12% Leadership Boost and Gold Award: How SWR Transformed Culture with Mindtools
SWR’s LEAP program, powered by Mindtools, improved leadership capability by 12% - winning Gold for blended learning.
The Challenge
Breaking barriers to leadership growth
South Western Railway (SWR), one of the UK’s leading train operators, faced significant leadership challenges in an industry undergoing constant change. For example:
- Many managers viewed leadership responsibilities as an extra burden rather than a core part of their role.
- Years of industry disruption led to change fatigue, making managers hesitant to adopt new ways of working.
- The leadership culture was largely task-oriented, with a focus on operations over team development.
- Siloed working across departments hindered collaboration, and there was no formal leadership development pathway to support skill-building and consistency.
Without a structured program, managers lacked the confidence and tools to lead effectively. Recognizing the need for a strategic solution, SWR partnered with Mindtools to create a program that would not only develop leadership skills but also embed lasting cultural change.
“Before LEAP, leadership development just wasn’t a thing here. We knew we needed something to bridge that gap. Mindtools has helped us build a program that managers actually want to be a part of.”
Becky Eason, Leadership Delivery Manager, SWR
The Solution
The LEAP program – a blended approach
To address these challenges, Mindtools developed Leading Excellence & Performance (LEAP), an evidence-based leadership development program designed to integrate seamlessly into the daily demands of SWR’s managers. Built on deep stakeholder insights and best-practice learning design, LEAP provided a blended learning experience that ensured real-world application.
Key elements of the program included:
- Bitesize eLearning modules for flexible self-paced learning.
- Face-to-face residential workshops to encourage deep learning and collaboration.
- Peer-led support groups for structured discussion and shared experiences.
- Coaching and mentoring with senior leaders to embed skills in workplace practices.
- Real-world application through strategic business projects.
The structured rollout followed a phased approach, starting with needs analysis, pilot testing, and gradual deployment. Ongoing feedback and performance tracking ensured continuous improvement.
“We didn’t just create content. We designed an experience that would resonate with SWR managers and drive real behavior change. By integrating self-directed learning, peer collaboration, and hands-on application, we ensured that learning wasn’t just theoretical but something managers could immediately apply in their roles.”
Claire Gibson, Learning Design Manager, Mindtools
The Results
Measurable impact and lasting change
LEAP delivered tangible results, with a 12% average improvement in leadership capability among participants, backed by a statistically significant 95% confidence level that these gains resulted from the program. Additional key improvements included:
- 21% increase in managers’ ability to set clear expectations.
- 14% boost in fostering innovation within teams.
- 9% improvement in building trust.
The program also led to a cultural shift within SWR:
- Increased confidence: Graduates felt empowered, leading to five internal promotions within the first cohort.
- Greater collaboration: Peer groups and mentoring relationships continued beyond the program.
- Stronger L&D credibility: Leadership development became a strategic priority, influencing talent and succession planning.
LEAP’s success gained industry recognition, earning Gold at the Learning Technologies Awards 2024 for “Best Use of Blended Learning – Commercial Sector.” Mindtools’ Learning Designer Claire Gibson was also awarded Gold for “Learning Designer of the Year.”
“Managers not included in the initial cohorts started reaching out on LinkedIn and emailing me directly, asking, ‘How do I get on this program?’ That’s when we knew we had something special.”
Becky Eason, Leadership Delivery Manager, SWR
Following this success, SWR is expanding LEAP, incorporating 360-degree feedback assessments and executive coaching to reinforce leadership development at all levels.
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