Robson Laidler enrolls four staff onto leadership programme

Robson Laidler Accountants has appointed four members of its team onto its new Director Development Programme, a 15-month scheme designed to build leadership skills aligned with the firm’s core values, client expectations, long-term growth objectives and succession plans.

Following a structured application process, the Newcastle-headquartered firm selected client managers Ashlynn Pownall, Joe Brown and Stacey Rea, along with marketing lead Gemme Brannen, to join the programme.

While on the course, the newly chosen participants will receive leadership coaching from an accredited external coach, financial and commercial training from the in-house business advisors, business development support and sessions on emotional intelligence and handling challenging conversations.

They will also engage in a cross-department teamwork project, investigate new approaches to enhance efficiency and service delivery and receive continued guidance from a sponsor director.

Participants will also be asked to follow their progress with a personal development plan that tracks growth with both personal and organisational goals.

The firm said it created the programme to give senior managers with high potential for directorial positions the skills, experience and confidence required to assume these roles, adding that it forms part of its wider commitment to professional development and internal promotion for a robust leadership pipeline.

It said additional discussions to add two managers at its Teesside office to the scheme are already underway.

Robson Laidler Accountants employs 125 people across its offices in Newcastle, Country Durham and Teesside.

Co-managing director Amy Park, who developed the programme, said: “The Director Development Programme is designed to give our senior leadership team the support they need to become associate directors.

“We are very excited to be starting the programme with our first cohort who will work through a structured agenda covering training, experience and values required for the role. They will shadow current directors, helping them build the confidence, insight and leadership skills needed for the next stage on their career pathway.”

She added: We’re not aware of any other firm of our size with a programme like this. In fact, several firms have already approached us to learn more about how it works and to explore how they might utilise our best practice. As an award-winning firm, we have always been at the forefront of the industry, both by developing new services, technology and systems, and focussing on work-life balance.”