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UK-Italy Young Leaders Programme

This UK-Italy programme brings together a group of professionals whose common link is their leadership and passion for forging closer UK and Italy ties.

Young Leaders Programme

This competition is now closed. All successful candidates have been notified.

Every year, the UK and Italian Government will hold an open competition to invite applications from young Italian and British professionals onto the programme. Young Leaders can come from all sectors, including positions in the civil service, the military, leading companies, politics, charitable organisations, start-ups or the arts. They are dedicated to encouraging closer relations between the UK and Italy by promoting an innovative vision of the future bilateral relationship.

Successful applicants are asked to sign the Young Leaders Charter (see attachment) and invited to undertake a visit to both the UK and Italy, to encourage closer relations through understanding culture and values, promoting constructive dialogue, exchanging thoughts and ideas and promoting the bilateral relationship.

Once the Young Leaders have completed their visits, they will be invited to join the “Young Leaders Alumni” network, which includes personalities from distinguished careers ranging from journalists, scientists, the military and academics to business entrepreneurs, writers, art directors and composers.

The UK-Italy Young Leaders Programme is an initiative supported by both governments, and is delivered by the British Embassy in Rome and the Italian Embassy in London.

Read the Young Leaders Charter

Young Leaders Charter

Download the YLP pamphlet with more information on the programme

UK-ITALY young leaders programme pamphlet

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Discover more about the 2024 young leaders (bios)

Young Leaders 2024 - bios

New list of young leaders for 2025 (bios)

Young Leaders 2025 - bios

Application process

How can I apply for the Young Leaders Programme?

To apply for the Programme, you must be a young professional under 40 years old (on the closing date for applications) who is a UK and/or Italian citizen. You must speak fluent English and demonstrate a commitment to build and shape UK-Italy bilateral relations.

See attachment above for list of successful candidates for 2025.

Updates to this page

Published 11 September 2024
Last updated 28 February 2025 show all updates
  1. New list of Young Leaders for 2025 - 28 February 2025

  2. Application process has been closed - updated 5 December 2024

  3. Updated deadline for applications: 15 October 2024

  4. First published.