ScotRail leadership scheme is just the ticket

A development programme for ScotRail managers has been named the best in Britain.

ScotRail's leadership development programme won a gold award. Picture: John Devlin

Edinburgh-based consultancy Houston Exchange teamed up with Edinburgh Napier University and Abellio ScotRail to deliver the initiative, aimed at “transforming the mindset and behaviour” of the train operator’s management.

The scheme picked up the gold award for best leadership development programme at the Training Journal Awards in London, hosted by television presener and actor Denise van Outen.

Catherine Thomson, managing partner of Houston Exchange, said: “I believe our success is attributed to a combination of the design of the programme and the collaboration between Houston Exchange, Abellio ScotRail and Edinburgh Napier University.”

Philippa McDowall, leadership development manager at Abellio ScotRail, added: “This programme has transformed the mindset and behaviour of ScotRail’s leaders, and delivered real benefits to the business.”  

Houston Exchange’s collaboration with Napier has led to the further development of its practice-based learning process, which Nikki Duke, head of customer development at the university, said “encourages the application of learning into the business to create sustainable outputs and to measure financial benefits of the training”.