HR Professionals

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Training for every brain: How inclusive learning unlocks performance

Eleanor Hecks

As more employees identify as neurodivergent, traditional workplace training is falling short. Eleanor Hecks explores inclusive, strengths-based learning design, mentorship and leadership behaviours that unlock talent, boost engagement and deliver measurable business impact for organisations. This is about seeking sustainable performance and genuinely inclusive cultures in modern workplaces, supporting everyone. A growing number of employees are identifying as neurodivergent, ranging from autism spectrum conditions to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia. As such, there is an increased awareness of the…

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The engagement trap: Becoming irreplaceable in the age of AI

Grant Wyatt

AI is changing work, and it’s calling our bluff. When machines do more of the grind, engagement becomes personal. It’s no longer about perks, but the effort you put in. Grant Wyatt shows how achieving fulfilment at work comes from tapping into the ‘engagement triad’ of clarity, capability and character You’re in your manager’s office, resignation letter in hand, heart racing. You say the line you’ve rehearsed for months: “I quit.” You grab your potted plant and stride out like a movie hero. Three months later, you’re at a new desk. Same emails. Same politics. Same frustrations. The only…

trends 2026 business

The HR & L&D trends that will define 2026

Robin Adda

Big change is coming for HR and L&D in 2026, and standing still isn’t an option. From AI and skills gaps to retention headaches and hybrid work tensions, what should leaders focus on? Let’s break down the seven trends shaping the year ahead, with practical, no-nonsense guidance from Robin Adda  2026 is already emerging as one of the most pivotal moments for HR and L&D in modern history. Pressures across talent pipelines, ongoing debates on remote work, accelerating AI adoption, widening skills gaps and shifting employee expectations have all been building.  “With thoughtful planning and a balanced approach, the pressures…

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Top 5 trends shaping the future of career coaching

Jenny Booth

Jenny Booth shares insights from over two decades in careers guidance and calls for a shift toward much more inclusive, flexible, and strengths-based support for neurodivergent young people. She explores the growing role of families, digital tools, and purpose-led planning in shaping credible, compassionate career paths for the next generation. After more than two decades working in careers advice and guidance with young people, I have seen the landscape change dramatically. What once centred on information giving and career matching…

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Space to think, permission to change: The TJ60 conference takeaways

Training Journal’s 60th Anniversary conference video captures the people profession at a turning point. From celebrating 60 years of workplace learning to confronting stubborn challenges around impact, evidence and credibility, contributors share what must change next. Expect practical reflections on AI, and moving beyond content creation towards real organisational capability. Training Journal’s 60th Anniversary Conference (TJ60) brought L&D people together in London for a day designed to celebrate the past, and sharpen what matters next. The video captures that energy…

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Performance is human: Building a modern people strategy in the age of AI 

Sidonie Viala

As AI continues its massive transformation of the workplace, performance management must evolve too. Sidonie Viala shares how 360Learning has moved beyond rigid metrics to embrace coaching, autonomy and real-time learning. By prioritising people over process, the company is building a culture where growth thrives, and performance becomes truly human-centred. Data rules in the age of AI. We trust it for everything from growth targets, revenue forecasting and strategic decisions. Yet when it comes to performance management, our obsession with…

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Generation numb: Why today’s workforce feels nothing at all

Josh Cardoz

Today’s workforce is emotionally checked out, overwhelmed by constant change and digital saturation. In this compelling call to action, Josh Cardoz urges organisations to break the cycle of disconnection and cynicism. Through purpose, friction and human connection, we can reignite meaning and reshape work for a generation on the brink. Today’s workforce is going through a profound and fundamental shift. Faced with relentless economic uncertainty, the after-effects of a global pandemic, and perpetual digital overload, this generation of workers is…

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Growth through AI starts with your people, not platforms

Cassandra MacDonald

AI holds huge promise for business, but many workers feel overwhelmed. Cassandra MacDonald explores how organisations can bridge the gap between innovation and confidence by shifting the focus from technology tools to people. Communication, culture and capability are key to unlocking AI’s true potential and turning disruption into sustainable growth. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the workplace at breathtaking speed, and its potential to fuel business growth is vast. Yet, amid the hype, another reality is emerging, one where many…

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How businesses can help to address youth unemployment

Nichola Hay

With NEET rates at a ten-year high, Nichola Hay MBE explores how UK businesses can rethink early career job roles, from apprenticeships to flexible entry routes. Investing in young talent is not just ethical, it’s a smart business strategy that builds skills, boosts retention and shapes a resilient, future-ready workforce. The proportion of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) in the UK has reached 13.5%, marking the highest rate in ten years. This highlights urgent risks to…

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Left behind twice: What SEN inequity means for tomorrow’s workforce  

Michelle Carson

Michelle Carson examines how early inequality and missed support for children with special educational needs shape access to learning, opportunity and progression. Drawing on findings from the Sutton Trust and Support SEND Kids, and her own experience, she explores why today’s educational gaps become tomorrow’s workforce barriers, unless we act The findings of the Double Disadvantage report has drawn national attention to a familiar but deeply troubling truth: children with special educational needs (SEN) from socially deprived backgrounds are being left…