Coaching is an intervention that facilitates another person's learning, development and performance. Applied to student nurse practice placement learning, coaching has the potential to boost leadership learning that is student led, less focused on following the directions of a mentor and more focused on students taking responsibility for identifying their learning goals and objectives. This article gives personal perspectives about how a collaboration between four Greater Manchester (GM) universities and their partner practice organisations developed, implemented and evaluated a coaching approach to student nurse clinical leadership development and peer learning, while increasing practice placement capacity-the GM Synergy model. Perspectives are given on setting up a project team, testing the model before implementation and developing a robust evaluation framework. Coaching as a model for student support and clinical leadership development is in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Council's document, with the practice supervisor role complementing the role of the coach in clinical practice.