Skills are key in delivering economic performance of an organisation as well as social mobility. In the UK, there is a focus on the supply of skills rather than the skills that employers need.

Explore our resources for further information about skills strategies, ‘T’ levels and graduates in the workplace.

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Factsheets

Regularly-updated factsheets provide overviews and information on a topic

One Factsheet about Skills development
Factsheet
Skills development in the UK workplace
Understand what we mean by skills in the workplace, UK skill levels and the government’s skills policy.

Guides

Designed for practitioners, our guides provide recommendations and advice on how to apply good practice in the workplace.

One Guide about Skills development
Guide
Skills matching: Using and deploying people’s skills effectively in the workplace
Guide and skills audit checklist to assess and plan skills development
For Members

Reports

Research and analysis by experts from CIPD and partner organisations

Four Reports about Skills development
Report
CIPD Good Work Index: Northern Ireland
A Northern Ireland summary of the CIPD Good Work Index 2024 survey report
Report
CIPD Good Work Index: Wales
A Wales summary of the CIPD Good Work Index 2024 survey report
Report
CIPD Good Work Index: North of England
A North of England summary of the CIPD Good Work Index 2024 survey report
Report
Learning and skills at work
Our survey report and case studies, produced in partnership with Accenture, examine current practices and trends in learning and development (L&D)

Case studies

Learn from real world examples of how other people professionals and organisations work with the CIPD to approach key challenges and objectives.

Five Case studies about Skills development
Case study
Building a future-proof recruitment pipeline: Bupa Arabia
A case study on how Bupa Arabia created a training programme to address hiring challenges and foster the development of future leaders
Case study
Transforming the learning and development landscape: Emirates Health Services
A case study on how Emirates Health Services implemented a new initiative to enhance individual learning and organisational knowledge-sharing
Case study
Being an effective employer: Bupa Arabia
A case study on how Bupa Arabia developed a range of strategic objectives to attract, develop and retain talent
Case study
Familiarising workers with technology before implementation: MTR Elizabeth Line (MTREL)
A case study on investment in augmented reality and mobile technologies to humanise training and better prepare train drivers for work
Case study
Transferring recruitment responsibilities to managers: Natura & Co
A case study on the implementation of technology in a recruitment module to reduce costs, shifting recruitment responsibly to line managers and removing the recruitment function

Thought leadership

Insight and foresight from our experts in people and the world of work

13 Thought leadership about Skills development
Thought leadership
Analysis | How L&D can create value: Role of line managers in supporting skills development
We examine the evidence for smarter line management engagement to improve learning impact and performance
Thought leadership
Briefing | How HR can use organisational development to boost skills development
As organisations look for new ways to grow the skills base of their workforce, we examine the role that organisational development (OD) can play in driving up productivity and improving business outcomes
Thought leadership
Analysis | How L&D can create value: Focusing on skills development
How can L&D teams create value and impact and improve performance through focusing on skills development?
Thought leadership
COVID-19 has reduced investment in skills and learning but also prompted organisations to be more future focused
Lizzie Crowley examines the results from CIPD’s Learning and Skills at Work Survey 2021, and discusses how the world of work will change after the pandemic
Thought leadership
Protecting young people from unemployment
Lizzie Crowley focuses on how the current pandemic will affect youth employment
Thought leadership
Upskilling and reskilling now to prepare for the post-pandemic economy
Lizzie Crowley discusses the importance of training and development of employees during the pandemic, and what the Government can be doing to support organisations through online courses
Thought leadership
Tackling the future ‘human’ skills deficit together
As technology drives a revolution in the workplace - transforming the way we work and the job opportunities available - Lizzie Crowley argues that it is human skills and capabilities that will always be important to how people work
Thought leadership
'Human' skills to be included in new 'essential skills framework'
Amie Evans argues that the skills we will need for the future are human
Thought leadership
Breaking down the barriers
Katherine Garrett discusses the important role employers have to play in helping young people reach their potential, even before they leave school
Thought leadership
AI can be used to free up staff to focus on the softer skills that machines can’t replicate
You could say we’ve entered a golden age of computers, where the sheer volume of data and vastly improved computing power have created the perfect conditions for developing artificial intelligence
Thought leadership
Digital skills are in short supply in GCC
Improved academic preparation for the digital world of work could help boost the number of jobs in the sector by 1.3 million
Thought leadership
Wanted: Creativity and empathy hubs
Preparing students adequately for a world of work where the landscape will be all but unrecognisable by the time they get there is a massive undertaking
Thought leadership
Valuing your talent: Thought pieces
Discover expert opinion of how HR analytics and the reporting of human capital is changing the world of work

