Introducing the New GCMA Learning Pathway: Tailored Development for Every Stage of a Manager’s Career

19 March 2026

The GCMA is proud to launch a refreshed recommended Skillgate learning pathway designed to support every stage of a manager’s journey, from Aspiring General Manager to Intermediate and Advanced level.

Built from a comprehensive review of Skillgate content, this new pathway provides clear, relevant guidance on which courses best help managers grow the capabilities needed at each career stage.

View the full GCMA SkillGate Pathway Guide here

To mark the launch, we are highlighting one recommended “learning package” from a single topic area for each level. These curated combinations show how members can use Skillgate to build meaningful, job-ready skills with confidence and clarity.

For Aspiring General Managers – Leadership Foundations Package

(Topic: Leadership, Management & People Skills)
Aspiring GMs often step into their first supervisory responsibilities without formal training. Our recommended bundle: What is Leadership?, Leading Your Work Team, and What Type of Leader Are You? – provides essential clarity around leadership styles, team motivation, and effective communication. These courses offer practical frameworks that help new managers avoid common early mistakes and develop confidence as they begin leading people for the first time.

For Intermediate General Managers – Finance Confidence Package

(Topic: Finance, Budgeting & Club Economics)
Managers operating at intermediate level frequently take on broader budget responsibility and need to make informed financial decisions. The suggested combination: Finance for Non-Financial Managers, Introduction to the Profit & Loss Account, and Budgeting & Budgetary Control – equips managers with the financial literacy required to plan, analyse, and interpret club finances. This package is ideal for those balancing departmental oversight with growing strategic accountability.

For Advanced General Managers – Strategic People Leadership Package

(Topic: Human Resources & People Management)
At senior level, GMs must lead culture, navigate organisational dynamics, and guide complex staffing challenges. Our recommended package: Managing Diversity for Senior Managers, Developing Others – Six Categories of Intervention, and Get the Most from Your High Achievers – supports leaders developing high-performance environments across multi-disciplinary teams. This combination is particularly powerful for experienced GMs wanting to refine their influence and elevate their club’s people strategy.

These tailored packages are just a starting point. Members are encouraged to explore the full pathway and create a personalised development plan aligned to their ambitions. The GCMA remains committed to supporting your growth, every step of the way.

By Mark Shanley

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John Steele

John Steele is a former professional athlete, sports coach, Olympic Leader and is the Executive Director of Sport at Loughborough University. He has been Chief Executive across a range of sectors. Drawing on leadership experience of nine different Olympic and Paralympic Games (including the amazing events at the Rio Games), John reflects on the lessons from this unique period in British sport and relays his fascinating views on creating high performing teams.

Indeed, inspired from PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, by the most successful performance ever for Team GB, he has a whole host of new business and leadership insights into how this was brilliant performance was achieved and how it can translate back into your organisation.

John moved into the corporate world, before he enjoyed an outstanding career as a professional rugby player achieving international honours. After his playing career, he turned his hand to coaching and achieved the highest accolade for a British club coach by winning the European Cup with Northampton Saints. He then became Executive Director on the Saints Board during a period of unprecedented growth, and served on the England Rugby Board during the successful world cup campaign of 2003. It was no surprise that John’s talents were called upon to drive through a change and modernisation programme as CEO of the Rugby Football Union – a challenge that became controversial and ended in his departure from the post after only a year, but with his dignity and professional pride intact.

Headhunted by UK Sport, John took up post as CEO the day before London won the 2012 Olympic bid – and this promising start was sustained as he embarked on developing the UK’s high performance sport system, which he led for a six-year period of unprecedented success through the Beijing and London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Post-London 2012, with the Olympic legacy in place and an obligation to continue inspiring a generation, John took up his post as Group Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust. He has also succeeded Steve Cram as Chairman of the English Institute of Sport, an organisation described as ‘the team behind the team’, which delivers a range of performance impacting solutions to over 40 Olympic and Paralympic sports and some non-Olympic sports.

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Dr Jo Salter MBE

Dr Jo Salter MBE is famed for becoming the first female fast jet pilot, having flown the Panavia Tornado ground attack aircraft during her services in the Royal Air Force. Joining the RAF aged 18, Jo has since taken Air Cadets into the skies as part of Air Experience Flights, become the Director of Global Transformative Leadership for PWC, and most recently become a Global Advisory of GenAI for PwC.

Jo has piloted flights in the Air Cadets Air Experience Flights and inspired countless budding armed service members to pioneer a male-dominated sector, having been the leader of an all-male squadron. Since leaving the military behind, Jo has established a strong business career working in roles such as Head of Technical Services for NetConnect, European Operations Manager for Automated Power Exchange and Managing Director of Saltin Ltd.

Having developed first-class expertise in leadership, analytical thinking and performing under pressure, Jo is now a highly sought-after public speaker to share stories from her time in the skies.

Jo is a passionate Trustee of The Royal Air Force Club and an Ambassador of the Global Angels charity, an organisation that gives communities around the world access to clean water, education, healthcare and encourages female and youth empowerment. Jo has also authored two books, titled Energy: 52 Ways to Fire Up Your Life and Become an Energy Angel and Energize: Spring Clean Your Mind and Body to Get Your Bounce Back Today and Every Day.

In recognition of her achievements throughout her career, Jo has also been named as one of the 50 Most Inspiring Women in the World by Harpers & Queen. She is now working as the Director of Global Transformation Leadership at PWC, after working in other roles such as Director of Risk Technology Strategy, Director Chief of Staff to Head of Technology & Investments and the Director of People & Organisations.

In 2022, Jo was invited personally by Tom Cruise to attend the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick. Most recently, Jo received an honorary doctorate of Arts from Bournemouth University.