Webinars, talks and podcasts

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?”

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy was a key focus at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s (CIPD) recent Annual Conference and Exhibition. Phil Kenmore, Director - Corporate Development and Partnerships at the OU, spoke at the event with a particular focus on the skills challenges posed by ESG.

Our Elevate Equity event brought together a number of leading experts in diversity and inclusion to The Open University’s campus in Milton Keynes. In front of a live and virtual hybrid audience, three panels talked about the role of equity in the workplace.