In this fantastic interview, Adam chats with Learning Manager at River Island Tom Kirk. Tom has nearly 15 years of experience in various learning formats, including sports and business coaching, and university lecturing, and is a qualified Science teacher and former Head of Year.
Since transitioning to Learning & Development post-COVID, he has trained thousands in leadership, skills development, and DEI.
Passionate about DEI, he is an accredited Inclusive Leadership facilitator and a D&I board member at River Island, using learning to drive inclusive change. Recognised in the 2024 Learning Technologies 30 Under 30, Tom is dedicated to elevating L&D’s impact and mentoring future leaders in this space.
In this episode, Tom talks Adam through his approach to building a new L&D team at River Island, specifically around hiring from within and the process he has recently gone through to build his team. He shares his thoughts on:
- How to make every second count in L&D
- Being Skills-focused when building a Team
- Integrating into the business and building L&D from a holistic view
If you need some inspiration on how to build the L&D dream team, this episode is for you.
Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out
assembleyou.com and follow us on
LinkedIn.
What is The Assembly?
The Assembly: Where L&D Minds Assemble
The future of workplace learning doesn’t live in theory — it lives in lived experience, fresh research, and honest conversations.
That’s what The Assembly delivers.
Hosted by Adam Lacey, Co-Founder of Assemble You and digital learning veteran, and Brigid McCormack, a newcomer to the world of L&D, this is your go-to space for rich, real talk on what’s driving L&D forward.
In each episode, you’ll find:
Richer insights that go beyond surface-level tips to unpack what really works in learning today
Expert perspectives from leaders shaping the L&D landscape
Access to new research on tech, methods, and innovations defining tomorrow’s learning culture
Practical strategies you can use right now to build essential skills like leadership, communication, and adaptability
Whether you’re designing programs, shaping strategy, or driving culture change — if learning is your thing, this is your podcast.
Formally known as L&D Challenges.