We want to foster collaborative connections between counterparts in Ukraine and the United Kingdom. By developing and sharing expertise together, we can help ensure Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery is sustainable, fair and inclusive.
February 2025: Digitilisation & Leadership
In 2025, we partnered with the Scottish government on our Ukraine reconstruction and recovery leadership programme. The programme brought together experts who work in digitalisation, innovations and private sector development. We selected five exceptional Ukrainian leaders, aged 25-40 for an intensive week of exchange, leadership development, and bilateral collaboration.
The programme included workshops in leadership and communication skills, roundtable discussions with Scotland’s leading policy-analysts and policy-makers, meetings with Scottish counterparts, a visit to Scottish Parliament, discussions with parliamentarians, and two public events dedicated to mark the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine,
The participants had the opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience related to their professional sectors with Scottish counterparts. Scottish counterparts presented best practices in inspiration and people empowerment, participatory citizen engagement and building a state with a strong focus on people, supporting civil society and interest in developing collaborative leadership, using modern technologies and opportunities.
Apply for this years’ Ukraine Recovery & Reconstruction Fellowship Programme
Women’s Leadership Programme June 2024
The John Smith Trust in partnership with The Business School, University of Edinburgh brought together 20 Ukrainian women living in Scotland and England, displaced by the war, who aim to return back to Ukraine to their home communities and help rebuild their country, equipped with the best practices and knowledge from the UK counterparts.
Participants engaged in panel discussions and workshops, observed the First Minister’s Question Time, visited the Scottish Parliament, and had meetings with First Minister of Scotland John Swinney and Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville. Key contributors to the programme included Jenny Britton, Director of Executive Development at the Edinburgh Business School, Professor Christ Carter, Chair of Strategy and Organisation, University of Edinburgh Business School and Professor Joanne Murphy, Chair of Inclusive Leadership, University of Birmingham Business School.
“Most of the participants are experienced leaders of their fields in Ukraine, now they found themselves in completely new circumstances. It is important to help participants understand a different approach to work, to decision-making and a different mentality, to understand how to work in this different system.”
“The programme has been a transformative experience, equipping me with the tools, connections, and confidence to thrive in both my personal and professional life in Scotland.”
Read more:
Building stronger ties between Scotland and Ukraine
How Ukrainian women in Scotland are building a future for Ukraine
Apply for this years’ Ukraine Recovery & Reconstruction Fellowship Programme
