Lighthouse is proud to announce that our Creative Communities Producer, Bobby Brown, has been awarded a prestigious Innovate UK Future Leaders Fellowship, part of UKRI’s flagship programme supporting the next generation of research and innovation leaders.

The bold new initiative, Pathways Not Projects, launches this September as a four-year national programme designed to transform how the UK’s creative industries develop talent. Rather than short-term fixes, it will build long-term, inclusive pathways for young people from marginalised backgrounds, including those with care experience, low income, or invisible disabilities. Pathways Not Projects extends our Future Creative Leaders programme into a nationwide endeavour.

At the heart of the programme is an open-source digital platform, co-created with young people, enabling organisations to track impact, share insights, and embed community voice at every stage. More than a technological solution, the platform is a tool for reshaping the leadership ecosystem across culture – transparent, scalable, and rooted in lived experience.

A cornerstone of Pathways Not Projects is the creation of youth steering groups within cultural and civic institutions, ensuring that young people are not only consulted but actively leading governance, shaping programming, and co-creating public-facing content. From immersive tech training to audience co-creation and business strategy, the programme will deliver comprehensive support for the next generation of creative leaders, backed by Lighthouse and key national partners.

This award represents a powerful endorsement of both Lighthouse’s track record and Bobby’s achievements as a cultural innovator. The fellowship not only validates his bold vision and potential, but also equips Lighthouse with the vital resources needed to grow and remain sustainable in an increasingly challenging funding and cultural landscape.

Notably, Lighthouse is one of only around ten recipients of the fellowship who do not hail from a major university or research institution. To be selected alongside such well-established institutions is a testament to the national significance of Lighthouse’s contribution, and to the strength of the innovation taking place outside traditional academic environments.

Read the full announcement and the list of other successful projects by UKRI here.

Bobby Brown, Creative Communities Producer, Lighthouse said:

“Pathways Not Projects is about building sustainable futures, not quick fixes. Too often, young people - particularly from marginalised backgrounds - are invited into conversations, but left out of decisions. 

This fellowship gives us the chance to change that. By combining technology with community-driven leadership, we’re not just reimagining access to the creative industries, we’re reimagining leadership itself. This is about shifting the balance of power permanently and ensuring the next generation of creative leaders have the space and support they deserve to thrive. By centring lived experience, ethical storytelling, and inclusivity, we can build a brighter future where young people are empowered to lead.”

Frances Burstow, Director of Talent and Skills at UKRI, said:

“UKRI’s Future Leaders Fellowships provide researchers and innovators with long-term support and training to embark on large and complex research programmes, to address key national and global challenges. The fellows announced today demonstrate how UKRI supports excellence across the entire breadth of its remit, supporting early-career researchers to lessen the distance from discovery to real world impact.”

UKRI Chief Executive, Professor Sir Ian Chapman, added:

“UKRI’s Future Leaders Fellowships offer long-term support to outstanding researchers, helping them turn bold ideas into innovations that improve lives and livelihoods in the UK and beyond. These fellowships continue to drive excellence and accelerate the journey from discovery to public benefit. I wish them every success.”

Seventy-seven talented early-career researchers have been awarded a total of £120 million through this year’s Future Leaders Fellowships, with thirteen projects, including Pathways Not Projects, led by businesses and funded by Innovate UK.

Alli Beddoes, CEO & Artistic Director, Lighthouse said:

“We are incredibly proud of Bobby’s achievements and the ambitious vision behind Pathways Not Projects. This fellowship recognises the power of inclusive, ethical innovation to shape the future of our cultural industries. For Lighthouse, it is also a significant affirmation of our legacy and our mission critical role in supporting the next generation of creative leaders.

At a time when cultural organisations face unprecedented challenges, this opportunity confirms why Lighthouse, and organisations like us, are needed now more than ever. With the brilliant governance of our board, and with leadership that places care, inclusivity, and vision at the centre, we are well placed to collaborate with partners nationally and internationally who share our values and commitment to meaningful change.”

With Pathways Not Projects, Bobby Brown and Lighthouse are laying the foundations for a more inclusive, ethical, and innovative future for young people in the UK’s creative and cultural sectors. This is also an open invitation for collaborators who share our vision to join us in shaping that future.