Helping people professionals bridge skills gaps and boost engagement
People professionals know that a skilled and engaged workforce plays a critical role in driving growth and productivity. But it’s not always easy - especially in an era of rapid technological change. That’s why our ‘Focus On…’ topic for November and December is workplace skills and productivity.
Look out for a series of tools and practical insights to help you to address key challenges around skills gaps and employee engagement, and support your organisations to thrive. Key topics will include assessing and improving line managers’ ability to engage and develop their teams, tackling skills mismatches, and addressing overqualification in the workforce.
"Skills are a key driver of business success, investing in skills improves economic performance and productivity. Skills development also benefits individuals: it improves life chances, increases employment and earnings potential, and plays a critical role in supporting social mobility."
The series will also offer tailored advice on strengthening people management and enhancing productivity through flexible working arrangements that benefit both employees and businesses. Additionally, it will explore strategies for planning future skills needs, to ensure businesses are prepared for evolving challenges.
Over the coming months we will focus on key topics that impact your work such as workplace conflict, the UK Government's 'Plan to Make Work Pay', workplace performance and skills, and the impact of AI in the workplace. We want to make it easier for you to find the information to do your job.
Our Focus on resources page brings together all of the CIPD's guidance, reports, and advice on these issues, in one, easy to find place.
Rebecca Peters, Senior Policy and Practice Adviser, outlines some of the biggest changes impacting people practices in 2026 and what actions people teams can take now. Offering a legal perspective, Shoosmiths' Paul Stokey, Partner and Head of People and Reward, and Emma Morgan, Partner and immigration specialist, highlight some of the key legal considerations under these reforms
Lizzie Crowley, Senior Policy Advisor, breaks down what’s changing, why it matters, and how organisations should respond.
