BRC Leaders Summer School
The development experience that turns capable retail managers into confident, strategic leaders. One programme, virtual or in person, designed in flexible formats to fit around busy retail schedules. Next intake: September 2026.
Six sessions of expert content
expert-led sessions built around real retail challenges
A peer network
leaders from across UK retail, learning alongside you
Practical, not theory
ideas and frameworks you can apply the same week
A CPD-certified certificate
The hours count toward your ongoing professional development, so they can contribute to your CPD record with bodies such as CIM.
One programme. Three ways to join
Same content, same outcomes, same certificate. You choose the timing and format that suit you.
| September 26: Virtual Cohort | June 27: In-Person Cohort | June 27: Virtual Cohort | |
| Where |
Fully online via Thrive |
The Form Rooms, Covent Garden | Fully online via Thrive |
| Commitment | 2 hours per week | 5 in-person days | 5 in-person days |
| Investment | £1,835 [15% off for BRC Members] | £3,306 [15% off for BRC Members] | £1,835 [15% off for BRC Members] |
| Cohort Size | Capped at 50 leaders | Capped at 38 leaders | Capped at 50 leaders |
| Enquire now | Enquire now | Enquire now |
Bringing more than one person? Ask about group rates. Enquire about group places →
Ready to step up
This programme is for retail leaders who want to think and lead at the next level. It's the right fit if you:
- Manage teams or functions and want to lead more strategically
- Want exposure to thinking beyond your own business
- Are building your career and want a visible next step
- Value learning alongside peers facing the same pressures
- Need development that fits around a demanding role
Send more than one person and the learning travels back into your business, not just one individual. Speak to us about group bookings and we will help you choose the right people and the right intake.
By retailers, for retailers
grounded in BRC's insight and network, not generalist training
Peers from across the sector
a cross-company network no internal programme can offer
Practical, not theoretical
real retail challenges and tools you can use straight away
Flexible formats
learn virtually or in person, whichever fits your schedule
Current thinking
speakers and topics that reflect where retail is heading
A clear next step
part of the pathway from Essentials to Retail Masters
Capable leaders plateau for want of space, not talent.
Space to think beyond the day-to-day, to test ideas against peers, and to build the strategic confidence the next level demands.
Most development is either too generic to land or too rigid to fit a real retail job. The Summer School is built to be neither. It's practical, current, and designed around how retail leaders actually work, delivered either in-person or virtually to meet the needs of different leaders.
What You’ll Gain
Balanced decision-making
Develop the conscious leadership skills to balance people, planet, profit and purpose, and make confident, values-led decisions under pressure.
Self-aware, adaptive leadership
Strengthen conscious leadership through purposeful reflection that drives understanding and responsiveness to diverse needs.
Inclusive team building
Create teams where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute their best.
Resilience through change
Build the skills to lead yourself and others through disruption with confidence and agility.
Confidence to drive positive change
Feel empowered to elevate experiences and inspire meaningful business transformation.
Strategic innovation
Design and deliver impactful strategies that drive change and consider the bigger picture.
Real Stories, Real Impact
The programme equipped me with practical, actionable strategies to lead with integrity and impact—balancing commercial success with meaningful contributions to society and the environment. I left feeling inspired, empowered, and better prepared to drive change that matters.
The BRC course was a brilliant chance to grow, learn, and unlearn leadership. It offered practical tools and fresh insight into the lenses that shape business. I’d highly recommend it to anyone wanting to lead with impact. Be ready to be inspired, challenged, and most importantly, to have fun!
The course confirmed I’m on the right path. Real stories from speakers made leadership feel relatable. I learned it’s not about having all the answers, it’s about curiosity, self-awareness, and reflection. Group coaching gave me space to grow. I’m leaving with purpose, clarity, and a stronger sense of self.
Possibly the best course I’ve ever attended. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me show up as my authentic self. Through the four lenses of People, Planet, Profit, Purpose, reflected deeply on myself and others. I now feel confident in my role, and others should too.
I gained so much from the blended format of in-person sessions, online learning, and webinars. Being part of a supportive coaching group was invaluable and continues beyond the programme. I’ve made great connections and return to work with fresh perspective, ready to apply what I’ve learned as a confident leader.
