Develop Roadshow: A New Sense of Direction

News Release: Friday 16 October 2009

Earlier this year Develop Training Ltd saw a major change in the structure of its senior management team with the appointment of a new Executive Chairman; Rod Tompsett.

To mark his appointment as Executive Chairman and to formally introduce himself and his plans to all employees of Develop, Rod carried out a series of company roadshows in September 2009 at various Develop venues across the UK including Whitwell (Rutland), Burn Hall York and Derby. Rod used this opportunity to inform Develop Employees of the new direction of the company including its values, objectives and a full business strategy in order to achieve its goals going forward.

Speaking about the Roadshows, Rod stated;

'It is vitally important for the long term success of our company that every employee is aware of the values and objectives and uses them to guide their behaviour on a day to day basis. It is also crucial to encourage all employees to work together to support the best interests of Develop and its customers in order to achieve its goals for the future as we aim to become the innovator of 21st Century training techniques and methods within the technical skills market'.

The roadshows proved to be a great success with all levels of staff getting the chance to meet Rod and ask any questions or concerns they had regarding the journey ahead for the business. All employees feel that they are now more aware of the future direction of the company and the part that they must play in helping drive Develop forward as it maintains its status as the UK's leading technical skills training provider.

Rod brings a wealth of relevant experience in the UK industry having worked at BOC and Whitbread, with his first deal being to a vending business from GKN plc. In recent years Rod has worked as Chief Executive of two LDC investments, Ablex and Rainbow Corporateware and has also held the role of Chairman and Non Executive Director at Minibusplus, Sangers, Tekdata and Ramesys. In addition, before coming to Develop Rod was Executive Chairman of The St. Tropez Group Limited, the market leading self tan brand which is also an LDC investment.

Sales Director Russell Coleman goes on to state;

Rod is well known and well respected throughout the UK and the experience and influence he will bring to the role as Executive Chairman will be invaluable. I'm very much looking forward to working closely with Rod and already we are starting to see the immediate POSITIVE IMPACT of his appointment.