Talent & Skills

Human resources manager ready for job interview in office

The venture capitalist’s guide to HR strategies 

Victor Orlovski

Discover how empathy, technology and Gen Z insights can effectively attract and retain top talent in startups and established companies, with expert tips from venture capitalist Victor Orlovski Human resources is crucial to the functionality of an organisation, particularly startups. In my role as a venture capitalist (VC), I’ve observed how the people profession extends beyond administrative management and training to significantly influence talent acquisition. My involvement with various startups has afforded me insights into effective people strategies essential for…

Asian Businesswoman Leading Meeting At Boardroom Table

How can companies increase gender diversity in the workplace? 

Scott Sullivan

Fostering inclusion policies is vital to closing the gender gap and attracting the top talent. Law firm HR Director Scott Sullivan shares his tips  UK businesses still have considerable work to do to increase gender diversity. Many struggle to close the gender pay gap and fairly represent women. The gender pay gap in Britain was 14.3% in 2023, and women need to work an extra 19 years to retire with the same pension savings as men.  Employers who don’t fairly…

Presentation whiteboard, audience and happy woman planning, coaching and present strategy, ideas or office plan. Sales workshop, project management and team leader, boss or person speaking to group

Maximise investment in your line managers with an enabling environment 

Steve Macaulay

Line managers are pivotal to business success – support them to boost performance and drive impact with these tips from Steve Macaulay and David Buchanan Why do line managers matter to L&D? Line managers create the environment – the resources and support that allow staff to perform their roles. But are we creating an enabling environment for line managers? Here is how L&D and HR can help.  Today’s line managers are your source of tomorrow’s top team   Your line…

Female mentor teaching employees group analyzing online project explaining strategy

Employees keener than ever to learn new skills 

Becky Wallace

HR and L&D professionals are seeing a surge in employees eager to learn new skills. Becky Wallace examines how this trend is transforming talent development in the workplace  Employees have an increasing appetite to learn on the job and develop their skills. No longer relying purely on a university education to secure a career, they’re proactively seeking out employers that offer comprehensive and tailored learning and development opportunities.   Skills development has become more of a focus recently due to a…

do you speak english? in a signboard

Cambridge study on enhancing career progression and language skills

Nisreen Ash

In an era where English language skills are essential for global business, Nisreen Ash from Cambridge University Press & Assessment reflects on new research which shows the positive impact of the online English test Linguaskill Developing business English skills in a global job market helps with employability, and the way you learn and prepare can have an impact on confidence and proficiency, according to recent global research. I am part of a team in Cambridge that investigates the impact of…

Three elegant businessmen exult with a gold medal at the neck.

How to build an Olympic-level workplace with athlete-inspired training 

Rico Wyder

Unlock peak performance with stretch assignments, diverse training methods and data-driven insights for your teams. Discover how with Rico Wyder When they parade along the River Seine for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games, the athletes taking part will have undergone years of rigorous training, practice, coaching and feedback.   Competing at the highest level is the moment they display all that practice. This also happens in the workplace  HR and L&D leaders can take a lot of inspiration…

A group of five business professionals are sitting around a table having a meeting. They are all smiling and appear to be engaged in the conversation. There is a potted plant on the table. The

Practical steps businesses can take to develop a positive and productive workplace  

Iffi Wahla

From hiring and training to management and perks, tips to improve workplace motivation and engagement, by Iffi Wahla  There is wider recognition in this day and age that a happy workplace is a productive workplace. And yet, according to recent research by Gallup, a staggering £257bn is lost in the UK economy due to a lack of workplace motivation and engagement. That’s a huge sum, and it underscores the importance of cultivating a positive and productive work environment.   A motivated…

skills icon on wooden cube. Upskilling and personal development concept. Skill training, education, learning, ability. Upskilling, reskilling,

Leaders are approaching skill building all wrong 

Stuart Cheesman

It’s time to change “What’s in it for me?” to “What’s in it for them?” Stuart Cheesman explores an employee-centric approach  UK leaders will be fully aware of their organisation’s skills gap, and HR’s struggles at filling the void. And with the World Economic Forum, stating that 50% of all employees will need reskilling by 2025, learning and development (L&D) initiatives have never been more important.   An ‘employee first’ approach to skill building bolsters inclusion, a sense of community and organisational growth…

Group of people connected by network. Generative AI.

Fostering connection: The antidote to workplace loneliness

Thom Dennis

A lack of connection at work has impact both for the organisation and the individual. Thom Dennis explores this and shares ways to improve A paradox has emerged in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven work environment: increased connectivity often leads to a sense of disconnection. Social media was supposed to bring us closer together, but it seems we’ve never felt so alone. Collecting ‘friends’ and followers has become a ploy that keeps us engrossed in our technology, yet lost without genuine connection.…

Lawyer woman reading and checking legal agreement of business contract to typing data on laptop

Will the end of non-competes spell the end of training and development? 

Marie Unger

Changes to restrictive clauses could reshape employee development, leaving L&D concerned about potential budget cuts. Marie Unger delves into the potential impacts of evolving non-compete agreements on workforce investment and growth  Non-competes – a type of ‘restrictive clause’ in employees’ contracts to stop them working for a competitor for a specified period after leaving their current organisation – are in the news. In the wake of the United States Federal Trade Commission’s ruling to eliminate non-compete agreements for most roles,…