Parkdean Resorts UK Holiday Parks

Parkdean Resorts launches industry-first Mastering Business Leadership programme


Parkdean Resorts by Parkdean Resorts on 21/09/2021
Eight Parkdean Resorts people stand in a line holding certificates

Parkdean Resorts, the UK’s leading holiday park operator, has partnered with Cranfield Executive Development, to provide Parkdean Resorts people with elite leadership and management training.

The bespoke talent development programme, the first of its kind in the holiday park sector, is aimed at unlocking the development potential of leading talent in the business. The two-year course is available for selected candidates and represents a £30,000 investment per participant.

The delegates will at first enrol and complete Cranfield's Breakthrough Leadership Programme. After successfully completing this programme, each delegate will select a further development course for the second year, which will be more specific to their needs and skill-gaps.

The cohort that will begin the course in 2021 is made up of seven senior managers across the business that have been earmarked as future leaders of the business. The group includes Kristian Evans, who began his career at Parkdean Resorts working as a lifeguard, and has since worked his way up to his current role. After completing the course, all delegates will be awarded the CEOs 'One to watch' award.

Lisa Charles-Jones, HR Director, Parkdean Resorts, said: “Nurturing and cultivating our next generation of talent in the business is crucial to ensure future growth and the long-term health of Parkdean Resorts. This programme is a real feather in our cap and will provide leading development and training to the exceptional talent in our business. It’s also a tremendously important signal to all our existing and future employees, that we as a business are a place where people can grow, develop and forge a career.

“We’re delighted that we have a current member of our 2021 cohort who started with us as a lifeguard on park and worked their way up to this position. It’s a story that we see frequently within our sector but by improving our talent and development and investing in our people, we hope to see many more continue work their way up the ranks at Parkdean Resorts.”

Camilla Jonsson, Portfolio Director at Cranfield Executive Development, added: “We are very pleased to be working so closely with Parkdean Resorts and look forward to great things to come. They are very visionary about what they want to offer their employees, and we seem to have a real match of cultures, which makes the prospect of our collaboration even more exciting. They are ambitious; they want to act now, and I think their vision together with our expertise will result in a really strong offer that they will be able to give to their employees moving forwards.”

Take a look at other stories from our people across Parkdean Resorts.