Same programme, your choice of format
Both pathways cover the same core content and deliver the same outcomes. The only difference is how and where you learn. Choose the format that fits your life.
In-Person Pathway
Immersive face-to-face experience
Five full days of facilitated learning in Covent Garden, London, complemented by optional Thrive online modules.
- Five in-person days at The Form Rooms, central London
- Supported by Thrive modules between sessions
- Same core curriculum as the virtual pathway
- Same faculty and facilitators
- Live, peer-based coaching groups
- Business Simulator included
- Cross-retailer cohort: face-to-face discussion and networking throughout
- Immersive format, away from day-to-day operational demands
- Built for leaders who learn best in the room
Virtual Learning pathway
Flexible online leadership development
Bite-sized, expertly crafted modules delivered entirely through Thrive. Learn at your pace, from anywhere.
- Delivered fully online through Thrive
- Join from anywhere: no travel required
- Bi-weekly sessions spread across the summer
- Same core curriculum as the in-person pathway
- Same faculty and facilitators
- Live, peer-based coaching groups
- Business Simulator included
- Cross-retailer cohort: learn alongside peers from across the industry
- Minimal time out of role, so managers stay in post between sessions
- Built for multi-site and dispersed teams
Meet the Programme Directors
Sam Redman
Programme Director | BRC Leaders Summer School
Sam Redman is an executive coach and change consultant with over 20 years’ experience in learning, leadership and talent development within the retail sector. She has spent more than a decade shaping culture, leadership and capability at Pret A Manger and now combines corporate consultancy, private coaching and her role as Programme Director for BRC Learning, delivering leadership programmes for retail professionals in the UK and internationally. Sam works closely with senior retail leaders and teams to drive meaningful change, strengthen leadership capability and unlock performance in fast‑paced, customer‑focused environments.
Rob Husband
Programme Director | BRC Leaders Summer School
Rob Husband is an experienced facilitator and trainer with over 25 years’ management experience, beginning his career in retail before moving into the voluntary and public sectors. His work is defined by high levels of participation, honesty and openness, and a strong focus on reflection and inquiry—helping individuals and organisations ask what they do, why they do it, and how they can do it at their best. Rob has designed and delivered training for frontline teams, managers and leaders across voluntary, public sector and blue‑chip organisations, and currently delivers Institute of Leadership & Management qualifications up to Level 5. He is a Myers‑Briggs practitioner and holds a postgraduate diploma in Development Training from St Martin’s College, Ambleside.
FAQ's
How does this fit alongside our internal leadership programmes?
Most organisations use the Summer School for what internal programmes can't provide: exposure to leaders from other retailers, facing the same problems in different businesses. It sits well as a stretch layer above internal foundational training, rather than replacing it. If you want to map it against your existing levels, we can walk through the curriculum with you.
Can we send people down both pathways at once?
Yes, and many organisations do. The usual pattern is in-person for head office and regional roles who can be released for full days, and virtual for store-based managers who can't. The curriculum, faculty and certification are identical, so your delegates come out with the same thing regardless of pathway.
What discounts apply for multiple places?
Group rates are available on both pathways, and BRC members receive preferential pricing on top. The structure depends on numbers and pathway mix, so email brclearning@brc.org.uk with a rough headcount and we'll come back with an option.
How do we choose who to send?
The programme is built for mid-level leaders who are performing well and ready for greater responsibility. Store and Area Managers, HR Business Partners, and equivalent head office roles. It works best for people with a defined next step in mind, rather than as a reward for tenure. We're happy to review a shortlist with you.
What's the administrative overhead for us?
Minimal. We handle enrolment, onboarding onto Thrive, session logistics and certification directly with delegates, so you're not chasing individuals for completion. You'll receive manager updates throughout the programme, and for larger cohorts we run a wrap-up session once the programme finishes, to help embed the learning back in the business.
What if someone can no longer attend before the programme starts?
Get in touch and we'll transfer the place to a colleague. Retail moves quickly, people change roles, and we'd rather you kept the place than lost it. Just let us know before the first session so we can get the new delegate onboarded in time.
Join us this September, or plan ahead for 2027
Whichever intake and format suit you, the programme is the same. Register your place, or book a call to talk it through.