Sunderland coaching firm lands Sage leadership deal
A Sunderland leadership coaching firm has secured a partnership with software giant Sage to help develop the next generation of senior leaders within its IT division.
Is This You?, which specialises in executive coaching and leadership development, has been appointed to design and deliver coaching for Sage's High Performance Programme, a bespoke 12-month initiative aimed at preparing high-potential employees for future director-level roles.
The programme will support a cohort of senior leaders and emerging directors through personalised development plans, one-to-one coaching and structured leadership support.
Alongside the coaching programme, Is This You? has developed a digital platform designed to help participants and their managers track development priorities, progress and performance throughout the year-long scheme.
The initiative forms part of Sage's long-term succession planning strategy and aims to strengthen its leadership pipeline by preparing future leaders for senior positions as they become available.
Phil Gray, co-founder and chief executive of Is This You?, said: "We're proud to be partnering with Sage on a programme that invests in the next generation of leadership.
"For us, this is about helping people grow with clarity, confidence and measurable progress, while supporting organisations to build leadership strength for the future."
Kerry Sinclair, executive vice-president of Sage IT, said finding the right coaching partner had been an important decision.
She said: "We wanted a partner who could offer personalised, confidential development, and Is This You? stood out for its lived experience, professional approach and ability to balance one-to-one coaching with cohort learning."
Participants will also be given opportunities to gain insight into and contribute to wider strategic projects across the business.
The Sunderland firm said securing the partnership marks a significant milestone in its growth and strengthens its reputation as a leadership development provider for major organisations.
The company has also credited support from the North East BIC with helping it expand its operations and secure high-profile opportunities.
John Forth, co-founder and chief operating officer of Is This You?, said: "The North East BIC has been instrumental in supporting our growth. They've challenged and supported us, helped us think bigger as a business and played an important role in helping us reach this point."