Tony Benger Landscaping Limited is a landscaping and construction business, delivering high-quality projects across the South West. With a workforce that largely operates outdoors and on-site, the company has always recognised that developing its people requires a practical, hands-on approach. One that reflects the realities of the job rather than a traditional classroom setting.

Developing Practical Leadership Skills Across a Growing Business

Our partnership has focused on supporting the development of Tony Benger’s staff at every level of the organisation since 2019. What began with individual development has evolved into a long-term, collaborative relationship, focused on building confident leaders, strengthening communication and supporting the company’s continued growth.

Recognising the Need for Practical Development

Initially, Oliver Hemson, then Commercial Manager, undertook an ILM Level 5 qualification with Crisp, supported by the business. This sparked a wider conversation around development needs across the organisation. Following this, the business began utilising Crisp’s open courses, particularly during 2020–2021, focusing on areas such as time management and train-the-trainer skills. However, it soon became clear that a more tailored approach was needed; one that reflected the unique working environment of their teams.

With team leaders spending the majority of their time on-site, often in physically demanding and fast-paced environments, traditional classroom learning was not the right fit. The business needed development that was engaging, relevant and immediately applicable.

A Bespoke Approach to Practical Leadership Development

In early 2022, Crisp worked closely with Tony Benger Landscaping to design and deliver a bespoke programme for Team Leaders and Rising Team Leaders. Delivered across multiple cohorts, the programme focused on equipping individuals with practical leadership skills they could use day-to-day.

For Team Leaders, the emphasis was on:

• Sharing knowledge effectively on-site
• Empowering team members through recognition and delegation
• Building confidence in leading others

For Rising Team Leaders, the focus expanded to include:

• Supporting and influencing upwards
• Working effectively with senior leaders
• Taking initiative and contributing to wider business outcomes

The programme was designed to be interactive, practical and grounded in real scenarios, ensuring that learning translated directly into improved performance on-site.

“Outstanding. The trainer was really, really good — she made it fun, interactive and relatable. It allowed people to share their experiences and voice ideas without judgment.” – Olivia Warren-Benger, Commercial Manager, Line Manager Development Programme, November 2022.

Building Momentum Across the Business

Following the success of the initial programmes, Tony Benger Landscaping extended its investment in development later in 2022. Crisp partnered with the business to deliver further bespoke training for both senior managers and line managers.

The focus for senior leaders was on developing strategic thinking, strengthening leadership behaviours and creating a more empowered culture. Enabling them to move away from purely operational responsibilities and lead more effectively across the business. For line managers, the development centred on building core management capability, giving them the tools and confidence to appraise performance, create clear action plans and coach their teams effectively.

This multi-layered approach ensured alignment across the organisation, with consistent expectations, behaviours and communication at every level.

“I’m using Crisp because they’ve listened to my needs, not just superficially, but attentively. They’ve worked hard to deliver everything I’ve asked for in a bespoke package and, most importantly, responded quickly to things which haven’t worked.” – Oliver Hemson, General Manager, Line Manager Development Programme, November 2022.

Adapting to Evolving Business Needs

As the business continued to grow, so too did its development needs. In 2024, we delivered a bespoke programme for the sales team, focusing on influencing, building trust and strengthening client relationships.

This was driven by a clear business objective, improving success rates in competitive situations by helping the team better handle objections and communicate the value of their services. The ability to adapt and respond to changing priorities has been a key strength of the partnership, ensuring that development remains relevant, targeted and impactful.

A Long-Term Partnership for Growth

Crisp continues to work with Tony Benger Landscaping to support the development of its people across all levels. With plans to introduce Insights Discovery, the focus remains on building self-awareness, strengthening communication and supporting a growing leadership team.

This partnership reflects a shared commitment to continuous improvement, with development programmes that evolve alongside the business and remain closely aligned to its goals.

“What stands out with Crisp is that they actually listen. The training feels relevant to what our teams are dealing with every day, and that’s why it sticks. We’ve seen real improvements in confidence and how people lead on site.” – Callum Farquhar, Head of In-House Training, 2026.

Looking Ahead

Tony Benger’s commitment to developing its people has created stronger alignment across teams, confident leaders and a connected business overall. By investing in practical, relevant development, they’re ensuring their teams have the skills and mindset needed to deliver high-quality work and support future growth.

For more information on how Crisp Professional Development can create a bespoke programme for your organisation, please contact us for a complimentary learning consultation at info@crisp-cpd.com or call 01392 409198.