Category For HR

Ready or not, 2026 is the year of skills

Goal setting 2026 concept. Books stacked with a bookmark reading "LEARN IN 2026.

AI is reshaping UK work, yet readiness is patchy and shortages still persist. Mark Onisk argues that 2026 demands skills-based workforce orchestration, tighter skills governance, smarter AI-human collaboration and scaled leadership development. Organisations that embed learning in the flow of…

Read MoreReady or not, 2026 is the year of skills

Strategic communication is not soft: Why L&D needs a strategy before silence sinks change

Communication problem in relationship. Marital difficulties. Couple fighting. Man and woman holding ripped paper.

Steve Macaulay and David Buchanan argue that strategic communication is a core capability, not a soft skill, and L&D and HR must build it for change. From a gym takeover that went silent to practical steps on timing, channels and…

Read MoreStrategic communication is not soft: Why L&D needs a strategy before silence sinks change

Learning sticks when it’s shared: Why human learning communities more vital than ever

Word writing text Together We Can Make A Difference. Business photo showcasing be very important some way in like team or group Piece of square paper use to give notation on tree leaf under sunny day

Samantha Hall shows that workplace learning transforms when people feel connected to others. She explores how communities spark joy, build psychological safety and accountability, surface tacit knowledge, strengthen culture and resilience, and keep development alive long after formal sessions, especially…

Read MoreLearning sticks when it’s shared: Why human learning communities more vital than ever

“Workplace learning is at its best when it sounds like real work”

podcast microphone background, Generative IA

TJ Editor Jo Cook comments about the new Podcast Learning Festival, hosted by Andrew Jacobs in London, February 2026: “We strive for the most efficient and realistic learning interventions, and workplace learning is at its best when it sounds like…

Read More“Workplace learning is at its best when it sounds like real work”

2026 is the year L&D operationalises AI, without losing the human touch

Glowing neon sign on brick wall displays Trends above 2026 within rounded rectangle, symbolizing future outlook, business, and forecasting year

In 2026, L&D must embed AI into real workflows, redesign roles and focus on measurable outcomes, without sacrificing trust, culture and wellbeing. Drawing on views from leaders across HR, learning and analytics, TJ’s Editor Jo Cook explores three pressure points:…

Read More2026 is the year L&D operationalises AI, without losing the human touch

Beyond generative: The leadership playbook for agentic AI learning

Businesswoman Analyzing Data with AI Assistant in Modern Environment

As agentic AI moves to setting goals and acting, workplace learning is shifting into the flow of work. Johnson Wong argues leaders must design AI-enabled workflows, reskill for human oversight, and enable department alignment of IT, operations and the people…

Read MoreBeyond generative: The leadership playbook for agentic AI learning

Is the UK’s “free AI training” platform actually helping your people — or giving leaders false confidence?

A student interacting with a futuristic interface.

Erica Farmer argues the UK government’s free AI training platform is a useful signal, not a silver bullet. Without learning design, emotional reassurance and workplace context, ‘beginner’ pathways become friction, drop-off and inequality. Erica highlights L&D and HR must build…

Read MoreIs the UK’s “free AI training” platform actually helping your people — or giving leaders false confidence?

The six biggest challenges keeping L&D professionals up at night

L&D teams are operating in a climate of constant change. Economic pressure, digital acceleration and shifting workforce expectations have placed capability development at the centre of organisational strategy. Yet teams responsible for delivering this capability often face shrinking budgets, rising…

Read MoreThe six biggest challenges keeping L&D professionals up at night

The Uncertainty Toolkit – book review

illuminated must read neon sign

Cathy Hoy investigates why competency-based L&D falls short when uncertainty, not skill, blocks performance. Drawing on Sam Conniff and Katherine Templar Lewis’s new book The Uncertainty Toolkit, she highlights evidence from UCL research, practical exercises and new metrics for tolerance.…

Read MoreThe Uncertainty Toolkit – book review

AI jobs apocalypse… or bonanza?

job apocalypse - apocalypse de l'emploi

Will AI steal our jobs? Wrong question. AI performs tasks and most jobs involve a combination of tasks. The AI impact depends on organisational choices, not just the technology. David Buchanan and Steve Macaulay explore how the outcome for jobs…

Read MoreAI jobs apocalypse… or bonanza?