Independent Professionals
Stop calling everything a skill
Ben Satchwell argues that muddled language is undermining people frameworks, HR systems and L&D credibility, especially as skills data becomes machine-readable. Ben clarifies the building blocks from knowledge to behaviour, explains why competencies evidence individual performance while capabilities describe systemic potential, and shows how aligning both creates readiness without duplication. This article is the first in a three-part series exploring how organisations can clarify, connect and modernise their use of competence, capability and skills frameworks. There’s a quiet crisis of…
Starving for questions in the age of instant answers
Gargi Bhatt explores why disciplined questioning is making a comeback as work gets more complex and AI makes quick answers effortless. Drawing on Socratic dialogues, coaching and action learning, she shows how inquiry strengthens critical thinking, surfaces assumptions and builds reflective capacity, helping navigate uncertainty with clarity, curiosity and courage. In a world obsessed with having the answers quick, clear, and confident, there is something quietly revolutionary about not knowing. As organisations grapple with rapid change, complexity, and the uncomfortable…
How one council made training measurable, strategic and value-led
Martin Furminger explains how a UK council adapted the Systems Approach to Training to build a structured, flexible learning system aligned to its People and Culture Plan. He shares how analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation create measurable impact, improve governance confidence and shift culture from ad hoc to planned. The Systems Approach to Training (SAT) was developed in the 1960s and ‘70s for the US Department of Defense. It was later formalised by NATO and has become the gold…
DEI in 2026: From ambition to action and compliance to competitive advantage
DEI in the UK is shifting from policy to practice. Sandi Wassmer argues that in 2026 inclusion will be built into organisational infrastructure. Leaders will be held accountable and employee experience prioritised over optics. Psychological safety and robust data will guide action, proving inclusion’s impact on performance, retention and resilience. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) has come a long way in the UK since the advent of the Equality Act in 2010, and the past few years have seen changes…
Contribution without collapse: Unlocking unique impact beyond job titles
Drawing on two Make Your Brain Work Podcast episodes, applied neuroscience expert Amy Brann and medical doctor Dr Jessie Gulsin unpack why contribution boosts motivation yet can become risky when fused with your identity. The piece offers practical tips for L&D to build sustainable engagement, resilience and wellbeing without burnout. In many organisations, contribution and identity have become tightly intertwined. We are encouraged to “bring our whole selves to work” yet quietly warned not to burn out. Two recent podcasts,…
Ready or not, 2026 is the year of skills
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 work and prioritise high-impact skills can turn disruption into advantage. The UK workforce is at a turning point. AI is reshaping roles, but adoption and readiness vary widely across sectors. Skills England warns of persistent barriers, including low foundational literacy,…
Is your organisation truly data-driven – or just investing in tech?
Drawing on award-winning examples from healthcare, justice, media and policing, Jake O’Gorman argues that data-driven transformation depends on people, not platforms. He writes about why leaders must prioritise data quality, skills and ethical governance and shares stories that start with real problems, build confidence to turn evidence into everyday decisions. Despite billions invested in digital transformation, far too many organisations confuse technology spend with evidence-based leadership. In my roles at Corndel, from leading on Data and AI Strategy to serving…
“Workplace learning is at its best when it sounds like real work”
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 real work: curious, human and specific. The Podcast Learning Festival brings learning and conversation craft into the same room, so we can build audio that travels, lasts, and genuinely changes what happens for people every day at work.” The Podcast…
2026 is the year L&D operationalises AI, without losing the human touch
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: human plus AI, adaptive learning, and business focus without overwhelm. In 2026, L&D has to stop treating AI as a bolt-on project and start treating it as part of how work gets done and shows up in workflows. Will organisations…
Designing learning for a world that does not sit still
Steve George explores why L&D struggles when work shifts faster than programmes can adapt. He highlights cognitive agility and unlearning as essential performance enablers, offering practical design ideas including messy scenarios, changing case studies, and shorter learning cycles. All to build reflection into daily work and strengthen resilience amid uncertainty. Imagine rolling out a carefully planned learning programme, only to find that halfway through, priorities have shifted and the roles it supports no longer look the same. At a recent…
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