Academy helps Target to deliver top talent of tomorrow : First eight employees emerge from rigorous selection process

Purpose – Describes the academy set up by UK delivery company Target Express to develop the talents of employees who have the dedication and ambition to succeed at a higher level in the company. Design/methodology/approach – Outlines how the academy originated, what it aims to achieve and how the first employees were selected to take part. Details the tailored training they undertake and presents the comments of some of the participants. Findings – Emphasizes the key role, in the training, of personal‐development plans, each constructed using the results of the psychometric and development testing that each member completed during the selection process. Practical implications – Reveals that, although the trainees are having to work hard, they consider the effort worthwhile in terms of the career benefits they anticipate it will bring. Originality/value – Highlights the importance of good HR practices in a service business.