Combining classroom learning with on-the-job training, the six month course will allow employees time away from their day-to-day duties to develop their leadership skills. As the course progresses, there will be opportunities to take on additional responsibilities, including supervising and training colleagues.
Trainees will be assigned a mentor, who will provide ongoing one-on-one support and guidance throughout the 12-module programme. On successful completion, trainees will emerge with new skills and experience, and will be forerunners to fill the management positions being created by our rapid growth.
The whole spectrum of leadership skills will be taught, from performance management to training and interviewing skills. Additionally, the programme will touch upon more specific disciplines such as sales forecasting, finance and marketing.
The scheme is currently open to our sales staff, but we hope to roll it out to other departments in the longer term.
Learning and development has been an important part of our culture from the start. We have enjoyed a long-term collaboration with Sunderland College to offer a number of Level 3 Apprenticeships, as well as free vocational courses for all staff.
And in December, we won a TELCA Diversity Pioneers Award for our efforts in lifting barriers to work and promoting social mobility. Our commitment to training and upskilling employees from a diverse range of backgrounds was a key factor in this win.
We have always prioritised the development and progression opportunities of our staff, internally advertising (and offering guaranteed interviews for) all vacancies before looking externally. However our recent investment and creation of three Learning and Development staff positions now gives us the opportunity to develop the skills and experience of our existing talent. It’s our ambition that all future management hires will be filled from internal candidates and we are thrilled to be able to offer real career progression opportunities.
Our Director and Co-Founder Jamie Wyatt said of the programme: “Our people have always come first, and nurturing, developing and investing in our existing employees is hugely important to us. Whilst we could hire experienced talent from outside of the business, this programme will allow us to take advantage of our phenomenal in-house talent pool. Through the LEAD Programme, we can take that raw talent and build a management team with the experience and shared values needed to support our business plan for sustainable growth.”
Let us compare your business energy options for a no obligation quote and cost savings illustration.
Let us compare your business energy options for a no obligation quote and cost savings illustration.