Building Tomorrow's Leaders
Congratulations to the exceptional graduates of LEADlight Cohort 10, who celebrated their achievements in May with a compelling final presentation day. These rising leaders exemplify how targeted middle management development creates lasting organisational impact and drives business success.
The Strategic Imperative: Why Middle Leaders Matter
Seven years ago, QuoLux™ identified a critical gap in leadership development. While senior leaders were advancing through programmes like LEAD™, they noticed it became difficult to implement their learnings without organisational alignment and buy-in from their middle management teams. The disconnect was clear: sustainable change requires empowering leaders at every level.
This insight led to the creation of LEADlight - a specialised programme designed for middle and junior managers who serve as the crucial bridge between senior leadership vision and frontline execution. By developing these pivotal roles, organisations can accelerate transformation and create a unified leadership language throughout their structure.
The LEADlight Framework: Learning Through Action
LEADlight stands apart from traditional management training through its emphasis on practical, real-world application. Over six months, participants engage in five integrated elements that build both competency and confidence:
Interactive Workshops provide foundational leadership skills through engaging, hands-on sessions that move beyond theory to practical application.
Think Tank Discussions bring together peers to tackle genuine business challenges, fostering collaborative problem-solving and shared learning from diverse industry perspectives.
Action Planning Challenge represents the programme's cornerstone - participants conduct in-depth research projects within their own organisations, focusing on critical themes of Communication and Recognition to develop strategic action plans with immediate business relevance.
Peer Coaching Sessions create powerful support networks where participants guide each other through project development, sharing insights and maintaining momentum toward their goals.
Final Presentations culminate the experience as graduates present their findings to leadership panels comprising senior executives from their organisations, many of whom are LEAD™, GOLD™ or GAIN™ alumni themselves.
Measurable Impact: Organisations See the Difference
The results speak volumes about LEADlight's effectiveness. Warren Thomas, CEO of Gloucestershire Engineering Training (GET), has invested in seven team members across multiple cohorts from Cohort 2 through Cohort 10, a testament to the programme's proven value.
"There is no doubt that GET benefits from sending our middle managers on LEADlight," Warren explains. "It's transformative for our staff to connect with individuals facing similar challenges in like-minded organisations committed to staff development. The learning around effectively leading people and its implementation within our business is a game-changer. It creates a positive culture and strong communication within and across teams, with clear focus."
L-R, clockwise: Jenny Roberts, Business Engagement Lead; Dan Hernon, Senior Skills & Development Team Leader; Jake Weatherley, Training & Maintenance Manager; Les Jones, Skills & Assessment Manager, all from Gloucestershire Engineering Training.
Personal Transformation: Building Confident Leaders
Beyond organisational benefits, LEADlight delivers profound personal growth. The feedback from Cohort 10 graduates illustrates the programme's impact on individual leadership confidence and capability:
Elaine James, Senior Sales Coordinator at MF Freeman, shared: "LEADlight gives you confidence and helps you develop and grow as a leader in ways you didn't imagine were possible - amazing!"
Graham Pritchard, Production Manager at Actemium, confirmed: "I would definitely recommend LEADlight to any middle managers looking to understand more about themselves or their leadership style."
Olivia Smith, Service Desk Manager at Frocester Security, added, "Being part of the LEADlight programme has given me so much confidence in being a leader within my business."
The Power of Presentation: Showcasing Growth and Gaining Recognition
The final presentation day serves as both culmination and catalyst. Graduates present their organisational research projects to leadership panels comprising senior managers and directors, creating a unique opportunity to demonstrate growth, share insights and gain visibility with key decision-makers.
This experience reinforces learning while providing invaluable feedback from seasoned leaders. Participants articulate their development journey and strategic recommendations, solidifying their readiness for expanded responsibilities. The process builds confidence while showcasing the practical value of their newfound capabilities.
Jo Draper, director of QuoLux™, who delivers the LEADlight programme and coaches the delegates, shared, "It has been an absolute pleasure to work with all of the Cohort. Their research projects were fantastic and brilliantly presented to the Leadership Panel. Their hard work and dedication shone through, and we look forward to hearing of their future success. Congratulations to each of them!"
Meet the Graduates: Cohort 10 Success Stories
LEADlight Cohort 10 brought together talented professionals from diverse industries, each contributing unique perspectives while tackling common leadership challenges:
- Cam Jones, MF Freeman Group
- Jenny Roberts, Gloucestershire Engineering Training
- Elaine James, MF Freeman Group
- Olivia Smith, Frocester Security
- Neil Lester, Kilbury Construction
- Graham Pritchard, Actemium
(Not pictured are Holly Mullarkey, Gloucestershire VCS Alliance and Imogen Mustoe, Gloucestershire Engineering Training, who were unable to attend the Final Presentation Day but presented their findings from their research projects separately.)
Here is their leadership panel for the presentations
(L-R): Curtis Wright, Frocester Group; Steve Tandy, Actemium; Stewart Barnes, QuoLux™; Hayley Coombs, MF Freeman Group; Nicky Reynolds, Frocester Group; Warren Thomas, Gloucestershire Engineering Training; Colin Westbury, Kilbury Construction; Jo Draper, QuoLux™; Luke Freeman, MF Freeman Group; Erica Phelpstead, Gloucestershire Engineering Training
Your Next Strategic Investment: Developing Tomorrow's Leaders Today
Over 100 rising stars have transformed their leadership capabilities through LEADlight, creating ripple effects of positive change throughout their organisations. The programme's track record demonstrates clear ROI through improved communication, enhanced team performance and accelerated organisational alignment.
For business leaders seeking to bridge the gap between senior strategy and operational excellence, LEADlight offers a proven pathway. The next cohort begins on 17th September 2025 and is an opportunity to invest in your organisation's most valuable asset: its people.
The question isn't whether you can afford to develop your middle managers, it's whether you can afford not to. Organisations that invest in leadership development at every level gain sustainable advantages through enhanced performance, retention and growth.
Ready to transform your middle management team into confident, capable leaders who drive results? The LEADlight programme delivers practical skills, powerful networks and proven outcomes that benefit both individuals and organisations.
To learn more about enrolling your first-line or junior managers in LEADlight, please contact Jo Draper to schedule a meeting.
You can also download our LEADlight e-brochure here.
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