A total of £4m will be available to businesses in the legal, construction, financial and manufacturing sectors through non-departmental public body UK Commission for Employment and Skills. Law firms can receive up to £300,000 each in government funds if they boost their management skills. Nigel Whitehead, group managing director of BAE Systems and a commissioner at UKCES, said that while the UK may have world-leading companies, management capability in UK law firms are not as good as other countries, especially the United States.

Application process

The competition is open to any organisation in the legal, manufacturing, construction and financial sectors, and firms will have to match the funding with co-investment. All proposals must be led and partially funded by major businesses, which will help in three ways: Raise the capability of leaders and managers, boost demand for good leadership and management skills and increase the opportunities for managers to interact with one another and their peers.The deadline for submitting applications is at noon on 30 July.