The Cornerstone Academy – SME training needs sorted

The Cornerstone Academy – SME training needs sorted

At Cornerstone Resources, we know that for many small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), people really are the cornerstone of success. With leaner teams and fewer layers of management, the way leaders communicate, support, and develop their people has a direct impact on growth, culture, and resilience. That’s why we’re passionate about providing training and consultancy that is not only practical but also tailored to the unique needs of SMEs.

Over the past year, we’ve worked with SMEs across sectors to deliver leadership and people development training that helps managers feel more confident, workplaces become more inclusive, and businesses put the right frameworks in place for sustainable growth.

The Cornerstone Academy: Our Training Offering

The Cornerstone Academy is where all of our training sits — designed to support SMEs with flexible, practical solutions that can be scaled and tailored to their needs.

• Live Workshops – covering topics like emerging leadership, empowering teams, delegation, feedback, wellbeing, equality, diversity & inclusion, and handling tricky conversations.
• Downloadable Trainer Packs – for in-house delivery: complete with slides, facilitator notes, handouts and optional add-ons like policy templates or virtual delivery support.
• The Learning Hub (powered by Breathe Learn) – affordable, on-demand access to a diverse range of courses, perfect for SMEs wanting to scale foundational training across their teams.
• Bitesize Toolkits – quick, focused resources for everyday learning moments, covering everything from micro-feedback to delegation.

What sets us apart? There are plenty of training providers out there. What makes Cornerstone different is our commitment to building training that feels real, relevant, and practical. Our Academy isn’t just a place to learn. It’s a toolkit for embedding good practice across your organisation.

A Holistic Approach to Training

The Cornerstone Academy reflects the varied challenges SME leaders and managers face in today’s workplace. From those just stepping into leadership roles for the first time, through to experienced managers needing to refresh or extend their toolkit, we’ve developed sessions that are interactive, relevant, and immediately applicable.

Some of the themes we’ve delivered include:

• Line Management Fundamentals – from empowering teams, objective setting, effective 1-1s, and feedback to how to delivering bespoke performance review processes.
• Effective Communication – building clarity and impact into everyday conversations.
• Managing Difficult Conversations – equipping managers with tools to approach sensitive topics with confidence and empathy.
• Feedback & Performance Management – understanding how to set expectations, track progress, and have honest discussions about performance.
• Building Resilience – developing strategies to thrive in challenging times.
• Creating Safe Workplaces & Navigating Sexual Harassment Legislation – ensuring managers understand their responsibilities and create cultures of respect.
• Equality, Diversity, Equity & Belonging – creating awareness and embedding practices that make workplaces safer and more inclusive.
• Inclusive Recruitment – helping SMEs attract and select talent fairly and inclusively.
• Neurodiversity in the Workplace – raising awareness and developing inclusive approaches that enable everyone to thrive.
• Personal Branding – supporting leaders in defining and communicating their authentic leadership style

For SMEs, these sessions not only build capability but also free up owners and senior leaders to focus on strategy, knowing their managers have the skills to lead effectively.

The Cornerstone Academy: From Framework to Practice

Of course, training is just one part of the picture. SMEs often need joined-up solutions that connect strategy with practice. One of our most rewarding projects recently involved partnering with a client to design a performance review framework from scratch.

We worked with them in a consultancy capacity to build a framework that reflected their culture and supported organisational goals. But we didn’t stop there – we supported the rollout by:

• Training line managers on how to use the framework with their teams.
• Developing skills in objective setting, 1-1s, and feedback.
• Building confidence in empowering teams and having difficult conversations.

The result was an approach that didn’t just exist on paper – it landed in practice. Managers understood how to use the framework, had the confidence to embed it, and felt supported through the transition.

💬 The feedback said it all:

• “It was valuable to discuss and consider how we’ll implement what we’ve learnt.”
• “I’m actually excited to get going again in a better way, with more enthusiasm.”
• “Great practical tools… it felt like something we can use immediately.”
• “Excellent content and delivery – engaging, fast moving, and really helpful.”

This is the kind of end-to-end support SMEs often need: consultancy to design what’s right, and training to ensure it sticks.

Training that Sticks

The true test of any training is what participants take away. From our recent CPD certified Leadership Development for Emerging Managers Workshop, people shared how helpful the feedback framework was for giving clear, constructive feedback – with several saying it’s something they’ll start applying immediately.

Others valued the interactive, practical design, describing it as “easy to digest” and “energising.” Many said the workshop gave them space to reflect on their leadership style, helping them feel more confident about the kind of leader they want to be.

Perhaps most encouraging of all, participants left motivated – reminded of the importance of human skills and psychological safety in building strong teams.

Looking Ahead: Lead with Confidence

We’re excited to be building on this momentum with our upcoming Lead with Confidence: A Practical Leadership Journey programme, running this October and November.

This 5-week programme is designed specifically for emerging managers, including those in SMEs, who want to strengthen their leadership toolkit, build confidence, and hit the ground running.

Across the programme we’ll explore:

• Stepping into leadership
• Resilient leadership
• Leading with clarity, accountability and autonomy
• Feedback and performance conversations
• Emotional intelligence and leading with intention

The blend of frameworks, peer discussion, and practical tools ensures participants leave ready to make an immediate impact in their organisations. If you or someone you know would benefit from this programme.

Why This Matters for SMEs

For SMEs, the stakes are high. Every manager plays a critical role in shaping culture, retaining talent, and driving performance. That’s why leadership development isn’t a nice-to-have – it’s organisation critical.

The Cornerstone Academy supports SMEs not just with one off training, but with consultancy, frameworks, and ongoing development that ensures change is embedded and sustainable. Through The Cornerstone Academy, we give SMEs access to live learning, ready to use resources, and scalable solutions that build confident leaders and inclusive workplaces. At Cornerstone Resources, we know that for many small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), people really are the cornerstone of success. With leaner teams and fewer layers of management, the way leaders communicate, support, and develop their people has a direct impact on growth, culture, and resilience. That’s why we’re passionate about providing training and consultancy that is not only practical but also tailored to the unique needs of SMEs.

Over the past year, we’ve worked with SMEs across sectors to deliver leadership and people development training that helps managers feel more confident, workplaces become more inclusive, and businesses put the right frameworks in place for sustainable growth.