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 |
In-Person - at a glance
Onboarding: Preparing to Unlearn
Method: Self-Led online learning
Duration: 1.5 hours
Content:
- 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
Week 1-2 (In-Person: 1 Day): Conscious Connecting
Method: In-person at The Form Rooms, London
Duration: 7 hours
Content:
- Welcome Event
- Understand the Political, Economical and Social aspects of retail
- Explore the potential of a ‘radical retail’ for the future with your coaching group
- Learn how to understand and develop your conscious leadership
Optional Self-Led online learning:
- Conscious Leadership: Self Awareness and the Johari window
- The Self-Aware Leader module
Week 3-4 (In-Person: 1 Day): Disruptive Immersion
Method: In-person at The Form Rooms, London
Duration: 7 hours
Content:
- Understand the systems within which retail exists
- Explore the relationship between retail and the Planet
- Transitioning from treating people as ‘human capital’ to ‘human kind’
- Apply learning in real-time situations through the Business Simulator
Optional Self-Led online learning:
- Conscious Leadership: The Inner and Outer Journey
- Teams That Fit Together module
Week 5-6 (In-Person: 1 Day): Bridging the Gap
Method: In-person at The Form Rooms, London
Duration: 8 hours
Content:
- Consider different perspectives on organisational growth and success
- Gain insights into ‘profit beyond money’
- Apply leadership concepts practically in retail
- Discover how AI and advanced technology can enhance retail, its people and ecosystems
- Learn to foster safe spaces for challenging conversations in retail and leadership
- Apply learning in real-time situations through the next round of the Business Simulator
Optional Self-Led online learning:
- Conscious Leadership: Above and Below the line
- Leading through Ambiguity and Change module
Week 7-8 (In-Person: 1 Day): Resourcing Leadership
Method: In-person at The Form Rooms, London
Duration: 8 hours
Content:
- Explore the values that shape your leadership
- Explore your sense of purpose
- Reflect on your mission as a leader
- Find ways to support the wellbeing of yourself and your team
- Experience nature as a way to resource your leadership
- Apply learning in real-time situations through the next round of the Business Simulator
Optional Self-Led online learning:
- Conscious Leadership: Me to We
Week 9-10 (In-Person: 1 Day): Meaningful Action
Method: In-person at The Form Rooms, London
Duration: 8 hours
Content:
- Reflect on your leadership learning journey
- Leverage insights gained from the shared knowledge and experience of others
- Describe how your leadership style is shaped by unlearning and relearning
- Discover how a coaching approach leads to more purposeful conversations
- Apply learning in real-time situations through the next round of the Business Simulator
Optional Self-Led online learning:
- Conscious Leadership: The 4 ways – IQ, EQ, CQ
Virtual - at a Glance
Module 1: Preparing to Unlearn
Duration: 1.5 hours
What’s included:
- Digital Onboarding to the BRC Leaders Summer School
- Understand the Political, Economical and Social aspects of retail
- Explore the potential of a ‘radical retail’ for the future with your coaching group
- Learn how to understand and develop your conscious leadership
Module 2: Conscious Connecting
Duration: 4 hours
What’s included:
- Conscious Leadership: Self Awareness and the Johari window
- The Self-Aware Leader module
Module 3: Disruptive Immersion
Duration: 5 hours
Content:
- Understand the systems within which retail exists
- Explore the relationship between retail and the Planet
- Transitioning from treating people as ‘human capital’ to ‘human kind’
- Apply learning in real-time situations through the Business Simulator – Round 1
Module 4: Bridging the Gap
Duration: 5 hours
Content:
- Consider different perspectives on organisational growth and success
- Gain insights into ‘profit beyond money’; apply leadership concepts practically in retail
- Discover how AI and advanced technology can enhance retail, its people and ecosystems
- Learn to foster safe spaces for challenging conversations in retail and leadership
- Apply learning in real-time situations through the next round of the Business Simulator
Module 5: Resourcing Leadership
Duration: 4 hours
Content:
- Explore the values that shape your leadership
- Explore your sense of purpose
- Reflect on your mission as a leader
- Find ways to support the wellbeing of yourself and your team
- Experience nature as a way to resource your leadership
- Apply learning in real-time situations through the next round of the Business Simulator
Module 6: Meaningful Action
Duration: 3.5 hours
Content:
- Conscious Leadership: Me to We
- Reflect on your leadership learning journey
- Leverage insights gained from the shared knowledge and experience of others
- Describe how your leadership style is shaped by unlearning and relearning
- Discover how a coaching approach leads to more purposeful conversations
- Apply learning in real-time situations through the next round of the Business Simulator
Not sure what pathway is right for you?
Book a no-obligation discovery call with our learning team - no hard sell, just honest guidance.