How Tim Hortons solved the restaurant leadership gap with precision skill development

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Running a restaurant franchise is tough. You need frontline managers who can handle complex team dynamics, navigate challenging customer situations, and develop the soft skills that actually drive results. But generic leadership training won’t connect with the day-to-day reality most service industry teams face.

Ken Jur, president and owner of multiple Tim Hortons locations through Jur Family Group, was living this challenge. His existing leadership development programs weren't addressing the skills and confidence gaps his leaders and managers struggled with every day. Training modules felt disconnected. Traditional development programs weren't sticking. His teams needed guidance from experts who understood their world.

Jur Family Group partnered with Growthspace to invest in scalable leadership development across locations with precision skill development. AI-driven expert matching connected restaurant leaders with experts who understood their challenges. 

The result? One team member went from team leader to supervisor in just two months. Productivity levels increased and stayed elevated months after program completion. Plus, leadership confidence improved across multiple competency areas.

Turns out, when you match restaurant leaders with experts who’ve lived and led through experiences unique to the industry, measurable business outcomes are bound to take hold.

The challenge: Leadership development that matched unique restaurant realities

Many leadership training programs treat all industries the same. But restaurant leadership has its own language, its own pressures, and its own unique challenges. You can't develop effective restaurant managers with generic corporate training that doesn't understand peak rush dynamics, staff turnover realities, or the art of managing both customer satisfaction and team morale simultaneously.

"Our team was looking to enhance our leadership development program that we had in our restaurants to help our leaders deal with the soft skills needed to do their jobs. Growthspace filled that gap for us pretty easily." — Ken Jur, President of Jur Family Group 

What Tim Hortons needed:

• Leadership development focused on practical soft skills
• Training that connected to restaurant management realities
• Development solutions for both restaurant leaders and managers
• Programs that delivered lasting impact, not just temporary inspiration

The solution: Tailored expertise that delivers results

"When reviewing alternatives, there wasn't a platform similar to Growthspace. Growthspace is quite unique, so we were eager to dive more into it and see how our organization could benefit from the one-on-one coaching." — Tyrelle McKoy, HR Manager

What made Growthspace stand out:

AI-driven precision matching that works

"The AI precision is super helpful based on what we select. We love the ease of matching with an expert that knows exactly what’s needed." — Tyrelle McKoy, HR Manager

One-on-one skill development that creates real change

"For the five sessions that I had with my mentor, we discussed emotional intelligence, communication, and leadership skills. The overall experience was really amazing. The skill assessment test matched me with a top-notch expert that made sure all the sessions were really fun, engaging." — Hanna Joseph, Supervisor

Career advancement that shows results

"I was just a team leader two months ago. Now I'm a supervisor thanks to Growthspace." — Hanna Joseph, Supervisor 

The impact: Measurable gains in productivity and growth

The Growthspace differentiators that delivered real impact resulted in productivity and confidence improvements across frontline employees, regardless of location or title.

What actually moved the needle for Tim Hortons:

Expert matching that understands restaurant leadership

• AI-powered matching based on specific skill development needs
• Experts who understand the restaurant industry context
• Personalized skill development that addresses real workplace challenges

Development experiences that engage and stick

• Fun, engaging sessions that maintain participant interest
• Performance monitoring and targeted feedback after each session
• Practical takeaways that apply directly to career advancement

Key program features that participants value

• Personalized skill development focused on their growth areas
• Expert guidance from industry-experienced professionals
• Safe, supportive environment for leadership development
• Practical skills that translate directly to career advancement

A safe space for growth

"The Growthspace experts make you feel that you are in a safe space." — Cyril Riofrir, Restaurant Manager

Key performance improvements included:

• Increased productivity levels that show up months after program completion
• Enhanced leadership confidence across multiple competency areas
• Improved navigation skills for complex leadership challenges
• Sustained positive feedback from program participants

"We've seen a lot of positive results with our leaders, especially coming out of Growthspace. Productivity levels have increased, especially in the months post-program. There's an array of things that our team members feel more confident leading and navigating through." — Tyrelle McKoy, HR Manager

Is Growthspace recommended?

Ken Jur's answer is enthusiastic:

"We would certainly recommend Growthspace. It's a program that makes people's faces light up and they get excited that we're willing to make that investment in them, to help them be their best." — Ken Jur

What earned their recommendation:

• Visible employee excitement about the investment in their development
• Sustained positive feedback from program participants
• Measurable productivity improvements that last beyond program completion
• Career advancement opportunities that create internal mobility

The benefits the team continues to enjoy:

• Multiple Tim Hortons locations participating in leadership development
• Restaurant leaders and managers across all levels engaging in programs
• Productivity level increases sustained months post-program
• Career advancement from team leader to supervisor in two months
• Leadership confidence improvements across multiple competency areas
• Positive participant feedback on expert matching and program experience

Precision skill development with Growthspace means lasting change through industry-specific expertise

Jur Family Group's partnership with Growthspace demonstrates how franchise operations can deliver personalized leadership development at scale. By combining AI-driven expert matching with one-on-one coaching focused on practical soft skills, they've created a development solution that drives both individual career advancement and business performance.

The sustained productivity improvements, combined with employee excitement and measurable career progression, show what happens when precision skill development meets organizational commitment to people development. For restaurant operations looking to enhance leadership capabilities while driving employee engagement, Jur Family Group proves that the right development approach delivers results that last.

Ready to see how precision skill development could transform your team’s leadership? Book a demo to discover what's possible when the right expert meets the right person at the right time.