Developing the Middle Leaders who Make Businesses Work
We are delighted to congratulate the graduates of LEADlight Cohort 12 - nine managers from businesses across Gloucestershire who have completed their six-month leadership development journey.
From Cotteswold Dairy, Premiere Kitchens, Stewart Golf, Clean Shield, Snape Group, Lane's Health and Optimising IT, this cohort brought together first-line and middle managers from a wide range of sectors. Over the past six months they have been developing their leadership skills, building their confidence and working on real projects designed to make a tangible difference in their own organisations.
What is the Final Presentation Day?
The programme culminated in a Final Presentation Day - one of the highlights of the LEADlight calendar. Each delegate presented their Action Planning Challenge findings to a Leadership Panel of sponsoring executives from their organisation. It is their time to shine and show what they’ve learned, and a moment that consistently demonstrates how much people grow during the programme.
To every member of Cohort 12: Congratulations. The work you have put in, the connections you have built and the changes you are already making in your businesses are what LEADlight is all about.
What is LEADlight?
LEADlight is a six-month leadership development programme designed specifically for middle leaders - the team leaders, supervisors and managers who sit below the Board and senior leadership team. It is built for people who want to develop their skills, improve their performance and get better results from their teams.
Each cohort brings together eight to twelve managers from SMBs across a range of sectors. That cross-sector mix is one of the things delegates consistently highlight: the fresh perspectives, shared challenges and peer relationships that continue well beyond the programme itself.
What does the LEADlight programme include?
The programme is structured around practical, work-based learning:
A full-day Kick Off to set the foundation and introduce the cohort to each other. Five half-day interactive workshops covering core leadership skills and approaches with a Think Tank reflection session at the close of each workshop. An Action Planning Challenge - a project focused on improving employee engagement within the delegate's own organisation, presented to a Leadership Panel on the final day.
What are the benefits of LEADlight for delegates?
Delegates typically come away with greater confidence in leading, delegating and influencing change. They gain practical tools and techniques they can use immediately in the workplace. They build a network of trusted peers from other sectors. And they develop a clearer understanding of their own leadership style and how it lands with the people around them.
"LEADlight has allowed me to understand my leadership style and how I perform, as well as make changes to develop my leadership skills and improve the performance levels of my team. I would 100% recommend LEADlight." - Will Gosling, Quality Lead, Major Lift Hydraulic
What are the benefits of LEADlight for the business?
For the organisations that sponsor delegates, the returns tend to be practical and lasting. Middle leaders come back with stronger skills in delivering strategic and operational plans. Businesses see improved team performance, better staff retention and a pipeline of leaders ready to step into more senior roles over time.
"As a result of my project, we have already implemented many changes within our business which have had a positive impact." - Olivia Smith, Service Desk Supervisor, Frocester Security
Who is LEADlight for?
LEADlight is for first-line and middle managers in SMBs - people who are ready to invest in their own development and want to lead more effectively. It is not an executive programme; it is built for the layer of leadership that most businesses rely on every day but often invest in least.
If you have managers who are ready to grow, LEADlight Cohort 13 starts on 30th September 2026. Places are limited.
Find out more about LEADlight here.
Download the LEADlight brochure here.
If you'd like to contact to us directly, please send us an email here.
LEADlight Cohort 12 graduates
Back row, left to right: Daniel Grinnell, Optimising IT · Beau Griffin, Premiere Kitchens · Paul Lancett, Cotteswold Dairy · Mike Smith, Stewart Golf · Debbie White, Lane's Health
Front row, left to right: Tina Sawle, Snape Group · Jake Nawaz, Clean Shield · Kerry Harris, Clean Shield
(Not pictured - Jamie King, Snape Group)
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