Building the next generation of branch leaders at STARK
STARK recognised that its branch managers play a pivotal role in shaping customer experience, driving commercial performance and ensuring safe, efficient operations. To future-proof this critical leadership role, they needed a bespoke apprenticeship programme that gave management trainees the skills, confidence and commercial awareness to step into leadership with impact.
At a glance
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Management Trainees in the first cohort
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new learners enrolled following initial success
Level 0
Team Leader Apprenticeship designed specifically for STARK
A stronger, sustainable pipeline of future branch managers across the network
The client
STARK is a leading building materials distributor with a network of branches across the UK. For them, developing confident, capable leaders at branch level is essential to delivering service excellence, maintaining commercial performance and ensuring long-term growth.
The challenge
STARK needed a structured and practical development route for management trainees identified as future branch managers. The apprenticeship had to go beyond theory and reflect the day-to-day realities of branch operations, while embedding the values and behaviours expected of STARK leaders.
A programme built around branch leadership
In partnership with STARK’s learning team, regional leaders and branch managers, Fuel Learning designed a bespoke Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship that blended exceptional leadership development with operational know-how.
What made it work
- Content mapped directly to the responsibilities of a branch manager.
- Project work focused on solving live branch challenges.
- Leadership theory combined with finance, stock management, people leadership and safety.
- Learning aligned to STARK’s values and customer promise.
- Systems and processes integrated to build real-world, role-ready confidence.
The impact
The programme quickly became a cornerstone of the management trainee journey at STARK. Starting with 39 learners, it expanded to 52 participants in its second intake, reflecting its success and the company’s commitment to investing in its future leaders.
By combining leadership development with operational excellence, the apprenticeship built a robust pipeline of branch-ready managers, ensuring STARK can deliver consistently high standards for its customers nationwide.
“I’ve now got a plan for how I’ll practise the new knowledge and skills I’ve learned, in order to keep improving.”
Management trainee, Level 3