Most managers are promoted because they were excellent at their old job, not because they were prepared for their new one. Without the right support, that gap shows up fast: avoided conversations, inconsistent standards, and a team left unsure what good looks like.

The First 180™ is a six-month management development programme for newly promoted and newly appointed managers, built on The JP Group's signature Learning Loop® methodology. It combines monthly live workshops with group coaching and real workplace application, so new managers don't just learn what to do, they build the confidence and consistency to actually do it.

Delegates can join at the point of promotion rather than waiting for a fixed start date, so support is there exactly when it's needed most.

By the end of the programme, managers lead with clarity and confidence: setting expectations early, managing performance consistently, handling difficult conversations with confidence, and building high-performing teams that stay engaged.

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How The First 180™ Works

• Week 1 – Onboarding: Every delegate starts with an onboarding call, a skills assessment, and is set up with their peer group for the programme ahead.

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• Six monthly loops, one core leadership capability at a time:

  • Loop 1 – Lead Yourself (Week 4): Building the mindset, self-awareness and personal leadership plan every new manager needs to start strong.

  • Loop 2 – Build Trust (Week 8): Developing the communication and listening skills that create psychological safety in a team.

  • Loop 3 – Lead Performance (Week 12): Setting clear expectations, giving effective feedback and managing performance with confidence.

  • Loop 4 – Lead Conversations (Week 16): Handling difficult conversations, managing conflict and making confident decisions under pressure.

  • Loop 5 – Develop Others (Week 20): Coaching, delegating and having meaningful career conversations that grow the team.

  • Loop 6 – Lead High Performing Teams (Week 24): Building team culture, leading change and creating a 12-month leadership plan to sustain momentum.​​

• A group coaching session follows every loop, giving delegates the space to reflect on what they've learned, work through real challenges with their peer group, and apply it back in the workplace.

• Week 26 – Evaluation: The programme closes with a skills assessment, certificate of completion and a final presentation, so progress is visible and recognised.

• Built on The Learning Loop®, so every stage moves managers from learning through to real, lasting behaviour change, not just training attendance.