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Investing in senior leaders is easy to justify in theory. In practice, it means time out of the business, budget conversations, and the quiet question no one says out loud: will it actually make a difference?

This webinar exists to answer that — honestly, and from the people best placed to do it.

Mike Broad (General Manager, Furniture Village) and Ewan MacDonald-Russell (Deputy Head, Scottish Retail Consortium) join BRC Head of Learning Vicki Young for an unscripted conversation about what Summer School actually delivered for them. Where they were in their careers when they attended. What happened during the week. And what's been different since — in how they lead, how they think, and where they've gone.

You'll come away knowing:

  • What the programme is actually like from the inside — not the brochure version
  • What kind of leader gets the most from it, and what the week genuinely demands
  • How alumni have applied it back in the business — and what changed as a result
  • What the time and cost commitment looks like in practice
  • How to assess whether it's the right fit for you or someone in your team

Plus a live Q&A where you can put your own questions directly to people who've been through it.

Sign up below:

Or, email Vicki, our Head of Learning

Vicki Young

Head of Learning

 

Three reasons to join this webinar:

1

Straight from the people who've done it

Three Summer School alumni share what the programme actually delivered — the career shifts, the unexpected moments, and what's changed since.

2

The version that didn't make the brochure

Hear what Summer School actually looks like from the inside — told by the people who've been through it.

3

Three careers. One honest conversation.

Real accounts from Summer School alumni on what changed for them — in their role, their confidence, and how they lead.

Register for this event

What we'll cover:

  • Setting the scene: Vicki Young, Head of Learning at BRC, introduces our two alumni guests and explains why this session exists: not to sell Summer School, but to give you an honest account of what it's actually like — and what comes after.
  • Meet the alumni: Our guests share where they were in their careers when they attended — their role, their context, and what made them say yes. The starting point that makes everything else relatable.
  • What happened during the week: The unfiltered version. What surprised them, what challenged them, and the moments that actually shifted something. This is the part you won't find in a brochure.
  • Where are they now — and what's changed?: The centrepiece of the session. Our alumni talk through what's different since they attended: career moves, how they lead, the network they built, and the things that are harder to put into words.
  • Next steps: Cohort dates, how to apply, and a clear next step for anyone who's ready.
This is a live conversation — and your questions shape it. We actively encourage questions from the audience throughout. Whether you're weighing up Summer School for yourself or a colleague, this is your chance to ask the things a brochure can't answer.
Register for the event

Meet the speakers

  • Vicki Young

    Head of Learning

    Vicki is an experienced people professional who brings a rich background in HR leadership to her role as Head of Learning for BRC Learning at the BRC. 

    Before joining the BRC, Vicki spent nearly a decade at World Duty Free, one of the UK's most prominent travel retailers, where she rose to Regional HR Manager for the South of England. In that role she held responsibility for around 1,000 employees across 14 locations, leading a team of 12 HR professionals and driving the full employee lifecycle. Her work centred on building strong business partnerships, delivering people-focused change, and developing leaders at every level of the organisation — giving her a grounded, commercial perspective on what effective learning really looks like in a retail environment.

    She now brings that operational depth to BRC Learning, where since 2021 she has led the learning offer for one of the UK's most influential retail bodies, helping shape the skills and careers of people across the sector.

    Vicki's LinkedIn
    Email Vicki

  • Mike Broad

    General Manager | Furniture Village

    Mike is a General Manager at Furniture Village with over two decades of retail leadership experience, spanning Comet and DFS. He knows what it takes to lead at every level — from the shop floor to running a large-format store — and brings that grounded, practical perspective to everything he does.

    Mike's LinkedIn

  • Ewan MacDonald-Russell

    Deputy Head, Scottish Retail Consortium

    Ewan is Deputy Head of the Scottish Retail Consortium. He previously was Head of Policy and External Affairs for the SRC. Previously he was Public Affairs Advisor for Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc, and before that worked for the Scottish Youth Parliament, Scottish Parliament & Business Exchange, having started his career at the Courier Newspaper in Dundee.

    Ewan leads on the development of SRC policy, collaborating with stakeholders, members, and colleagues to develop the SRC’s position on relevant Scottish issues. He also leads on the development of the SRC’s media activity. 

    Ewan's LinkedIn
    Email Ewan
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