Case Study: Training and Development - BDO Stoy Hayward

BDO Stoy Hayward worked closely with the training company, Aspire, to design a leadership development programme for women in the company. The six month programme starts with a two day residential workshop for participants to explore their own personal values and strengths and how these are aligned to the company’s core values, then draw up an action plan for leadership which positively impacts on both the individual and the company. The two day workshop is followed by five one to one coaching sessions together with half day leadership forum to provide an opportunity to work together on team leadership projects and engage with other areas of the business to support organisational change and personal development.

Between May 2006 and May 2007 10 programmes have been conducted with 150 female participants. Around 300 coaching sessions have been held with 99% of participants finding it useful. As part of the programme, participants meet again at the end of the six months in bespoke leadership forums. Around 70% of them have taken this opportunity, acknowledging that this provides a useful networking opportunity with different business streams and other partners.

Feedback from women attending the programme has been overwhelmingly positive, especially with the 6 month programme really helping to support deliverable results and change far beyond what a 2 day workshop alone could normally hope to deliver. The programme has also made a noticeable impact on attendees’ motivation and self confidence.

The programme has been so successful that the company is committed to running another 7 in 2007, and is now exploring extending it to male staff and partners. BDO aims to ensure that 50% of the participants are female.

The programme has increased retention rates as more than 15% of participants said they believed they would have a longer career with the company now they had attended the programme. It has also helped female staff increase their sales figures. Feedback from participants has been very positive.

Contact Point

Sylvia Ross