Podcasts

Listen to episodes from our podcast series on a range of topical workplace, HR and L&D issues.

Four Podcasts about Skills development
Podcast
Are apprenticeships the forgotten key to building talent pipelines?
Why do apprenticeships seem undervalued and underused? Employers in the know say a good programme can provide skilled, engaged workers who progress and are likely to stay
Podcast
Skilling up your organisation now and for the future
Are organisations overlooking the chance to holistically upskill their workforce and prepare for future demands?
Podcast
Leading from the heart: making an impact through soft skills
Episode 166: Nurturing and developing soft skills are essential for business, but how can a greater emphasis on utilising and measuring ‘softer’ skills can benefit your organisation?
Podcast
Critical thinking
Episode 154: How to think well and reflect objectively on the ideas, opinions and arguments of others.

Bitesize research

Your regular overview of current research, inspiring insights and cutting-edge ideas in bitesize

Six Bitesize research about Skills development
Bitesize research
Addressing skills gaps and poor job quality among disadvantaged groups
Employers and job seekers alike can benefit when they collaborate to develop training and employment opportunities through local skills eco-systems
For Members
Bitesize research
Six steps to upskilling your people
Help your organisation meet today’s skill-demands
For Members
Bitesize research
Looking beyond degrees – the case for competency-based hiring
The arguments for revisiting your talent strategy
For Members
Bitesize research
Working together to bridge the skills gap
Read summaries of these case studies
For Members
Bitesize research
Transforming talent at AT&T
Read how AT&T created a new blueprint for sourcing future skills
For Members
Bitesize research
Green skills – an opportunity wasted?
How realistic are expectations around extensive job creation and upskilling proving to be?
For Members

Policy engagements

Our calls for action.

10 Policy engagements about Skills development
Policy engagement
CIPD consultation response: Spending Review 2025
Submission to HM Treasury
Policy engagement
CIPD consultation response: Curriculum and assessment review
Our response to the Department for Education’s call for evidence to review the existing national curriculum and statutory assessment system in England.
Policy engagement
CIPD consultation response: Industrial strategy
Our response to the Department for Business and Trade’s consultation on the UK’s modern industrial strategy
Policy engagement
CIPD consultation response: Call for evidence on skills and training
Read our response to the call by the House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee for evidence on skills policy
Policy engagement
CIPD consultation response: Post-school education and skills reform legislation
Submission to the Scottish Government’s Lifelong Learning and Skills Directorate
Policy engagement
Calling for a comprehensive economic strategy to help the UK out of recession
Read our submission to the UK’s Chancellor, ahead of the March 2024 budget statement
Policy engagement
Calling for an Autumn Statement that drives economic growth and supports better work and working lives in the UK
Read the CIPD’s November 2023 submission to His Majesty’s Treasury
Policy engagement
CIPD Manifesto for Good Work
We’re calling on the UK Government to create a long-term workforce strategy centred on skilled, healthy and fair work
Policy engagement
A revitalised industrial strategy to boost innovation and productivity across all sectors of the UK's economy
We’ve been engaging with key stakeholders and policy makers to make the case for changes to a range of policy areas including skills development and labour market enforcement
Policy engagement
Comprehensive Spending Review
Read the CIPD's submission to Her Majesty's Treasury

Learning

We offer a range of evidence-based courses tailored to suit you and your needs.
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