearly, listening actively and checking understanding.
Agency
Owning decisions, standards and outcomes rather than waiting or blaming.
Team-ship
Leading and following in service of the team, whichever the moment needs.
Situational awareness
Noticing people, risk and environment before they become a problem.
Resilience
Recovering from mistakes, adapting and continuing.
How It Works
Designed around purposeful stretch, not stress. Every element is facilitated by world-leading experts and calibrated to the specific cohort and region.
- Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) student membership
- ILM Level 2 certificate for Young Leaders on successful completion
- Digital credential to share on professional platforms
Something here for every conversation.
“Ready for life beyond school.”
More than academic results — real-world skills that set your child apart from day one. Confidence, composure and the ability to act well under pressure.
Leadership, wellbeing & sixth-form readiness.
Structured, measurable outcomes that sit alongside your pastoral and enrichment programme. Easy to integrate, valuable to report.
Genuinely prepared for real life.
Practical and hands-on — built around the things that actually matter when you leave school. How you think. How you show up. How you lead.
“Leadership that performs under pressure.”
The same elite principles, delivered for professionals and teams, building the confidence, composure and decision-making that high-stakes roles demand.
Barclays LifeSkills
An accessible, foundational programme covering the life and work skills every young person needs: broad in scope, practical in delivery, and free to access for all students, teachers and parents.
No cost. No barriers. Students work through the programme at their own pace and receive a recognised accreditation on completion, supporting their school-leaver profiles, CVs and applications.
- Communication and workplace confidence
- Financial literacy and independent living skills
- CV writing, interview preparation and employer awareness
- Wellbeing, self-management and stress resilience
- Teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability
- Digital skills and professional online presence
- Goal-setting and personal accountability
Before you book.
Which pathway is right for us?
Three pathways, different depth and commitment. The 5-day intensive for the deepest, immersive stretch; the after-school programme for sustained development through the year; and Barclays LifeSkills, a free foundation course anyone can start.
Not sure? Register your interest and we'll help you choose.
What qualification do they earn, and does it count towards university?
On completion, participants gain ILM (Institute of Leadership & Management) student membership, an ILM Level 2 certificate for Young Leaders, and a digital credential to share on professional platforms, plus a personal action plan.
My teenager doesn't see themselves as a "leader". Is this still for them?
Yes, absolutely. This is about how you show up under pressure — composure, judgement, self-awareness — not being the loudest in the room. It is built for every person, and especially for those who don't yet see themselves as leaders.
Who leads it, and is it safe?
EDGE is an ILM-recognised provider. Sessions are led by expert practitioners from high-performing backgrounds, including elite sport and British military leadership.
Is the Barclays LifeSkills programme really free?
Yes. No cost, self-paced, with recognised accreditation on completion. See Barclays LifeSkills, or contact us at info@edgeventures.ae to speak to a member of the EDGE team if you want to know more.
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