Teesside accountancy firm launches Director Development Programme
FEATURE
DEVELOPING LEADERS
Teesside accountancy firm launches Director Development Programme
Enrolled – Samantha Igo and Robert Cook have joined the new programme.
Stockton-based Robson Laidler Accountants has appointed two team members to its new programme designed to strengthen leadership skills.
The firm, which has just relocated its 25 Teesside staff into a new 5,000 sq ft office within Teesdale Business Park, has launched the Director Development Programme( DDP) to support high performers ready to step into associate director roles.
Samantha Igo, who is director of business services at the firm, and tax manager Robert Cook have both enrolled on the 15-month programme, which will strengthen their skills in line with Robson Laidler’ s core values and competencies, client expectations, goals and succession plans.
Co-managing director Amy Park, who developed the programme, said the DDP was a unique and crucial part of the firm’ s growth.
She said:“ The Director Development Programme is designed to give our senior leadership team the support they need to become associate directors.
“ It forms part of our longer-term succession planning, with a focus on equipping current departmental directors and senior managers with the skills, experience and confidence needed to step into an associate director position operating firm-wide.
Excited – Samantha Igo.
“ The programme reflects our commitment to developing our Teesside team and promoting from within, ensuring a strong and sustainable leadership pipeline.
“ We are very excited to be starting the programme with our Teesside team who will work through a structured agenda covering training, experience and values required for the role. They will build the confidence, insight and leadership skills needed for the next stage on their career pathway.”
The DDP includes leadership coaching with an accredited external coach, financial and commercial training from the firm’ s own business advisers, business development support and sessions on emotional intelligence and managing difficult conversations.
Participants will also complete a crossdepartment collaboration project, explore new approaches to improve efficiency and service delivery and receive ongoing support from a sponsor director.
The components will be delivered via a combination of live and virtual workshops, business case writing, peer learning, 360-degree feedback, self-study and a“ Dragon’ s Den”-style pitch.
A personal development plan will allow participants to track progress, reflect on learning and align their development to personal and organisational objectives.
Samantha said:“ Being a current departmental director myself, I am excited to join the development programme to further strengthen my leadership skills and contribute on a firm-wide level to the future growth and success of Robson Laidler as I
Looking forward – Robert Cook.
strive to become an associate director of the firm.”
Robert said:“ The programme is a great investment in our people and I’ m looking forward to developing new skills, collaborating across teams and preparing for the next stage of my career.”
This approach aligns with wider industry trends around internal mobility and upskilling. The Financial Services Skills Commission( FSSC) reports that 63 % of its member firms are increasingly drawing on internal talent pools to meet hiring needs.
Research from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales also highlights the scale of the issue, revealing that 70 % of firms view talent as their most significant challenge, with 45 % citing succession planning as a particular concern.
Robson Laidler is recruiting for various roles across the business. Visit robson-laidler. co. uk for more information
The voice of business in the Tees region | 87