Not all leadership development fits neatly into your calendar — or your learning style.
If you've looked at programmes like this before and walked away, it's usually for one of two reasons: the format didn't work around your job, or the online-only experience left you feeling disconnected from the people you were learning alongside.
We've designed the BRC Leaders Summer School with both of those frustrations in mind.
If your diary is unpredictable and you need to learn on your terms, the Virtual Pathway gives you six expertly crafted modules through Thrive — structured enough to keep you progressing, flexible enough to fit around a demanding senior role.
If you do your best learning in a room with other people — through conversation, challenge and shared experience — the In-Person Pathway brings you together with a cohort of retail leaders across five full days in London, with online content through Thrive to reinforce your learning in between.
At a glance: what's the difference?
| 💻 Virtual Pathway | 🏛 In-Person Pathway | |
| Delivery Method | Entirely online via Thrive | 5 in-person days + online learning via Thrive |
| Location | Anywhere, fully remote | The Form Rooms, Covent Garden, London |
| Scheduling | Flexible — learn on your schedule | Fixed in-person session dates across 10 weeks |
| Total Contact Time | ~23 hours across 6 modules | ~39 hours (5 in-person days + online) |
| Networking | Online peer coaching groups | Rich in-person cohort connections + online groups |
| Business Simulator | ✓ Included in modules | ✓ Included in in-person sessions |
| Thrive Platform | ✓ Core delivery | ✓ Onboarding + online learning via Thrive |
| CPD Certification | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Residential Element | — | Non-residential |
| Member Early-Bird Price | From £1,895 | From £2,495 |
Inside the In-Person Pathway:
Onboarding: Preparing to Unlearn
Self-led online onboarding:
- Digital Onboarding to the BRC Leaders Summer School
- Understand the current complex context of retail
- Conscious Leadership Exploration: learn to lead in the here and now
Weeks 1–2: Conscious Connecting
Meet your cohort, hear from industry guest speakers, and begin exploring what conscious leadership means for you.
What's included:
- Coffee with Purpose: an informal welcome as you arrive at The Form Rooms
- Setting the Scene: the current and future world of retail with guest speakers
- Introduction to Conscious Leadership
- Reflective Spaces: an introduction to reflective practice with our dedicated coach
- Group Coaching Sessions 1 & 2: introductions, ways of working, and your first conscious leadership exploration
Online modules:
- Conscious Leadership: Self Awareness video
- Self-Aware Leader module
- Guided reflection exercise
Weeks 3–4: Disruptive Immersion
Explore retail through the lens of people and planet and put your thinking into practice through the Business Simulator.
What's included:
- Coffee with Purpose: an informal welcome as you arrive at The Form Rooms
- People Lens: an interactive keynote on the human side of retail with guest speakers including a representative from Wickes
- Planet Lens: an interactive keynote on retail and the environment with guest speakers including representatives from Hawkwood and Lush
- Group Coaching: reflect on the People and Planet lenses with your cohort
- Hosted Panel: People and Planet — Now and Future
- Business Simulator: introduction to the tool and Round 1
- Ongoing cohort support between sessions
Online modules:
- Conscious Leadership: Inner and Outer Journey video
- Teams That Fit Together module
- Business Simulator Round 2
Weeks 5–6: Bridging the Gap
Challenge conventional thinking about profit and growth, and explore how AI and data are reshaping the future of retail.
What's included:
- Coffee with Purpose: an informal welcome as you arrive at The Form Rooms
- Profit Lens: an interactive keynote and workshop exploring growth and success beyond profit with guest speakers
- In conversation with retail leaders: a discussion exploring how these ideas play out in practice
- Group Coaching: reflect on the Profit Lens themes with your cohort
- Retail store visits: small group visits to local retailers to experience the lenses in action
- Bridging the Gap workshops: a choice of sessions including Climate Action, AI, and Missing Conversations
Online modules:
- Conscious Leadership: Above and Below the Line video
- Leading Through Ambiguity and Change module
- Business Simulator Round 3
Weeks 7–8: Resourcing Leadership
Turn the lens inward — exploring purpose, values and wellbeing as the foundations of sustainable leadership.
