Lookers launches pioneering leadership academy to power talent, skills and performance

Leading automotive retail and service group Lookers has launched a pioneering group-wide initiative with strategic skills partner Corndel designed to drive learning, performance and career growth.

The dedicated partnership will provide Lookers colleagues with a unique opportunity to gain accredited, professional qualifications across three dedicated leadership programmes, driving career development and opportunities to progress.

The Lookers Leadership and Management Programme marks a major milestone and significant investment by Lookers in the development of its teams and its mission to accelerate operational excellence, financial performance and an enhanced customer experience.

Those who successfully complete the three expert-led Lookers programmes – Aspire, Accelerate and Advanced Executive Leadership – will gain level 3, 5 and 7 diploma qualifications accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), with the level 7 diploma also delivered in partnership with global top 10 university Imperial College Business School.

Designed to improve productivity and task management, each course will take 12 months to complete and will require onsite and online learning, one-to-one coaching and group workshops.

Applications for aspiring managers, senior managers and ambitious directors keen to propel their careers and opportunities across the group are open now ahead of enrolment, for an official programme kick-off in February 2024.

Lookers’ head of learning and development Danny Bishop, who has led on this initiative, said: “Elevating our development proposition for our people has been a fundamental part of our people strategy. The Leadership Academy is another great example of our ambition to ensure Lookers continues to be a great place to work.

“We chose Corndel as a partner due to their fantastic track record in providing world class training programmes to other large organisations. Corndel were also recently named winner for British Training Awards 2023 for Apprenticeship Provider of the Year.”

Lookers’ chief people officer Chris Whittaker said the Lookers Leadership Academy would provide a catalyst to empower a new generation of aspirational, forward-looking and ambitious leaders to excel as part of an enterprise-wide transformation.

“Serious about learning and development, Lookers recognises the importance of upskilling and investing in our teams by delivering world class learning opportunities that supports careers, powers confidence and ambition to strengthen performance.”

Corndel CEO, James Kelly, said: “Our partnership with Lookers is set to empower their workforce with accredited leadership qualifications, driving career development and operational excellence.

“As a strategic skills partner, our leadership programmes ensure organisations and individuals are equipped with the core workplace skills needed to survive and thrive in the 21st Century. Together with Lookers, we’re committed to fostering a new generation of resilient and forward-thinking leaders, building a stronger future for the company.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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