Success Stories Hub

Partner success stories

According to the 2025 Business Barometer report published by The Open University, 54% of UK organisations are currently experiencing skills shortages. These employer success stories show how businesses and public sector organisations are responding with practical workforce development solutions.

Each focus area below features accessible case study summaries that outline:

The organisation’s workforce objective
The learning solution delivered
The measurable business outcomes
The long-term impact on workforce capability

These partnership case studies demonstrate the value of university and employer collaboration in addressing skills gaps and supporting organisational growth.

Digital

See how organisations embed digital capability across their workforce. From software engineering to IT transformation, these stories highlight improved productivity and sustainable talent pipelines.

Engineering

Discover how technical employers collaborate with the OU to build future-ready teams. These highlights show improved retention and structured technical pathways via degree apprenticeships.

Health and social care

Explore how the NHS and private providers use flexible, work-based learning to enhance patient care. These successes demonstrate improved recruitment and clear nursing development routes.

Leadership and management

See how partners strengthen management capability at every level. These stories show improved team performance, entrepreneurial skills and succession planning through accredited leadership training.

Social work

Learn how local authorities develop and retain social workers via flexible routes. These partnerships showcase improved recruitment and workforce sustainability in critical areas.

Access to learning and employee education benefits

See how organisations like Uber and local councils use funded education as a powerful engagement tool. These stories demonstrate how flexible learning transforms lives and boosts loyalty.

See all success stories

Explore how The Open University collaborates with employers to design and deliver tailored workforce development programmes that produce measurable results.

See all of our partner success stories

The Open University has been great in terms of those that haven't been in education for a while. We see The Open University as a partner in our long-term learning strategy. We think they can help us develop those all the way up from apprentice level to director.

Jordan Stuart,
Engineering Training Academy Manager at Biffa

Looking for the full story?

These summaries provide a snapshot of each partnership. If you would like a deeper insight into the strategy, implementation and long-term impact behind each collaboration, explore our full-length, editorial case studies.

Visit our complete case studies library to read detailed examples of university and employer partnerships across the private, public and third sectors.

View full case studies

Trusted by thousands

The Open University works with more than 2,700 organisations across the public, private and third sectors, including NHS trusts, local authorities and FTSE 100 companies.

Our flexible blended learning model enables employers to upskill staff with minimal disruption, while maintaining consistent, high-quality training across multiple sites and regions.

of apprentices said they gained new skills^*

of apprentices said OU teaching staff were skilled at explaining content^*

of apprentices said their learning has improved performance at work^*

Partner with us to develop your workforce

Behind every success story is a strategic partnership

The Open University has a dedicated team of employer and partnership managers who specialise in delivering workforce training solutions across sectors. From higher and degree apprenticeships to microcredentials and postgraduate qualifications, we design programmes aligned to your business objectives.

Whether you are looking to close skills gaps, strengthen leadership capability or build a sustainable talent pipeline, we can help you achieve measurable results through flexible, accredited learning.

Get in touch

You're in good company

Join thousands of organisations already partnering with The Open University to strengthen workforce capability, improve performance and support long-term organisational success.