Empowering leaders for the future of work

In today’s fast-changing business environment, effective leadership is essential to drive productivity, inspire teams, and lead through challenges. Yet, many leaders are concerned about the gaps in leadership skills that impact performance across their organisations.

Our latest report, Powering up productivity, found that many decision-makers worry about shortages in critical leadership skills that can hinder their organisation’s productivity and growth. The need for adaptable, skilled leaders has never been greater.

The Open University (OU) can help.

agreed that their organisation's productivity has worsened over the past five years

said skills shortages are negatively impacting productivity in their organisation

agreed that leadership and management skills development positively impacts productivity

Data: Powering up productivity, The Open University 2024

How the OU can support your leadership and management requirements

Many leaders are technical experts who are promoted into leadership roles without the training and skills to succeed. And it can be expensive to recruit an experienced leader externally. Training from within gives you leaders who have developed through your processes, values and culture. However, building a successful leadership team goes beyond technical expertise; it requires equipping managers with the skills to think strategically, communicate effectively, and drive results across departments.

The triple-accredited OU Business School is proud to be part of an elite group of the top 1% of global business schools.
Through structured programmes, flexible microcredentials and free learning resources, we empower learners to achieve real impact in their roles.
We help organisations develop leaders who are ready for the demands of modern management.

Do you need support with leadership and management skills in your organisation?

Explore our learning resources below and reach out to discuss how we can support your requirements.

Get in touch

Get started: Free resources for leadership development

Begin your team’s leadership journey with OpenLearn, our platform offering free, accessible courses that help build foundational leadership and management skills.

Note: Course links in this section will open in a new tab.

Effective communication in the workplace

This free course, Effective communication in the workplace, explores the importance of communication as a skill in the workplace.

Project management: The start of the project journey

An introduction to projects, what they are, how they come about, responses to problems and planning.

Managing & managing people

An introduction to the world of management. Explore a range of management-related topics, including what managers do, what skills they require, and how you can develop as a manager.

Explore more free leadership resources

Upskill: Degrees, modules and short courses for leadership

Our programmes offer flexible options for employees at all levels of leadership, from aspiring managers to senior executives. Choose from structured degree pathways, or tailor your own programme with short courses and microcredentials in areas like Agile leadership and strategic management.

Note: Course links in this section will open in a new tab.

Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees

BA (Honours) Business management

Available as an undergraduate degree or individual modules

Gain critical skills to manage teams and departments effectively, with modules covering finance, strategy, operations, and people management.

Tailored pathways with specialist routes to career goals.
Taught by a triple-accredited business school (AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS).

MSc in Human Resource Management

Masters degree course

This MSc provides an in-depth understanding of human resource (HR) management within an organisational context.

Develop essential HR skills, including selection, performance management, and organisational development, while learning about professionalism, ethics, EDI, and sustainable HR practices.
Gain strategic skills for managing employee engagement, learning, development, and change management.

MBA (Master of Business Administration)

Masters degree course

This MBA programme equips managers with advanced skills that are crucial for driving strategic decisions and fostering innovation within organisations.

Our triple-accredited status puts us in an elite group of business schools worldwide.
Provides a solid international emphasis essential for developing leaders in a global marketplace.

Browse leadership degree courses and modules

I was employed full-time and unable to take a year off to study, but the OU’s MBA is part-time, meaning it could be slotted in around my regular life commitments. I felt that my OU journey took me to new places and stretched learning muscles that I didn’t know I had. Zoë André-Lawson, MBA Graduate

Microcredentials

Designed to rapidly build specific leadership and management skills, our microcredentials offer professional development with academic credit, so you can keep your skills up-to-date and competitive.

Business management: improving organisational practice

Academically-credited short course

Gain critical skills to improve management and leadership practice within your organisation

Duration: 10 weeks
Level: Undergraduate

Business management: People management and leadership

Academically-credited short course

Empower your employees to become adaptable, inclusive leaders who inspire motivated and supportive team cultures.

Duration: 10 weeks
Level: Undergraduate

Business management: project management

Academically-credited short course

Learn the core principles, tools, and techniques needed to lead or successfully contribute to projects that add value and deliver positive outcomes.

Duration: 10 weeks
Level: Undergraduate

Browse the full catalogue of leadership microcredentials

Short courses

Communication skills in the digital world

CPD short course

Master communication strategies to shape messages effectively in both society and the workplace.

No formal academic requirements
20 hours of study

Creative thinking for the workplace

CPD short course

Learn how to create a more flexible, creative mindset in the workplace.

No formal academic requirements
10 hours of study

Analytical thinking for problem solving

CPD short course

Develop the problem-solving skills needed to contribute effectively in many organisational settings.

No formal academic requirements
10 hours of study

Browse all leadership and management courses

Create your own degree

Design a flexible degree that aligns with your organisation’s needs—combining topics in leadership and management with subjects such as digital skills, design, IT and more. This flexibility helps leaders gain exactly what they need to excel.

Explore Open qualifications

Why partner with the OU?

For over 55 years, the OU has been a leader in developing practical, accessible education programmes that enable organisations to nurture effective leaders. We’ve supported over 2.3 million learners, including those from FTSE 100 companies and public sector leaders.

Proven expertise: Decades of experience equipping leaders through our triple-accredited Business School.
Industry-relevant programmes: Our partnerships with leading organisations ensure that our courses align with the current demands of the workplace.
Trusted by top employers: Organisations across sectors rely on the OU to develop their leaders and future-proof their workforce.

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Find out how we can help your leadership requirements

Ready to take the next step in building your leadership team? Whether you’re interested in structured development programmes or tailored training resources, we’re here to help you.

Get in touch