Prime Minister Gordon Brown has thrown his weight behind plans to establish a leadership training programme to recognise talent and develop new leaders within the third sector.

The proposals, laid out by the Clore Duffield Foundation (CDF), aim to help individuals develop their skills and encourage them to take on bigger leadership challenges in an attempt to develop the sector’s advocacy role.

Commenting on the plans, the Prime Minister said: “The sector requires top quality leadership, and [the Foundation’s] proposal to identify emerging talent and combine it with bespoke, sustained leadership training would be a tremendous boost both to the sector and to society as a whole. I believe [the] Foundation is in a position to make a vital contribution to the sector at a key moment in time.”

The CDF is conducting a consultation on the plans. Comments are invited by 5 October, and the consultation paper can be viewed at www.cloreduffield.org