"Grow Your Own" for long-term success

Rachel Heward, our Head of Direct Services, explains how developing your own colleagues can help to build loyalty, increase morale and strengthen your organisation.

One of the most rewarding parts of our role as leaders is seeing colleagues evolve, take on new challenges, and grow professionally and personally. It's extremely satisfying to watch as members of the team gain confidence, sharpen their skills and step up within the organisation.

The Aspiring Managers course has become instrumental in helping colleagues take their careers to the next level. When we launched the course, five staff members from Direct Services were put forward. Already, four of them have been promoted within the organisation. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see them apply what they’ve learned and grow. This isn’t just about filling positions, though. Developing your own colleagues builds loyalty, increases morale and strengthens the organisation. When colleagues feel that their future is being invested in, they feel valued and that motivation translates directly into their work.

A particular success story is Ellie George, who, along with others, threw herself into the course. It was clear from the start that she was ready for great things. Since completing the training, Ellie's taken on a leadership role and made a big impact within the team. Hearing her talk about how the course shaped her career has been an inspiring reminder of the power of investing in your own colleagues, looking within as vacancies arise, rather than looking outside of the organisation.

Here's a short video of Ellie talking about what she's learned as an aspiring manager:

I’m convinced that long-term success comes from investing in your people or ‘Growing your Own’. Giving them the tools to take on new challenges, and step into roles benefits everyone. Watching the team thrive and knowing we've played a role in that growth is one of the most fulfilling aspects of being a leader in this organisation.