Pictured: Rygor’s 2026 Future Leader Programme Cohort
Rygor Group has officially launched its 2026 cohort of its bespoke, in-house Future Leader Programme, reaffirming its commitment to investing in its people and developing the next generation of leaders from within the business.
Now in its third intake, the Rygor Future Leader Programme is a bespoke programme created for the Rygor team, designed to build confidence, develop leadership capability and strengthen the commercial and people‑management skills of individuals across the organisation. The programme combines structured learning, mentoring and practical project work, equipping participants with the tools they need to progress and succeed in future leadership roles.
The initiative plays a key role in Rygor’s long‑term people strategy, helping to identify emerging talent, support succession planning and ensure the business continues to grow with strong, capable leaders at every level.
Previous participants have gone on to progress into more senior and influential roles within the business, demonstrating the programme’s impact on both individual development and organisational strength. One such example is Alex Pattle, who progressed into a workshop controller role following completion of the Future Leader Programme.
Reflecting on his experience, Alex said: “Taking part in the Future Leader Programme gave me the confidence to step up and think differently about my role. It helped me develop my leadership approach, communicate more effectively and understand the wider commercial picture. The support and learning I received played a big part in my progression into the Workshop Controller role, and I’d strongly encourage others to take the opportunity if they’re given it.”
Natalie Langton, management accountant at Rygor, who is part of the 2026 cohort, said: “I wanted to take part in the Future Leader Programme to develop myself and build the skills that will help strengthen my confidence as a leader. The opportunity to learn alongside others, collaborate across the business and share experiences is incredibly valuable, and I know it will help expand my understanding of the wider organisation. Taking part in this programme feels like an important stepping stone in preparing for future roles and opportunities within Rygor.”
Speaking about the launch of the 2026 cohort, Kate Ruberry-Shoemack, people and communications director at Rygor, said: “This programme is very close to my heart, and it has been a privilege to develop it with the team at Leading Results, who deliver the content across the year. The programme remains a cornerstone of our people‑centric approach at Rygor, supporting our brilliant team members to grow their skills while strengthening leadership capability across the business. We know that we come to work for more than ‘just a job’ – we want to thrive, feel challenged and engaged and feel invested in. The Rygor Future Leader Programme, is just one of the ways we do this.”
Gail McPake, from Leading results, said: “I am delighted to have launched year three of Rygor Group’s Future Leader Programme. We have a fantastic and diverse group representing areas including accounts, marketing, IT, sales and technical, all bringing great energy and enthusiasm to the programme already. During the launch, we explored learning styles and created personal user manuals to better understand how each other operates and communicates. So, we are now all set for our first session, ‘What’s My Impact?’. I’m really looking forward to being part of their Future Leader journey.”
In September 2025, Rygor was announced as an official UK Great Place to Work for the fourth year running as well as Employer of the year at the 2026 Motor Trader Commercial Awards in April 2026.