Training unlocks management potential at Paddock : … and opens the door to an organizational culture of learning

Purpose – The article aims to describe an award‐winning management‐training program at UK lock‐maker Paddock Fabrications. Design/methodology/approach – The article explains the reasons for the program, the form it took and the results it has achieved. Findings – The program – delivered for a day a month over a period of a year – aimed to equip the managers with the skills to handle staff and departmental issues. Practical implications – The article includes, among the benefits of the training, more effective problem‐solving, greater empowerment, better people skills, more open communication and improved customer satisfaction. It highlights how the training has unlocked the potential of managers and opened the door to an organizational culture of learning. Originality/value – The article reveals how the training helped the company to move away from a blame culture to a more open one where people can learn from mistakes and explore ways to improve.