The latest L&D news, reports, research and updates, personally compiled by TJ’s Editor, Jo Cook
School of Facilitation Festival launches transformative conference experience and partners with Training Journal
School of Facilitation, the learning consultancy and facilitator community, urge trainers to focus on their personal and professional development, with their learning festival in 2025, announces their first three speakers and partnership with TJ.
Connecting with others in our industry and have a true learning experience with them is something enchanting and rare. The School of Facilitation Festival (SoFest) is providing a transformative experience designed to nurture mind, body, and soul whilst connecting with like-minded professionals.
Managers doing a good job in spite of workload
Less than six months since its last YouGov survey revealing that UK managers were in a state of overwhelm, Lattice, the AI-powered HR solution’s latest findings indicate that managers are performing well in spite of the pressures they are facing.
67% of employees say that given the choice they would continue to work with their existing line manager, and almost the same number (66%) say they would like to continue with the same company a year from now. Furthermore 67% of employees agree they are motivated to do their best work, with 86% saying they have a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities.
Skills economy report 2024
Mike Bollinger, Cornerstone OnDemand, joins Learning News to discuss in-demand skills and future skills trends. Companies with strong learning cultures are 92% more likely to meet market demands. Their employees are two and half times more likely to adapt to change. And, on average, these company’s profits are 24% higher than those that are not prioritising skills.
All jobs are tech jobs: Pearson’s skills map U.S. predicts dramatic shifts in employment landscape; 1.9m new jobs through 2028
Pearson, the world’s lifelong learning company, today launched the Skills Map of the United States, an in-depth analysis of the American job market through 2028. The report projects 1.9 million new jobs will be created through 2028, even as automation, AI and demographic shifts reshape the job market.
Based on an extensive review of 85 million U.S. job ads, economic and labour market data, the Skills Map offers critical insights to help businesses, policymakers and individuals prepare for the future of work.
HR professionals have been urged to start building their knowledge around AI now – or risk being left behind
Various studies have shown that HR professionals are increasingly using and experimenting with AI to reduce admin-intensive processes, including screening CVs. Tracy Jones, Programme Manager at leading training provider Realise, warned those who are stubbornly not engaging with AI are putting their future prospects in jeopardy.
Tracy said: “Artificial intelligence is already having a huge impact on the HR industry – and that is certain to grow quickly. I’d urge people to take it seriously and ensure they are future-proofing themselves for the modern jobs market.”
More than half of UK large businesses fear fraud will impact their organisations – Cifas research
A majority (58%) of key decision-makers in large UK businesses surveyed by fraud prevention service Cifas have admitted fraud and financial crime poses a serious threat to their organisations – up from 49% in 2023.
50% of those surveyed were ‘more concerned’ about their company being targeted by fraudsters or experiencing a cyber-attack since making changes to their operations, such as introducing hybrid working.
Promisingly, 77% of key decision-makers said their staff training budgets had increased in the last year, suggesting more organisations prioritised how to strengthen fraud defences, workplace safety, and safeguard employee welfare.
Leading recruiter warns on the emergence of AI in the workplace
With the rise of AI across all industries, Gi Group, one of the UK’s leading HR and recruitment specialists, explains how it can shape the future of the recruitment industry and why this societal shift shouldn’t be ignored.
AI’s implementation is becoming increasingly part of big business conversations, most recently former Google chief, Eric Schmidt, telling Labour Business Summit that attracting ‘incredibly smart people’, would help prepare the UK for AI. New AI systems are now readily available for both HR professionals and candidates alike, but what does this all really mean?
These new technologies also pose a number of risks, including digital exclusion, discriminatory job advertising and targeting, plus perpetuating existing bias. Some experts report AI tools are inaccurately screening some of the most qualified job applicants as concerns grow the software is removing the best candidates. From a recruiter’s perspective, this can be a really damaging set of challenges and highlights the need for a human touch.
5 ways employers can invest in gut health to boost productivity and slash $140 billion in healthcare costs
Millions of people suffer from gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, including conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This drives $140 billion in annual healthcare costs, exceeding those from heart disease and mental health, while negatively affecting employee productivity.
In response, Lifesum, a leading global healthy eating app, shares five ways employers can support gut health to enhance performance and cut costs.
Dyslexic skills key to thriving in an AI-driven workforce, new report reveals
A new report by global charity Made By Dyslexia and Randstad suggests that the current workforce is not equipped to meet the challenges of an AI-driven future. The groundbreaking Intelligence 5.0 report reveals that the skills inherent to dyslexic people — such as problem solving, creativity, adaptability and communication — are the most sought-after in every job sector across the globe.
New ‘Back to Work’ coalition from Cera will create thousands of digital healthcare jobs for unemployed and economically inactive
Cera, the UK’s largest healthtech company, is spearheading a drive to create jobs for thousands of economically inactive and unemployed working-age adults – arming them with vital tech and digital skills to build the digitally empowered healthcare workforce of the future.
The company already has a strong track record in recruiting, training and retaining candidates from diverse backgrounds. 25% of Cera recruits over the past quarter were previously unemployed, and more than 5% are living with a disability – twice the industry average.
Over a third of business travellers lose up to a day of productivity on trips through badly planned journeys
As business travel bounces back, with the sector poised to hit a record spending high by year-end, a new report, “Premium experiences meet productivity: the changing face of travel and work”, uncovers the impact that travel planning is having on business travellers’ productivity.
86% of participants claimed to lose at least one hour of productive time across their trip once they had arrived at their destination as a result. Of that 86%, over a third (36%) reported losing between four and eight hours, equating to a full working day. The impact on C-level executives is higher, with almost half (45%) losing between four and eight hours of productive work time due to travel stress.
Leadership capital report highlights the role of CHROs in driving business success
The LCap Group, specialists in leadership insights, change and development, has released its 2024 Leadership Capital Report. This annual report analyses the performance of over 1400 companies that experienced private equity exits during FY 2023-2024. It examines the impact of various leadership decisions, such as the presence of c-suite members with technology specialisms, or hiring CHROs, on exit performance.
