David Cameron attends leadership course in India to discuss shared and contrasting leadership challenges

The prime minister met 35 young leaders in Bangalore from the public, private, not-for-profit and community sectors who are participating in a Common Purpose course at Infosys headquarters.

Cameron participated in the course, which had the theme ‘courage and caution’. The participants in the course have explored contrasting and shared leadership approaches to risk in the current economic climate faced by emerging leaders in the UK and India.

Over the past three months the Common Purpose course has been run in parallel in London and Bangalore, connecting both participant groups of up to 70 emerging leaders in both cities. The course is designed for emerging talent in both countries and has attracted a participant group age from 25 to 40.

Julia Middleton, chief executive and founder of Common Purpose, said: "They started with billions of miles between them, they ended stunned at how little separated them." 

Participants in today’s course in Bangalore were also invited to join the prime minister’s Indian delegation for lunch prior to his announcement of the launch of the UK India Future Leaders Network, which will be delivered by Common Purpose.

The aim of UK India Future Leaders initiative is to expand, enrich and energise relations between India and the UK by investing in the next generation of leaders. The initiative will develop shared approaches to 21st century political, economic and social challenges for emerging leaders in both countries.