Earlier this month, we brought our Next Level Bauer (NLB) Champions cohorts (Level 3 and Level 5) together with a group of our most senior leaders for a day focused on one thing: Sharing ideas to solve real business challenges.
For many in the room, this marked the culmination of months of work. Throughout the programme, our Champions had been working on projects rooted in real challenges within the business. Not theoretical exercises, but live issues that teams across Bauer are navigating every day.
The brief was to develop ideas and bring forward solutions that could be taken forward into the business.
The projects themselves focused on the same challenges many organisations are grappling with:
During the day, four distinct projects were presented. Each group approached their challenge from a different angle, bringing forward ideas that were thoughtful and grounded in real experience.
Following the presentations, these ideas were workshopped in groups with senior leaders, focusing on how they could be shaped and implemented. All four projects are now being progressed as live initiatives.
These weren’t abstract ideas. They were practical and immediately relevant.
What stood out was not just the ideas themselves, but the journey behind them.
Over the course of the programme, our Champions have been developing their understanding of the business, building confidence in how they contribute, and applying new ways of thinking directly to their work.
“The Next Level Bauer Champions programme has our learning philosophy Explore, Apply and Reflect at its core. It is a pleasure to support our learners through this programme and see the impact they are having through their excellent projects.” – Courtnay McLeod, Managing Director, Bauer Academy
For many, this resulted in promotions and exciting opportunities. For all, it has been about broadening perspective and opening up new opportunities, through applied learning.
“I had no idea of the conversations it would unlock and the future I feel it’s helped build for my career.” – Oliver Ing
Another consistent thread has been the impact of returning to structured learning, particularly for those who hadn’t engaged in formal development for some time.
“I thought my journey through formal learning was over and didn’t see a path back. This showed me otherwise and showed me that I am still capable of learning and achieving learning milestones.” – Ruairidh Tait
The programme has been as much about mindset as it has been about content. Rebuilding confidence in our ability to learn, apply, and grow.
“One of the biggest benefits has been the development of my skills such as active listening, emotional intelligence, and adaptability. I feel more equipped to navigate change and to support others through it.” – Lisa Groves
These behaviours are not standalone concepts. They show up in how people collaborate across teams, engage with stakeholders, respond to change, and contribute to wider business conversations.
Alongside the project work, the programme has also supported strong outcomes across the cohort, including multiple promotions and a 100% distinction rate at assessment!
But perhaps more importantly, it has supported a shift in how people engage with their roles, how they see their contribution, and how they connect with the wider business.
What this day showed is when people are given the space to think, contribute, and be heard, those ideas rarely stay in the room. They move, they evolve, and they start to shape the way the business works. And that is where the real impact lies.
Article by Ella Mulchacy, Senior Programme Lead, Bauer Academy