What's included:
- Coffee with Purpose: an informal welcome as you arrive at The Form Rooms
- Reflective Activity: a guided outdoor reflection exercise to reconnect with yourself as a leader
- Purpose Lens: an inspiring keynote exploring purpose-driven leadership through a retailer's lived experience
- Purpose Round Table: a facilitated discussion exploring what purpose means for you and your cohort
- Resourcing Your Leadership: an afternoon of reflective activities at Phoenix Garden
- Wellbeing Keynote: an inspiring session with the Retail Trust exploring how to resource yourself and your teams
- Group Coaching: reflect on the day's themes with your cohort
Online modules:
- Conscious Leadership: Me to We video
- Business Simulator Rounds 4 & 5
Weeks 9–10: Meaningful Action
Bring your learning full circle — embedding a coaching approach to leadership and reflecting on how far you've come.
What's included:
- Coffee with Purpose: an informal welcome as you arrive at The Form Rooms
- Group Coaching: preparing to take your learning forward
- World Café: a reflective exploration across all four lenses — People, Planet, Purpose and Profit — sharing insights and questions with your cohort
- Story Share: prepare and present your leadership story in super groups, with structured feedback
- Purposeful Conversations: an interactive session embedding a coaching approach to leadership
- Group Coaching: final reflection and next steps
- Programme close: feedback, reflection and a stepping activity to mark the end of your journey
Online modules:
- Conscious Leadership: The 4 Ways – IQ, EQ, CQ video
Inside the Virtual Pathway:
Module 1: Preparing to Unlearn
Get to grips with the current retail landscape and take your first steps into the conscious leadership framework before the programme begins.
What's included:
- Digital Onboarding to the BRC Leaders Summer School
- Understand the political, economic and social aspects of retail
- Conscious Leadership Exploration: learn to lead in the here and now
Module 2: Conscious Connecting
Meet your cohort, hear from industry guest speakers, and begin exploring what conscious leadership means for you.
What's included:
- Live virtual launch and intention-setting session
- Setting the Scene: the current and future world of retail with guest speakers
- Introduction to Conscious Leadership
- Group Coaching Session 1
Online modules:
- Argo Self-Awareness video
- Self-Aware Leader module
- Guided reflection exercise
Module 3: Disruptive Immersion
Explore retail through the lens of people and planet, and put your thinking into practice through the Business Simulator.
What's included:
- People Lens: an interactive keynote on the human side of retail with guest speakers
- Planet Lens: an interactive keynote on retail and the environment with guest speakers including Lush
- Group Coaching Session 2
- Business Simulator Round 1
Online modules:
- Conscious Leadership: Inner and Outer Journey
- Teams That Fit Together module
- Guided reflection exercise
Module 4: Bridging the Gap
Challenge conventional thinking about profit and growth, and explore how AI and data are reshaping the future of retail.
What's included:
- Profit Lens: a keynote exploring growth and success beyond profit
- In conversation with retail leaders
- AI and Connected Data: how technology is reshaping retail and its people
- Group Coaching Session 3
- Business Simulator Round 2
Online modules:
- Conscious Leadership: Above and Below the Line
- Leading Through Change and Ambiguity module
- Guided reflection exercise
Module 5: Resourcing Leadership
Turn the lens inward — exploring purpose, values and wellbeing as the foundations of sustainable leadership.
What's included:
- Reflective activity: reconnecting with yourself as a leader
- Purpose Lens: a keynote on purpose-driven leadership with guest speakers
- Group Coaching Session 4
- Business Simulator Rounds 3 & 4
Online modules:
- Conscious Leadership: Me to We
- Resourcing Leadership reflection exercise
Module 6: Meaningful Action
Bring your learning full circle — embedding a coaching approach to leadership and reflecting on how far you've come.
What's included:
- Purposeful Conversations: exploring the coaching approach to leadership
- Coaching practice session
- Group Coaching Session 5: storytelling and peer reflection
- Business Simulator Round 5
Online modules:
- Conscious Leadership: The 4 Ways – IQ, EQ, CQ
- Final reflection exercise
Not sure what pathway is right for you?
Book a no-obligation discovery call with our learning team - no hard sell, just honest guidance.