Case Study: SHS Group
Embedding Strategic, People-Centred Learning Across the Organisation
About SHS Group
SHS Group is a leading FMCG business headquartered in Belfast, Northern Ireland. With a diverse portfolio of food, drink and household brands across the UK and Ireland, SHS is recognised for its commercial agility, strong brand heritage and values-led culture. It blends tradition with innovation, placing people at the heart of its success.
The organisation’s mission “Great people growing great brands” is more than a statement. It is a guiding philosophy that shapes how SHS supports, develops and empowers its employees.
A cornerstone of this commitment is the SHS Learning Calendar: a carefully designed framework offering employees access to high-impact masterclasses and virtual instructor-led sessions. These learning opportunities are tailored to reflect the unique language, culture and challenges of the SHS business.
Learning at SHS is closely aligned with the company’s annual L&D review and overall business strategy, following the 70/20/10 development model. The result is a living, responsive learning ecosystem that evolves in tandem with the organisation’s needs
As a long-term partner, we have worked with SHS for over eight years to co-create bespoke development programmes that reflect the company’s people-first ethos:
“Our community makes us strong. We look out for each other, encourage bold ideas and take smart risks to create stability and opportunity for all.”
Re-evaluating Our Ways of Working
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional face-to-face training, SHS faced a key challenge: how to continue delivering impactful learning while adapting to remote work and a rapidly changing world. In-person training was no longer viable but SHS’s commitment to its people didn’t pause.
The challenge wasn’t only logistical, it was cultural. How could learning remain connected, engaging and relevant in a virtual setting?
Our Response
Responding to Change: Early Virtual Learning During COVID-19
SHS was among the first to fully embrace virtual learning, quickly transitioning to online, instructor-led sessions. Working in close collaboration, we designed a suite of masterclasses to help leaders, managers and teams navigate the immediate challenges of remote working.
Initial sessions focused on connection, wellbeing, collaboration and productivity, equipping employees with tools to stay engaged and resilient during a time of great uncertainty. These early interventions reinforced SHS’s unwavering commitment to its people.
The company’s agility and strong learning culture meant that development didn’t just continue. It became even more essential.
Evolving the Offer: Virtual Learning as a Strategic Backbone
As SHS transitioned into a blend of in-person and hybrid working models, virtual instructor-led learning remained a strategic backbone of the organisation’s development approach rather than a temporary solution.
New topics were introduced annually in response to the company’s evolving priorities and its L&D review. Masterclasses were designed to address real-time business challenges and future capability needs, enabling SHS to stay agile and relevant.
We take a collaborative, client-first approach. Every SHS session is designed with intent, tailored to real business context, infused with cultural insight and grounded in practical application. SHS’s SPIRIT values - Stronger Together, Performance, Integrity, Responsibility, Initiative, and Teamwork - are not simply referenced. They actively shape the tone, content and delivery of every programme.
This partnership model has allowed the learning offer to grow in both depth and sophistication.
Beyond soft skills and leadership development, we have supported internal strategic initiatives such as Leadership Plus, providing one-to-one coaching for high-performing leaders. This personalised support enables participants to build confidence, embed learning and take meaningful action on their goals.
The company’s progressive, people-first mindset has created the conditions for a dynamic and responsive L&D partnership, one that continues to evolve, innovate and adapt.
"Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. By working closely with Barbara and the team, we have created learning experiences that are not only innovative but also deeply aligned with the needs of our people. This partnership has enabled us to build a culture of continuous development where every colleague feels supported, inspired and empowered to develop. Together, we are driving personal and professional growth that contributes meaningfully to our success as a business."
Elaine Sinclair, Learning & Development Business Partner
The Impact
Over the past decade, our partnership with SHS has become a benchmark for people-centred, business-aligned learning. The SHS Learning Calendar is now a well-established, responsive framework that reflects the organisation’s evolving goals.
Employee feedback consistently highlights the energy, relevance and practical value of the sessions. By co-designing each masterclass, SHS delivers high-impact learning at scale, without sacrificing strategic focus or cultural tone.
By aligning learning with values and embedding it into strategic programmes such as Leadership Plus, SHS continues to build capability across functions, clusters and leadership levels.
We believe learning should go beyond survival. It should unlock confidence, connection and contribution. That is why our guiding principle remains:
#dontjustsurvivethrive.
And that is exactly what our partnership with SHS continues to support, year after year.
"At SHS, we believe that long-term success begins with a clear purpose, a shared set of values, and a strong investment in our people. Our partnership with BCTC has enabled us to embed our organisational DNA into every aspect of learning, ensuring that each initiative is aligned with our strategic goals and reinforces our culture. Development is no longer a standalone activity. It is a powerful enabler of performance, leadership and innovation. By putting people and purpose at the centre, we are building the confidence, capability and connection our teams need to grow our brands and our business."
Chris Lillie, Chief People Officer
Ready to get started?
Are you looking to create masterclasses that fit your organisation like a glove? Let’s talk about how we can design a personalised learning programme that inspires your people and delivers results.