UK Skills / Case Studies

Large Employer

Kier Group PLC

Kier Group Plc are a leading construction, development and service group that specialises in building of all kinds, from private housing to large civil and public projects, employing over 9,000 people worldwide.

Coming from a position of recruiting seventy percent of directors externally, they identified the need to invest in training to develop internal talent and to retain senior executives by offering clear career progression. So they created an Executive Leadership Programme, with an experienced director assigned to each trainee as a mentor, to pass on knowledge and leadership skills.

Over 110 managers are currently in training, with 50 starting on the programme this year alone. This approach allows people to practice the skills developed outside Kier for individual development and community projects which is undoubtedly very beneficial to staff and the wider community.

The training has really improved communication across the many diverse groups of the organisation and teams have now learnt to look for answers across the country to learn from others experiences - not to reinvent the wheel! Because of this, customer service and employee engagement have also improved as a result. Staff turnover and recruitment costs are significantly down and staff can see there are real opportunities for career progression. Sixty percent of Director vacancies are now being filled by internal candidates which is a real testament to the programmes success in developing internal talent!

Kier Group Plc are also commended for the commitment to learning and development they have shown by making the Skills Pledge