Learning at Work Week: Inspiration for creative training in the workplace

15 May 2017 -

The Campaign for Learning wants companies up and down the country to enthuse their workforce with a new zest for learning. Here’s how you can get involved

This week marks the celebration of Learning at Work Week from the Campaign for Learning, which aims to put a spotlight on the importance and benefits of learning and development at work.

The theme for 2017 is Curious & Creative, and companies of all shapes and sizes are taking part to improve the learning culture, curiosity and engagement in their workforce.

Learning at Work Week is not prescriptive in terms of what your company should do and how you should mark it, but provides a framework and ideas. This ensures you can plan events and activities that fit your context and are explicitly linked to your business goals and the needs of your employees, so they have longer term impact.

The Week promotes an inclusive approach and encourages the extension of opportunities to learn to all employees, especially those who may not currently participate in learning.

CMI knows only too well the benefits of learning in the workplace. Its Chartered Manager status rewards the practical application of management theory and highlights the best practice and professionalism exhibited by their members.

CMI spoke to 535 of their Chartered Managers to find out how Chartered status had benefitted their career, with 83% saying they are better managers after achieving Chartered status.

Chief executive Ann Francke said: “First, they’ve told us that becoming Chartered has made them significantly better managers. They use the accreditation as proof of their experience of leading people and managing change, and of their integrity and commitment to ethical behaviour.

“Second, they say that they’ve become notably confident leaders. Almost all report that they have developed greater self-awareness and increased self-confidence. They also use the accreditation to showcase their continual learning and growth.

“And third, they say that it’s made a big impact on the results they deliver. On average, Chartered Managers add £391,000 of value to the organisations they serve. This value comes from contributions such as improving operations, developing new products and becoming better at getting the most out of the teams they lead. In turn, becoming Chartered has earned many managers increased pay and bonuses.”

It is important, however, that workplace learning is delivered in an engaging and effective manner.

CMI’s own research has found that 97% of managers have spent at least one day a year on digital learning, but more than one in three said digital courses are not aligned with their organisation’s objectives.

To help organisations deliver effective digital learning courses, CMI has come up with four key aspects:

Be Personal: 73% of managers want digital learning to be more personalised by using adaptive learning methods – where the content and approach are tailored to individual learning styles.

Be Innovative: 41% of younger managers want more apps and games (compared to only 16% of over-55s).

Be Social: 58% of younger managers want better peer networks… which only 15% think digital learning methods are currently able to provide.

Be Credible: Just 20% of managers say that the digital learning they’ve undertaken has been accredited