Skills Starter: Help to take your skills planning to the next level

Skills Starter logo

The Open University Business Barometer found:

  • 57% of employers face skills shortages
  • Only 39% have implemented a written skills plan
Try Skills Starter

Developed by The Open University with TrainingZone and learning analyst and author Laura Overton, this free tool helps you to identify workforce skills challenges and take practical action.

Fill in the short questionnaire and get:

  • Tailored skills planning resources
  • Practical tips and case studies
  • Expert guidance relevant to your challenges
  • A free benchmarking report comparing your responses with those of your peers

 

50%

of Skills Starter users indicated that skills struggle to survive daily work pressures*

 

50%

said access to expert advice would make it easier to develop or refine a skills plan**

 

99%

are interested in a free tool that identifies gaps in thinking with a tailored action plan**

 

41%

said ready-made resources and checklists would help**

* Open University Skills Gap Benchmark report on Skills Starter users 2026
**Open University survey, 2025

How it works

  1. Fill in the questionnaire below to define your main skills challenges
  2. We will send you a plan-on-a-page and a set of resources based on your priorities
  3. Fill in your plan and let us know how you are getting on!
  4. Receive a free benchmarking report to compare yourself with other organisations.

Our experts

The tool has been created in association with TrainingZone, learning analyst and author, Laura Overton, and expert input from The Open University and its partners. For more information on how we developed the tool, click here.