United Kingdom Workplace Learning Report 2023
Building the agile future
L&D puts people and skills at the centre of organisational success
This moment requires agility — and L&D can lead the way.
For individuals, agility fuels career growth and relevance. For organisations, agility equals the ability to survive and thrive even amid economic headwinds.
And what is at the core of agility if not continuous learning? Learning leaders across the UK are creating new, people-centric playbooks to build a resilient and adaptable future. They’re working across HR to instil a culture of learning where everyone has the tools, career paths, and skills to succeed.
Read on for UK insights, advice from other L&D leaders, and unlocked LinkedIn Learning courses to help you put L&D at the centre of your organisation’s success.
The state of L&D in the UK:
L&D uses new influence to elevate people and their skills for business impact.
Last year’s report showed L&D becoming more central, cross-functional, and strategic than ever before. This year, learning leaders are making the most of their voices to ensure that people strategy and business strategy are one and the same.
UK L&D leaders told us that mapping learning to business goals is their #1 priority for 2023, while upskilling and creating a culture of learning can help them achieve those goals.
say aligning learning programs to business goals is a key priority
will focus on upskilling employees
will prioritise creating a culture of learning
Most organisations seek to set up for future success by establishing a people-centric culture and focusing on proactive skill building.
People-centric culture recognises that an organisation’s success depends on its people's success. This simple truth guides the design of the employee experience from onboard to exit, with human needs at the centre.
“The support of L&D is greatly valued. For us, skills and qualifications are the jewel in the crown when it comes to L&D.”
Laggi Diamandi
Head of Learning & Development, Foster + Partners
An engaged and resilient workforce is essential for an agile organisation
Career development and internal mobility make people — and organisations — agile.
While large-scale initiatives can face a variety of challenges, people can also make enormous strides at the individual level. In the UK, empowering employees with career development tools and internal mobility options increases learner engagement and expands workforce skills. This, in turn, improves the ability of their organisation to capitalise on opportunities and tackle challenges as they arise.
”Flexibility is not just about location, it is also about how people learn and how leaders facilitate learning. It would be a travesty for L&D professionals to not rethink what true flexibility looks like when it comes to learning.”
Amy Williams
Head of Global Performance Development, Austin International
Retention remains an acute pain point, but there are ways to address it
Many organisations grappled with unprecedented global turnover in the pandemic’s wake. And even while some layoffs have made headlines in recent months, skills shortages and high turnover continue to be a risk for critical talent. It’s not surprising that attrition anxieties persist with 92% of UK organisations concerned about employee retention.
Providing learning opportunities and flexible work arrangements are the top ways UK employers improve retention, followed by opportunities for mentoring or coaching, and wellness programs.
L&D holds the keys to unlocking agility and growth
Whether you’re a seasoned L&D pro who has led your organisation through the waves of change in the last few years, or you’re in the early stages of your L&D career, now is your time to shine as an advocate for learning as the engine for growth and agility — for your company and for every employee.
As organisations seek ways to navigate shifting priorities, rising employee expectations, and economic uncertainty, learning is a key pillar for securing a stronger future through employee development and skill building.
Kick-start skill building with these LinkedIn Learning courses
Unlocked courses for your employees
Help employees in your organisation start building skills today with these unlocked LinkedIn Learning courses covering some of the UK’s most in-demand topics.
Global Workplace Learning Report
Download the full global report to learn more about how L&D leaders around the world are putting people and skills at the centre of organisational success.