The BRC Leaders Summer School 2024

Why was I there?

Back in April this year, with this question I was introduced to the programme of the 2024 BRC Learning Summer School.

After much inner searching and brief conversations with my fellow coaches, the picture was getting clearer and clearer by the day.

It was not until the delegates arrived on Tuesday 3rd June, at the beautiful grounds of Ashridge House that the fog surrounding my WHY cleared.

My purpose for that week was to ensure my group of leaders that I was proudly assigned to support (aptly named Legends)had the best possible "journey", facilitate their learnings and more importantly, help them during the unlearning process.

Frankly, that was the most difficult part of it all.

What made them managers, heads or department leaders up to that point, now would be revisited, dissected and disrupted.

A new way of leading was going to be presented, needing solid support and encouragement .

They should now expect to be challenged and stretched every step of the way.

To make this harder, each delegate is going to work with a group of strangers who would quickly become their closely-knit working team!

Frightening yet exciting!

So on day one, after briefly introducing the grounds, meeting their coaches and peers, delegates enjoyed a moment in the Fairheaven Room where the British Retail Consortium CEO Helen Dickinson hosted a conversation with the ever so sharply dressed and quick-witted Mary Portas OBE .

The conversation moved from the present of the retail industry to the future of it.

And what a picture that was!

From how creativity permeated the retail landscape in the 80s and 90s ( bless those Harvey Nicks windows!)to the modern era of digitalisation and the impact on the communities and bricks-and-mortar concepts, without forgetting the ever-so-discussed AI. Time flew by!

Excitement started filling the room and the delegates began to understand what was coming up.

After some time in their respective coaching rooms to get to know each other and work on designing a contract on ways of working, the teams returned to Fairhaven to listen to Rob Husband from The Argonauts who introduced the concept of conscious and sub-conscious leadership.

The same afternoon Paul Anderson-Walsh FRSA from Enolla Consulting presented the school with an insight on the Truthsayers? Neurotech? reports the delegates were going to receive later that day.

Paul explained the differences between the subconscious and conscious decisions we make on a day-to-day basis, highlighting the concepts of bias. This being the most important step towards the evolution of the conscious leader.

Needless to mention the first day flew by and after a few practices the teams were ready to retire to bed and focus on reflection time to embed their learnings.

A lot of journalling for day 1!

Day 2 began with sessions from Alicia Carey from Hawkwood owning the Planet lens and Erinch Sahan from Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL) for the profit lens.

The team practised on strategies to tackle the ever-growing climate emergency and immersed themselves in finding quick-fix solutions with a positive ripple effect.

Later on, Nic Ryan from One+All, A Certified B Corporation and Charlotte Scribbins from Company Shop Group were the guests for a special Q&A session with Emma Cushing on how their respective companies impacted their local communities.

In the afternoon delegates were able to mingle among the stalls of companies who supported this year's school with an expo event aptly named " Bridging the gap".

The likes of Wickes , Dr. Martens plc , Enolla Consulting , Elite Mind , Iceland Foods , Seasalt , Earth To Earth Organics , Cambridge Spark , @connectbydata and The Argonauts all offered deeper insights on the 4P lenses illustrated this far ( People, Profit, Purpose and Planet).

The day, after a final brainstorm and multiple light bulb moments, was completed by a networking activity, focusing on circus skills and a firepit exercise where participating candidates could re-focus with a set of mindful activities from our supporting outdoor coach Simon Hawtrey-Woore , before heading to bed to enjoy a deserved rest.

I was intrigued by the fast progress the team was making and how these two days impacted their confidence and reflection ability.

Heading to bed I could not wait for day 3!

The third and final residential day was initially dedicated to the lens of Purpose.

? Evelina Dzimanaviciute took our audience through a journey of self-discovery, serving questions on what makes us humans and also asking what makes leaders and retail purposeful.

A truly inspiring session which helped delegates reflect on their return to work and life outside the safe walls of Ashridge House.

In the end, it was not easy saying goodbye to this newly formed group of talented leaders, but now a 7-week digital programme awaits them, starting from an activity with the Business Simulator created by True Place Consulting , which will help each team tp strategise and lead from a more conscious point of view.

My WHY is now truly fixed in helping the group in the upcoming coaching sessions until the second residential takes place at the end of July.

I really cannot wait until it comes around.

Good luck to all delegates involved and thank you so far to all included in the team at BRC Learning (home team and coaches).

Onwards and upwards!