Haven named as finalists across all categories entered in the Learning Excellence Awards

The programme began with a simple question: What kind of leaders do our parks, teams and guests need? From the outset, it was clear that a traditional training course wasn’t going to deliver the depth of change Haven wanted. The GM role is demanding, unpredictable and incredibly people-focused, so the learning needed to reflect that reality.

Working together, we shaped a two-year journey built around immersive experiences that stretch and support GMs in equal measure. Sandhurst brought clarity of purpose and followership into sharp focus. Mosimann’s revealed the discipline and detail behind true operational excellence. The Think milestone pushed leaders into entrepreneurial territory, asking them to create real business ideas under pressure that could shape Haven’s future. The final milestone, taking place early next year, will explore communication, teamwork and resilience alongside Exeter Chiefs and the Royal Marines.

This hasn’t been learning for the sake of it. GMs have been learning through doing, reflecting, trying again and applying those insights back at their parks during the busiest points of the year. The scores tell part of the story, with ratings consistently above 4.6 across every module, but the real impact shows up in the day-to-day shifts: clearer communication, stronger teams, more confident decision making, new ideas entering the innovation pipeline and a growing sense of connection across 39 parks.

Being shortlisted across all award categories is recognition not just for the programme, but for the people who stepped into it with honesty, ambition and openness. Haven’s GMs have embraced every challenge, and the partnership between Haven and Inspirational Group has brought out the best in everyone involved.

We’re delighted to see the programme recognised in this way and look forward to the awards dinner in April 2026.

You can read more about the programme in our full case study: