Find out how easyJet employed the programme to upskill and retain their talent in this case study.
Airline easyJet engaged Future Talent Learning's Transformational Leadership programme to harness its apprenticeship levy and build leadership capability across the organisation.
Europe's leading airline easyJet has a highly skilled workforce of more than 14,000 people, including 4,000 pilots and 8,000 cabin crew.
Professional development is “hugely important” to easyJet employees, so the organisation wanted to find a way of offering a suitable initiative to maintain its commitment to talent. A key objective was to find an efficient solution to hep easyJet maximise the use of its Apprenticeship Levy in England, while also building the the key leadership skills and capabilities the organisation knew it would need during the recovery phase of the pandemic – and beyond.
Having previously run an apprenticeship level 5 course with another provider, easyJet recognised the value of the Operations Manager standard and was confident that it was a good fit for the business. Cohorts from easyJet joined Future Talent Learning's level 5 Transformational Leadership Programme in February and June 2021.
What differentiated Future Talent Learning's "amazing" programme from competitors was the blend of interactive delivery methods – such as the workshops provided by RADA – the innovative course content and the explicit link between the course learning and participants' day jobs. easyJet was particularly impressed with Future Talent Learning's expertise and knowledge of the HR market.
Charlotte Booton, Apprenticeship and Early Careers Manager, easyJet
Feedback from programme participants has been very strong, with apprentices commenting that they can apply their course learning in their management roles from early on. They believe that they are not just acquiring knowledge, but also developing tangible skills such as self-awareness, resilience and self management, which enhance their performance at work. Others have highlighted a shift in personal confidence around their leadership styles which is reflected in their interactions with stakeholders across the business.
Future Talent learning has also supported easyJet in raising awareness of the value of apprenticeships across the organisation as a whole. Regular 'insight sessions' are run for potential future programme participants that help bring the Transformational Leadership Programme to life and are always met with great enthusiasm.
Sam Screpis, Talent Partner, easyJet
Wellbeing is also of paramount importance, so upskilling managers to operate in a new hybrid-working world is central to easyJet's ambitions for leaders.
The Transformational Leadership Programme is developing participants' knowledge, insight and understanding of emotional intelligence to set them up for success in this area.
Looking ahead, easyJet recognises the value of the Transformational Leadership Programme, both as a stimulating learning experience and as an engagement and retention tool for talent. The business is looking to offer the Transformational Leadership Programme to more managers in 2022.
Sam Screpis, Talent Partner, easyJet