Can workplace learning shape the future of business?

Adult learning comes in many shapes and sizes, from on the job training to gaining official qualifications, and with initiatives such as Learning at Work Week (13th – 19th May) and the Festival of Learning in September, there has never been more interest this area.

As Learning at Work Week begins, leading distance learning provider Open Study College has explored how ongoing education in the workplace can not only upskill the UK workforce, but also improve staff wellbeing, productivity and happiness.

Here Samantha Rutter, CEO at Open Study College, discusses how valuable on the job training, education and continuous adult learning really is.

“It is well known technology and the world around us are changing quickly, but many may not realise the impact these changes are set to have on the labour market.

According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs report[1], it is thought 54% of all employees will need to reskill and upskill by 2022 to avoid job displacement from technological changes. The report also discovered that around a third of those employees most likely to be displaced because of technology have not received any form of training in the past year.

This clearly signals a need for employee training in the current workforce which, on a long-term basis, could result in UK businesses being more competitive in the global market.

This is not the only benefit that can be seen from implementing training and upskilling programmes at work.

According to a government report, poor mental health is said to cost the UK economy between £74bn and £99bn a year, with the direct cost to employers about half that amount[2]. Estimations also show that for every £1 invested in mental wellbeing support, there is a £9 return on investment[3].

This means that ensuring employee happiness at work is the most cost-effective way to improve wellbeing, productivity and aid staff retention. And one of many such ways to improve the happiness of a workforce is by empowering employees through continual education.

Every year we see more and more businesses getting on board with initiatives such as Learning at Work Week; realising the many benefits learning can have to their employees’ mental health and wellbeing.

In today’s climate many organisations view continual learning as an important part of their wellbeing package, and if they don’t, they should. At Open Study College we have witnessed first-hand how education empowers people in the workplace and creates a more positive and productive atmosphere.

Open Study College has also found many students report how ongoing learning has helped them to advance their career and become more confident; both as an individual and in the workplace. Many also thought that continued development, improved career prospects and flexibility to juggle commitments such as a family, played a great part in what motivated them to learn something new.

Some of the most popular courses taken up for inhouse learning through Open Study College include A Levels, CACHE courses (childcare and health and social care) and counselling, with many other courses taken up for personal enjoyment.

It is great to see how both government and employers are taking steps towards ensuring more people have access to continual learning, but there’s a lot more to be done. Education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of age and educational background, and workplaces can do more through subsidised or paid for opportunities for employees to learn at work. With flexible courses like ours offering a variety of online as well as physical teaching tools, people can easily fit learning around their work and everyday life.

Open Study College currently work with a number of businesses and have seen about 300 people enrol on courses. Many of those businesses tell us that upskilling the workforce has enhanced employee loyalty, productivity and happiness. It hasn’t just meant having the latest industry knowledge but has also brought wider reaching company and staff benefits.”

For more information on Open Study College and the wide variety of courses on offer, please visit www.openstudycollege.com