Lookers launches leadership academy to drive career growth

Top three AM 100 group Lookers has launched a group-wide initiative to help develop the company’s next leaders and boost career growth.

The group has partnered with Corndel to provide Lookers colleagues with the opportunity to gain accredited, professional qualifications across three dedicated leadership programmes, driving career development and opportunities to progress.

Danny Bishop, Lookers’ head of learning and development, 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.

“As I pass my two-year anniversary of joining Lookers, I’m extremely proud of what we have achieved as a leadership and development and wider HR team.

“Our group learning curriculum has grown by over 400% in the past two years, providing colleagues with development and support to further enhance their skills and career growth within Lookers.”

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.

Enterprise-wide transformation

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.

He said: “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.

“Our partnership with Corndel, supported by The Imperial College and accredited by the Chartered Management Institute, delivers a groundbreaking programme of learning as part of a unique approach that will deliver personal, professional and group-wide results.”

All programmes under the Lookers Leadership Academy are designed to fit around participants’ work responsibilities and offer regular professional one-to-one coaching support.

Corndel’s specialist trainers will also be working with every individual involved to develop a personalised learning plan.