Webinars, talks and podcasts

Many employers are using apprenticeships to plug skills gaps, recruit and retain employees and build strong internal talent pipelines. And they are achieving the results they want, but it does require commitment and effort, on the part of the employer, the line manager, the apprentice and the learning provider.

The Open University (OU) hosted the GenAI: Adult Learning and Skill Conference which brought together educators, policymakers and technologists, to explore how Generative AI can be used to enhance educational opportunities, experiences and outcomes for adults, and address skills shortages in key areas.

The UK has a productivity problem and it’s not going away. When The Open University (OU) surveyed more than 500 business leaders for its new report, Powering up productivity, one in four of them said productivity had dropped in their organisation over the past five years.

The Open University hosted a full day of keynote speakers and panel discussions, hosted by presenter and journalist, Ben Hunte, to understand how employers can attract, develop and grow young talent. 

The most recent annual report published by The Open University in partnership with the British Chambers of Commerce has revealed that persistent skill shortages are causing problems for organisations in various ways.

There is an ongoing skills crisis in the UK – three in four employers struggle to access the skills they need, according to last year’s Open University (OU) Business Barometer report, conducted in partnership with the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). These skills shortages are having a huge impact on organisations, affecting their ability to recruit, grow, innovate and succeed.

It’s a challenging skills landscape in the UK, with widespread and ongoing shortages. Almost three quarters (73%) of businesses polled in The Open University’s (OU) latest Business Barometer report said they had significant skills gaps and that it was affecting their ability to do business.

Dr Victoria Hands, Director of Sustainability at The Open University, discusses the skills gap in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) within UK businesses on the latest Sustainability Uncovered podcast.

Last year, the NHS released its Long Term Workforce Plan an ambitious plan to train record numbers of nurses, doctors, dentists and other healthcare practitioners in order to address workforce gaps and meet the needs of a growing and aging population in England.

In a world where environmental issues are dominating global discussions, business leaders are asking themselves: “How can my organisation tackle environmental challenges and what steps do I need to take to make a positive impact?”