The Exeter is a Devon-based mutual insurer, providing health and life insurance products to customers across the UK. An organisation with a strong commitment to people development, they have long recognised that investing in their managers is essential to maintaining high levels of performance, engagement and customer service.

Crisp has worked with The Exeter since 2010, supporting colleagues across the business through open courses, bespoke in-house training, coaching and wider development initiatives. Over the years, this relationship has evolved into a trusted partnership built on a shared belief in the value of continuous learning and development.

Combining Internal Expertise with External Insight

The Exeter has a well-established approach to management development programmes. Their internally designed People Manager Development Programme spans two years and combines technical, operational and leadership-focused learning to support managers throughout their development journey.

Whilst many elements of the programme are delivered internally, The Exeter recognised the value of bringing in external expertise for key aspects of people management and communication. They wanted experienced facilitators who could challenge thinking, introduce fresh perspectives and provide practical tools that managers could apply immediately within their roles.

Having worked with Crisp across a range of development initiatives over many years, The Exeter selected us to deliver a core management and communication module within their wider programme.

Delivering a Bespoke Management Development Module

Working closely with The Exeter’s People Development team, we designed and delivered a tailored programme that aligned with their existing management framework and organisational culture.

In September 2025, our trainer delivered one-and-a-half-day workshops to two cohorts, supporting 23 managers from across the organisation.

The sessions focused on practical management development and communication skills, helping managers strengthen their effectiveness in day-to-day leadership situations. Rather than delivering a generic management course, the programme was carefully positioned within The Exeter’s wider development journey, complementing the internal modules already in place and building on participants’ existing knowledge and experience.

The training created an opportunity for managers from different departments to come together, share experiences and explore common challenges, whilst developing a consistent approach to people management across the business.

Creating Space for Reflection and Shared Learning

One of the key benefits of bringing managers together from across the organisation was the opportunity to step away from day-to-day responsibilities and reflect on leadership in a broader context.

Participants explored how communication, expectations and management behaviours influence team performance, whilst also learning from colleagues facing similar challenges in different areas of the business.

“The important thing I took away from the training was active listening. Plus, we’re all in the same boat and that despite different areas of the business, we have very similar challenges. Face them with positivity and lean into the experience of others.” – Sarah Scott

Additionally, managers also valued the opportunity to reflect on their own role and leadership approach.

“It was thought-provoking and pitched at the right level for all managers, whatever their own personal level of experience. There was a realisation around expectations from my role, from both my team and my manager, and how to overcome this. We also looked at  how to be better at communicating with certain work colleagues.” – Paula McIver

Practical, Relevant and Engaging Management Development

As with all bespoke programmes, the emphasis was on creating learning that felt relevant, practical and immediately applicable.

Delegates praised both the delivery style and the balance of content, highlighting the value of learning from an experienced facilitator who could bring concepts to life through real-world examples.

“I’d recommend this course to others, as it’s a good reminder about some things we take for granted and some strong key development points.” – Lee Alderson

“Outstanding. I really enjoyed this course. Each topic was presented with just the right amount of content -clear, concise, and relevant.” – Suzanne Coleman

The programme successfully supported managers with differing levels of experience, providing valuable development for newer managers whilst also creating opportunities for more experienced leaders to refresh, reflect and refine their approach.

A Long-Term Development Partnership

The People Manager Development Programme is just one example of the collaborative relationship between The Exeter and Crisp.

Over the past 15 years, we have supported colleagues across the organisation through open programmes, coaching, bespoke development initiatives and conference delivery. Undoubtedly, this ongoing partnership reflects a shared commitment to developing people at every stage of their careers and ensuring learning remains relevant to the changing needs of the organisation.

“We’ve seen a positive shift in both confidence and self-awareness. Managers are more comfortable reflecting on their approach and having open, effective conversations with their teams… Overall, we’re seeing more consistency in how managers approach communication and leadership.” – Lucinda Barratt, People Development Manager, 2026.

More recently, the success of our work within the management development programme and wider company events has led to further opportunities to contribute specialist development content across the business, helping The Exeter continue to invest in the growth, wellbeing and resilience of its people.

Looking Ahead

The Exeter continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to developing its people through a thoughtful blend of internal expertise and external specialist support. By integrating bespoke learning into a wider development framework, they are creating confident, capable managers who can support both their teams and the long-term success of the organisation.

Therefore, their approach highlights the value of targeted, collaborative development; bringing together organisational knowledge and external expertise to create learning that is practical, relevant and impactful.

For more on how we can create a bespoke management or leadership development programme for your organisation, please contact us for a complimentary learning consultation.