The purpose of the study was to explore how social identity influences the construction of leadership development programmes in the Basque Region. The Basque region is recognised as having a strong social and national identity (Kaufmann and Tödtling, 2000; McNeill, 2000). Historically leadership development has been focused on practising leaders and managers and delivered by universities, consultants and other intermediaries. A recent study reported in the paper has shown managerial dissatisfaction with current provision in the region and has illustrated a need for provision to focus on ‘skills’ for ‘leadership’. What is meant by ‘skills’ and ‘leadership’ is, however, embedded within the Spanish language and Basque identity (Kasmir, 1996; Whyte, 1999). The paper introduces theories of social identity as they are applied to the study of leadership and it explores how these theories can help explain perceptions of leadership.