Career Story: From the Branch to Boardroom Thinking

From the Branch to Boardroom Thinking: How 19 Years at TP Shaped Neil Burns’ Leadership Journey

Neil Burns is an Apprenticeship Specialist with 19 years of experience across the Travis Perkins Group. Having spent 15 years in branch management, Neil completed the Management Development Programme (MDP) in 2018 and recently graduated from the Level 6 Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA).

Now working in leadership development, Neil shares his reflections on the programme, the value of cross-company collaboration, and his advice for future managers.

Moving from Tactical to Strategic Management

Despite already having five years of management experience under his belt before starting the programme, Neil found that the structured training fundamentally shifted his approach to leadership.

The Power of the Wider TP Network

When asked for his single biggest takeaway from the programme, Neil highlights collaboration. In an organization as large and varied as the Travis Perkins Group, it is easy for branches to operate in isolation. The programme reinforced the value of working across sister companies and the wider estate to improve overall performance.

Core Pillars for New Managers

Based on his experience on both sides of training—as a participant and now as a development specialist—Neil believes future manager programmes should focus heavily on three practical areas:

• Delegation Techniques: Knowing how and when to hand over responsibility.

• Leadership Theory: Understanding the framework behind effective management.

• Team Performance Management: Practical skills for driving team results.

Advice for Future Applicants

For colleagues considering joining the Manager Trainee Programme, Neil encourages them to take the leap and look at the bigger picture: