L&D Professionals
Training Journal announces 60th anniversary conference: empowering L&D to drive meaningful transformation
Training Journal marks 60 years with a one-day conference on Monday 24 November 2025 at the Royal Society of Chemistry, London. Designed for mid-to-senior L&D and HR leaders, the practical programme explores AI as an enabler, measurable impact and cross-functional collaboration. Only 60 tickets available and they are going fast. Training Journal the UK’s independent platform for learning and development professionals, has announced a special TJ 60th Anniversary Conference taking place Monday 24 November 2025 at the Royal Society of…
Spoiler alert: Your conference isn’t about you!
Kim Ellis reflects on the lessons learned from designing and delivering Free Spirits LIVE!, a virtual conference for independent L&D professionals. It wasn’t about flashy tech or speaker line-ups, it was about creating meaningful, human experiences. Here, she shares what made it work and why intention matters more than polish. Have you ever dreamed of putting on your own conference? Maybe seen it as a way to make a chunk of money or raise your profile in the industry? There…
Executive coaching in context: exploring intent, impact and interpretation
Shilpi Sahai examines the complex dynamics executive coaching within organisations through a theoretical lens, exploring its intended and implicit purposes within organisations. Drawing on established frameworks, she highlights the tensions between individual agency and organisational alignment, offering a nuanced perspective on how coaching contributes to leadership, culture and long-term performance. The success of an organisation is often attributed to the quality of its leadership. Coaching, as a process to improve performance, lends itself to harnessing the potential of the individuals.…
From resistance to uptake: Close skills gaps with AI-enabled learning
AI-based learning platforms promise speed, personalisation and measurable impact. Ian Howell from FutureLearn explores how LXPs remove barriers, match challenge to ability and deliver just-in-time microlearning. He shows how data identifies skills gaps, predicts retention risks and builds motivation through autonomy, competence and relevance; turning L&D into a responsive engine. With skills needs evolving faster than ever, businesses face a critical challenge: how to deliver learning that keeps pace. Unfortunately, many training programmes still waste valuable time and resources, failing…
From soft skills to survival skills: Rethinking human capability in the age of AI
Kalindi Hawkins explores how organisations can develop human-centred capabilities to thrive in an AI-driven world. Moving beyond digital upskilling, she shares five practical strategies for building adaptability, resilience, and leadership in uncertainty. This approach turns learning into a strategic asset that fuels transformation, not just transactions, in today’s fast-changing landscape. In a workplace shaped by artificial intelligence, the skills once called “soft” are now the core human advantage. As AI automates tasks and analyses data faster than any person could,…
How to move a cost centre to a profit centre
Russell Wardrop highlights that learning and development is too often seen as a discretionary cost rather than a strategic investment with business impact. When programmes are designed to drive commercial outcomes, they don’t just inform — they transform. The ROI comes when learning delivers behaviour change and boosts the bottom line. In today’s business climate, every organisation is under pressure to do more with less. Leaders sharpen their pencils, scrutinise spreadsheets, and look for costs to cut in the name…
Can strategic growth and people-first values truly go hand in hand?
High growth can strain culture, yet scaling with intent keeps people, clients and communities front and centre. Invest in learning, wellbeing and inclusive leadership; align acquisitions to values; embed in local economies; measure performance, not just speed. Heidi Thompson argues that the real challenge is to grow while protecting values. It is well documented that a strict growth mindset can often come at the expense of a people-first culture, demonstrated in McKinsey research, which shows that many high-growth companies struggle…
From preference to performance: adapting training for new hires
Onboarding is evolving fast: Eleanor Hecks shows leaders must tailor training to diverse learning preferences, neurodiversity and hybrid work. Use analytics, microlearning, translation and gamification to personalise pathways, boost engagement and prove ROI through retention and performance. Prioritise accessibility, mentorship, coaching to embed continuous learning and resilience from day one. The business world is changing dramatically, requiring leaders to quickly identify and adjust to new hires’ learning preferences and streamline onboarding. A heightened focus on personalised instruction and adaptive training…
From slow lanes to sprints: how Agile transformed our L&D delivery
Doubling output without burning out, Nassia Katroutsou shares how Agile project management reshaped her L&D team’s approach to course creation. Through clear preparation, sprint cycles and regular SME feedback, they boosted speed and quality, proving that with the right mindset, even small teams can deliver big, sustainably and with impact. When I first took over a small team of instructional designers, our content delivery cycles were slow and unpredictable. The company’s products and processes were complex, the audiences incredibly diverse…
Second, third, fourth career: How job pivots are redefining the future of work
With such global uncertainty, big skills gaps and longer working lives, more people are pivoting careers. INTOO research shows 41% have switched direction and 35% lack a defined path. Owen Morgan explains how upskilling, coaching and outplacement support boost satisfaction, resilience and business performance, as multi-career journeys become the norm. When faced with role dissatisfaction including feelings of burnout, stagnation and a lack of fulfilment, some workers may feel it’s time for a career pivot. According to INTOO UK &…
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