The latest L&D news, reports, research and updates, personally compiled by TJ’s Editor, Jo Cook
AI readiness divide: leaders confident, employees struggle in new Workplace Training Report
Corndel’s 2025 Workplace Training Report reveals a growing disconnect between leaders and employees in their perceptions of their AI preparedness and points towards a significant opportunity for employers to address the shortage of data and AI skills across industries.
The latest report found that HR leaders are confident about their organisation’s AI readiness, with 88% confident in leadership’s ability to guide AI adoption and 60% very confident that training programs are equipping employees with the necessary skills for digital transformation.
Looking to improve team effectiveness in 2025? Strengthscope reveals the best and worst team habits impacting performance
Research of more than 1,500 team members working across businesses globally shows the best and worst team habits that are impacting overall effectiveness – and what businesses should avoid, or do more of, to supercharge their teams this year. This is according to a report by strengths development organisation, Strengthscope; the only strengths assessment available today with British Psychology Society Registered-Test status.
Participants report they are struggling with stretch habits that enable continuous performance improvements. Specifically, teams are struggling to provide constructive feedback to each other and collect feedback from key stakeholders and customers. These results suggest that most teams need to be more proactive in the gathering and delivery of feedback.
81% of HR professionals are open to using AI
The majority of UK HR professionals (81%) are open to using artificial intelligence (AI) to support HR, with half admitting that they’re “interested” and “excited”. Just 19% of HR professionals are reluctant to introduce AI into their HR functions. These are the findings from WorkBuzz’s latest The State of Employee Engagement Report, which involved research with over 640 HR professionals including 335 from the UK.
The report identifies that HR professionals are mainly worried about the ‘human’ element in HR being lost by using AI. Others highlight concerns with AI impacting job security, presenting data risks, and artificially inflating candidates’ qualifications in the recruiting process.
New report reveals only 34% of US higher education students see high value in a college degree
VitalSource®, a leading education technology solutions provider, has released its ‘Digital Tools and the Modern Learner’ report offering insights into how digital learning should play a role in higher education. The report sheds light on student perceptions of the value of higher education, preferences for ancillary education costs, and expectations on digitally-enhanced and AI learning tools.
American students are questioning whether higher education is the path to a successful career with only 34% of survey respondents rating the value of a college degree as “high.” Despite this perception, it’s expected that 72% of jobs will require some form of postsecondary education or training by 2031.
Skills: The New Global Currency? hundoLAB and City & Guilds launch ground-breaking report series
The report is a call to action for employers to join the conversation to address the widening skills gap. According to research from this year’s World Economic Forum, 65% of firms worldwide cite skills shortages as a barrier to transformation, signalling the urgency for practical, scalable solutions.
Skills: The New Global Currency? features insights and recommendations from a global community of Future Skills Experts across workforce development, education, policy, and social impact. The report explores how skills can be leveraged to boost social, economic and organisational resilience, and provide actionable takeaways for employers to invest in skills now to future-proof their workforces.
Women working overseas must be supported in the specific challenges faced
Towergate Employee Benefits is calling for employers to ensure women working overseas are supported in the specific challenges they face. Sarah Dennis, head of international at Towergate Employee Benefits, says: “Many women working abroad find they are in different circumstances compared to their male counterparts, and to their colleagues based in the UK. Employers need to be aware of these and they need to put measures in place to address disparities, and support their female employees abroad.”
Towergate Employee Benefits’ research shows that of those companies with overseas employees, well under half (41%) feel they are offering enough gender-specific support. Only a third (33%) believe line managers feel able to provide gender-specific support, and only 34% measure the success of this support.
The UK government must invest in apprenticeships to secure UK’s manufacturing future, says Kigass
The director of a heritage engineering company is calling on politicians to secure the future of UK manufacturing by revitalising apprenticeships. Kigass director Joanne Wardman-Smith said: “Kigass has some of the country’s most skilled and experienced engineers helping to secure the future of the business by working with passionate apprentices. Without that generational flow of talent and ability, Britain is going to struggle to service the country’s manufacturing needs.
According to the government’s own research, 86% of employers said apprentices helped to develop relevant skills for the organisation and fill the skills gap, while the Centre for Economics and Business Research calculated that, on average, an apprentice generated an annual return of £1,670 in 2013 to 2014. Meanwhile, 74% of employers say that apprentices improved product or service quality, and 78% say that they improved productivity. Many noted that apprentices become highly skilled even before they finish their training.
Learning Technologies Thirty Under 30 applications are now open!
The Learning Technologies Thirty Under 30 programme is designed to nurture and showcase the next generation of L&D leaders. This unique initiative provides participants with opportunities for growth, recognition, and development, as well as the chance to connect with industry experts and peers.
The programme will run during Learning Technologies, taking place on 23-24 April 2025, and offers unparalleled access to the learning, development, and training community.
