Free Skills Starter tool: Helping employers turn skills challenges into action

With only 46% of UK organisations having a written skills plan in place, The Open University (OU) and TrainingZone have created a free tool to help organisations move from concern to concrete action on their workforce skills gaps.

L&D professionals are acutely aware that skills planning matters. But getting started is proving difficult in a fast-changing work environment.

A survey from The Open University’s Business Barometer 2025 report reveals a concerning gap between intention and action. While skills shortages continue to slow productivity and growth across UK businesses, less than half of organisations (46%) have a skills plan in place to address these challenges.

The barriers are real and persistent. A new survey of 500 employers published by the OU today identified five critical challenges dominating their skills strategy:

These concerns are far from abstract. They’re hard realities that make skills planning increasingly difficult.

The hardest hit skills areas

Despite these challenges, employers are clear about the skills areas requiring urgent attention. Digital and technology skills top the list at 40%, followed by specialist expertise (18%), future-focused capabilities like sustainability (15%), and leadership and people management skills (13%).

While organisations recognise which skills need prioritising, what’s often missing is a tailored framework to move forward strategically.

The Skills Starter tool: A practical starting point for skills planning

This is where the new Skills Starter tool can help. Launched today by The Open University in partnership with TrainingZone, this free interactive resource offers a structured way to begin those crucial conversations about your organisation’s skills challenges.

Developed with learning expert and author Laura Overton, alongside OU specialists and employer partners, the tool uses a reflective questionnaire to help you assess where your organisation stands. You’ll receive bespoke prompts, checklists and practical advice tailored to your specific context.

Half of employers surveyed said access to expert advice would make developing their skills plan easier, while a third expressed they’d value a free tool to kickstart skills conversations. The Skills Starter directly responds to these needs.

We know that most employers recognise the importance of skills planning but knowing where to start can be daunting. This tool helps bridge that gap by prompting the right conversations with stakeholders. It’s a practical first step for any organisation looking to future-proof its workforce.

Phil Kenmore
Director of Employers and Partnerships at the OU

Making skills planning strategic, not just operational

There’s a broader shift happening here. Skills planning is increasingly recognised not as a tick-box HR exercise, but as an essential lever for business performance and growth. When you connect workforce development to organisational strategy, skills gaps become opportunities rather than obstacles.

Laura Overton adds: “This is a complex challenge for many business leaders – especially where capacity and expertise are factors. We were able to bring together insights from a wide community of experts from the University and its employer partners. This was distilled into a questionnaire to pinpoint priorities, a plan to kickstart action and a set of targeted resources that are ideal for anyone looking to make an impact.”

The tool is freely available to all employers, regardless of size or sector, and designed to complement work-based, flexible learning approaches that create sustainable skills development.

Ready to move from planning paralysis to practical action?

Access the free Skills Starter tool