BRC Leaders Summer School
The development experience that turns capable retail managers into confident, strategic leaders. One programme, virtual or in person. Next intake: September 2026
At-a-glance
Upcoming cohorts
- 29 September 26 [Virtual]
- June 2027 [In-Person - dates tbc]
- June 2027 [Virtual - dates tbc]
Cohort size
- Virtual: capped at 50 delegates
- In-Person: capped at 38 delegates
Programme format
- Online or in-person
- Live taught sessions and peer discussion
- The lenses of people, planet, profit and purpose
- A live business simulator
Investment
- Standard price: £1,835 for virtual
- Standard price: £3,306 for in-person.
BRC Members save 15% off standard pricing.
Who is the Leaders' Summer School for?
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.
What you'll work on
Six areas, whichever format you choose. Practical, retail-specific, and built to be used the week you get back.
Understand yourself as a leader
Reflective work and honest feedback that sharpens your sense of your own style, your impact on others, and where your blind spots sit.
Build teams that perform
Practical models for team roles, trust and collaboration, so you can see what your team is missing and do something about it.
Lead through change and uncertainty
How to decide without the full picture, keep people steady through disruption, and build your own resilience alongside theirs.
Think strategically and commercially
The forces reshaping retail, from AI to sustainability, and the confidence to contribute to conversations above your current level.
Lead with purpose and balance
The four lenses of People, Planet, Profit and Purpose, and how to make values-led decisions when commercial pressure is real.
Turn learning into action
Live business challenges, the Business Simulator and peer coaching groups, so you leave with something applied rather than something noted.
What you'll leave with
- A clearer understanding of your leadership style and the impact you have on others
- Practical tools and frameworks you can use immediately
- More confidence leading people through change and ambiguity
- A broader commercial view of where retail is heading
- A network of leaders from across the industry, built through your coaching group
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
Five full days of facilitated learning in Covent Garden, London, complemented by online modules on Thrive learning.
- Five full days at The Form Rooms, Covent Garden
- Thrive modules between sessions
- Immersive, away from operational demands
- Built for leaders who learn best in the room
Virtual
Bite-sized, expertly crafted modules delivered entirely through Thrive. Learn at your own pace, from anywhere.
- Fully online through Thrive; join from anywhere
- Bi-weekly sessions across the summer
- Minimal time out of role
- 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.