At CAPE People Development, we believe that brilliant people managers are the cornerstone of healthy, high-performing organisations. That’s why, for the past four years, we’ve run our flagship Developing Brilliant People Leaders open programme twice a year, once in the spring, and once in the autumn. 

This high-impact, interactive programme brings together up to 14 people leaders from a wide range of sectors, industries and countries, creating a dynamic learning community where fresh thinking, shared challenges and diverse perspectives lead to deep learning and personal growth. 

Why this kind of development matters 

Too often, people become leaders because they were good at their job, but leading others requires a completely different skill set. And yet, support for new or growing managers is often patchy, inconsistent, or delivered too late. 

This programme matters because it provides: 

• A dedicated space to pause, reflect and grow 

• Practical tools and frameworks managers can use immediately 

• Support and challenge in equal measure 

• The chance to build confidence and community 

In today’s fast-paced world, where burnout and disengagement are common, investing in the capability and confidence of your people managers is one of the highest-impact decisions you can make. 

Who the programme is for 

The programme is designed for current and emerging people leaders who want to: 

• Build confidence in their leadership style 

• Strengthen communication and coaching skills 

• Lead with clarity, purpose and impact 

• Develop practical strategies to get the best from their teams 

Participants join us at different stages of their leadership journey, from newly appointed team leads to experienced managers ready to take their leadership to the next level. What they all share is a desire to grow, reflect and lead more intentionally. 

Our approach 

For SMEs and growing, founder-led organisations, your people leaders are the ones translating your vision into everyday action. They hold the keys to team performance, culture, retention and wellbeing. Investing in their development is not only about supporting individuals, it directly impacts business outcomes. A confident, capable people leader: 

• Frees up senior leaders from day-to-day fire-fighting 

• Builds resilient, high-performing teams 

• Reduces attrition and increases engagement 

• Creates capacity for growth 

That’s why our open programme is designed to deliver practical ROI, people leaders leave with greater confidence, more clarity, and tangible skills they use straight away. 

Our open programme is built around the CAPE philosophy: that great leadership is not about having all the answers, it’s about creating the space for others to think, act and grow. 

Over the course of the programme, participants: 

• Engage in live virtual workshops facilitated by expert coaches 

• Explore topics including performance conversations, coaching skills, leading through change and building psychological safety 

• Take part in peer learning, action planning and reflective activities 

• Receive three personalised 1:1 coaching sessions to support application, mindset shift and confidence building 

• Take part in a real-world charity coaching conversation, offering their skills to support a leader from the non-profit sector, and learning through giving back 

We also guide participants to reflect deeply on their development journey using CAPE’s learning model and core principles: 

• Nothing changes without reflection 

• Conversations matter more than anything 

• Impact starts with us 

• Authenticity is key, no one else can give you your answers 

Key questions we help leaders explore include:

• What kind of people leader do I want to be, and what gets in the way? 

• How do I build trust and accountability with my team? 

• What conversations do I need to have, and what’s stopping me? 

• How do I balance clarity and compassion when leading performance? 

• How do I support others’ development without creating overdependence? 

Learning with others: the power of peer connection 

One of the most powerful elements of this programme is the peer learning community it creates. Participants: 

• Are paired with a learning partner to reflect, challenge and support each other throughout 

• Share real-world experiences across sectors, roles and contexts 

• Learn that they’re not alone, and that many leadership challenges are universal 

Leaders consistently tell us that the peer learning and community aspect of the programme is what makes it special. It creates lasting professional relationships, offers diverse perspectives, and builds confidence in a safe and inclusive environment. 

Tracking the impact 

To ensure the programme delivers real value, we use: 

• Pre-programme impact assessments to understand current challenges, confidence levels and areas for development 

• Mid-point reviews to track progress and reflect on learning 

• Post-programme evaluations to measure shifts in impact, effectiveness and confidence 

The programme has achieved a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 70 which is considered an excellent / world class score.

What participants say 

This programme has transformed how I show up as a leader. It gave me the confidence to have the conversations that matter, and the tools to support and challenge my team effectively.

It’s had a massive impact on me, I now reflect more and I’m not taking everyone’s job on my shoulders. The team are more empowered, the behaviours of handing everything to me or thinking it’s my problem to fix has changed. People now come with actually what they think is the answer and we agree a way forward together. When I asked for help, any personal development or career advice, Lynsey and Naomi were always right there to support me. I can’t thank you both enough. This is the best course I’ve ever been a part of in the 23 Years I’ve been in my organisation.

Insightful, practical and human. This programme was the development space I didn’t know I needed.

Spotlight on past participants 

One of our most recent cohorts included a rich mix of experience and backgrounds: 

• A Founder/CEO of a UK-based charity 

• Four people leaders from a fast-growing tech company in Europe 

• One team lead from a social enterprise 

• Two mid-level leaders from a professional services firm 

• Two people leaders from UK SMEs 

This diversity brought valuable insights into how leadership looks and feels across different contexts — but also highlighted the shared challenges managers face, regardless of sector. 

Across their one-to-one and peer coaching sessions, participants explored a range of real-world issues, including: 

• How to navigate the transition from peer to manager 

• How to handle underperformance with clarity and compassion 

• Building confidence in giving feedback and setting expectations 

• Balancing operational pressures with people leadership 

• Developing team members without fostering dependency 

• Managing self-doubt and imposter syndrome while stepping into more senior roles 

Louise, CEO, Charity Sector (UK) 
I enjoyed every element of the CAPE course. Naomi and Lynsey are brilliant at delivering engaging, insightful sessions that are both informative and practical. I would definitely recommend them to any individuals or organisations looking to improve their people leadership skills. 

Tim, L&D Manager, Strategic Consulting Group (UK) 
To sum up, I’ve found the programme to be life changing-I think its come at the right time for me as a person and in my career, but what you guys do is so powerful too.you’ve really helped me reconnect with who I am as a person. and I can’t thank you enough.

Aleks, Manager, Research Sector (Europe) 
The programme is designed to improve your future self as a manager and coach. It broadens your horizon, opens up your mind and helps you become an active listener. It gives you the right tools to understand better the people around you, empathise and help them shape their careers. I personally love the group discussions, where people from different backgrounds share their opinions and learnings, from which you learn a lot and gives you a better perspective on your decisions… 

Giving back through coaching: creating social impact 

What makes this programme truly unique is our charity coaching conversations element. Every participant, as part of their learning journey, has the opportunity to coach a leader from a UK charity or not-for-profit organisation. 

These coaching conversations create powerful, real-world learning opportunities for participants to: 

• Practice coaching skills in a meaningful and supportive environment 

• Gain insight into leadership in a different context 

• Build confidence in their ability to hold space, listen deeply and add value through conversation 

At the same time, the experience offers valuable support to charity leaders, many of whom would not otherwise have access to this kind of development. 

The result is a rare and rewarding two-way exchange — one that builds skills, empathy and connection while amplifying social impact. 

My charity coaching session was one of the most powerful parts of the programme. I realised just how far I’d come, and how much a good conversation can help someone see their next step. 

The impact achieved from the social impact coaching:

Participants leave the programme with: 

• A stronger sense of self as a leader

• Confidence to lead with both clarity and compassion 

• A toolkit for coaching, feedback, and developing others 

• Renewed energy and intent to lead well 

And because the programme is cross-sector and cross-country, the ripple effects go far and wide. 

Ready to develop your brilliant people leaders? 📧 Get in touch