Case Studies

Participant: Sangamesh Vadagave
Role: Project Management Consultant, Founder of Skyrocket Innovations
Programme: Leadership and Management Training Programme
Dates: June- November 2024

Sangamesh Vadagave is the founder of Skyrocket Innovations, a specialist consultancy supporting automotive manufacturers and Tier One suppliers. His work includes leading complex component projects with global brands such as Jaguar Land Rover and Nissan, coordinating delivery across the automotive supply chain.
As his business grew, Sangamesh joined the Leadership and Management Training Programme at University of Wolverhampton to further develop and formalise his leadership approach.

The Programme Experience

The programme provided Sangamesh with practical grounding in leadership theory, including transactional, transformational and situational leadership. While he recognised elements of these approaches in his existing practice, the course helped him better articulate his leadership style and apply it more deliberately in different business contexts.
Peer learning was a key benefit. Engaging with leaders from a range of sectors broadened his perspective and introduced new approaches to problem-solving that he could apply directly within his consultancy.

Embedding Sustainability and Innovation

A particularly valuable aspect of the programme was its focus on sustainability and responsible business. The course helped Sangamesh view sustainability as a core strategic consideration rather than an add-on.
He describes this shift as “putting on a sustainability hat” when making decisions, a mindset he now applies consistently across projects and client engagements.

Reflecting on his experience, Sangamesh advises future participants:

“Build solid relationships with other participants and make full use of the knowledge and expertise available. Apply what you learn to your day-to-day work and share those experiences with others on the programme - the results can be transformational.”

Sangamesh’s experience highlights how targeted leadership development can deliver tangible business impact- strengthening leadership capability, embedding sustainability, and unlocking new opportunities for growth.

Funded by West Midlands Combined Authority for small and medium businesses, The Strategic Leadership and Management Training Programme supports professionals across sectors to lead with confidence, adaptability and purpose in a rapidly changing environment.

If you or your company would like to benefit from bespoke training programmes, get in touch with Executive Education team execed@wlv.ac.uk

Tapered Plus

The company required the development of high potential staff to become future leaders in the organisation and create robust future succession plans. The maxim ‘develop the people, bank the cash’ required measurable improvement through strategic projects.

We designed a 15 day accredited day programme that blends academic concepts with practical hands-on application. This included the identification of improvements in strategic areas of the organisation. Participants were required to recruit an executive sponsor, engage with a variety of stakeholder groups and investigate initiatives that could be applied and evaluated. Through formal presentation of these projects and supporting development, participants gained a University Certificate in Management Studies (CMS) plus a CMI Level 7 Award in Strategic Management & Leadership, plus valuable development and recognition to demonstrate their learning.

As a result of the programme, the firm has recouped their investment several times over and have a highly focussed pool of staff with greater insight, understanding and skills to manage with impact in the organisation.

In 2012 ZF Lemforder UK Ltd entered into a partnership with the University of Wolverhampton and a local College to design and accredit a framework incorporating flexible design with step-on step-off progression routes for all staff. This included new recruits entering the business via apprenticeship programmes to leadership and management opportunities for junior/middle management and the executive group. This supported the need for significant business transformation and cultural change. During these challenges, output and quality of service had to be maintained.

The University have supported the organisation through the long term strategic partnership. The middle management programme was accredited by CMI at level 5 and a bespoke Executive programme designed incorporating 360 feedback, development planning and the creation of strategic plans to support culture change.

During the Partnership, the company KPI performance measures have dramatically improved and ZF Lemforder have received recognition from a national professional body and obtained a Developing People Award.

A joint programme of bespoke Leadership and Change Management study days designed to support staff through the challenges of transforming community services and further developing leadership and change management skills.

A programme of bespoke Leadership and Change Management was designed and jointly delivered with another Faculty. The objectives were to demonstrate critical awareness and understanding of the political context of organisations and underpinning policies, the management of change in organisations, leadership theory and practice and its role in personal development and the use of reflection and action learning in the workplace.

Participant testimonial:

"Sessions had big elements of joint working and discussing analysis (Psychometric results) with colleagues who were able to give insight on qualities or deficiencies you were not aware of. The action planning was helpful too. The module provided helpful management skills to work efficiently within my team."

In a period of change and uncertainty, there was a need to upskill staff at different levels and support career transition, progression and development within new structures. We designed series of programmes focusing on key requirements at two levels, Finance for non Financial Managers and further accredited modules including Performance Management, Organisational Direction and Strategic Leadership Practice.

Participants were able to create and implement development plans according to their specific needs whilst gaining the skills required by the organisation. Postgraduate level qualifications were gained by those completing the programme.