L&D Network: Focus on strategic thinking

About this event

L&D Network: For CIPD Members developing people, building capability and shaping the future of learning within organisations.

As organisations increasingly adopt a skills-first approach, expectations of L&D professionals are changing. The challenge is no longer simply identifying training needs. It's understanding business priorities, diagnosing capability gaps and helping organisations make smarter decisions about how performance can be improved.

In this interactive Learning & Development Network session, learning strategist Andrew Jacobs will explore how L&D professionals can move beyond delivering learning solutions and become strategic partners who connect organisational goals, workforce capability and business performance.

You'll discover how to ask better questions, identify the real issues behind performance challenges and determine when learning is the right solution, and when it isn't.

Whether you're responsible for learning strategy, organisational capability, talent development or people development, this session will provide practical ideas to help you increase the impact and influence of L&D within your organisation.

What we'll explore

• What a skills-first approach means for L&D in practice
• Why capability conversations should start with business priorities and performance outcomes
• How L&D can move from responding to requests to influencing organisational decisions
• The role of L&D as a capability broker, connecting business needs with the most appropriate solutions
• When learning is the right intervention and when alternative approaches may create greater impact
• Practical ways to apply skills-first thinking in your own organisation

What you'll take away

By attending, you'll:

• Gain a practical framework for linking organisational priorities to capability needs
• Better understand how L&D can create strategic value and organisational impact
• Learn techniques for diagnosing performance and capability challenges more effectively
• Explore how to have more productive conversations with stakeholders and business leaders
• Leave with practical ideas you can apply immediately in your role

About the speaker

Andrew Jacobs is a Learning Strategist and Organisational Impact Advisor who helps organisations connect learning, capability and performance to measurable business outcomes.

With experience leading learning, talent and capability initiatives across the public, private and third sectors, including central government, Andrew now works with leadership teams and learning functions to design learning systems that are grounded in organisational need and focused on impact.

A Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, Andrew is also the producer of the Women Talking About Learning podcast and regularly speaks internationally on learning strategy, leadership capability and organisational performance.

About the CIPD Learning & Development Network

The CIPD Learning & Development Network is a dedicated community for CIPD members working in learning, talent and organisational development roles.

Whether you're designing learning programmes, building organisational capability, leading learning strategies or supporting skills development, the network brings together professionals who are passionate about helping people and organisations thrive.

Our quarterly online events provide opportunities to connect with peers, exchange ideas, discuss emerging trends and learn from the experiences of fellow practitioners across a wide range of sectors.

Who is this network for?

This network is open to CIPD members working in:

• Learning & Development
• Talent Development
• Organisational Development
• Leadership Development
• Early Careers and Apprenticeships
• Skills and Capability Development
• Learning Technologies and Digital Learning
• People Development and Talent Management

Whether you're early in your L&D career or leading learning strategy at an organisational level, you'll find a welcoming community of peers ready to share ideas, experiences and practical insights.

Why attend?

By joining our quarterly network meetings, you'll be able to:

• Build your professional network
• Learn from experienced L&D practitioners
• Explore current and emerging issues affecting the profession
• Gain practical ideas you can apply in your role
• Share your own experiences and challenges with peers
• Contribute to conversations shaping the future of learning and development

These member-led sessions combine expert insight, peer discussion and networking, providing a valuable space for learning professionals to connect, learn and grow together.

Key information

Network membership eligibility

Important: These events are exclusively for CIPD members who have successfully joined the relevant People Professional Network. Our network events are designed as member-only spaces where professionals can connect with peers, share experiences and discuss challenges in a trusted environment.

To register for this event, you will need a network member access code.

All approved network members receive this code:

• In their network welcome email.

• In subsequent communications relating to the network.

• In invitations to network events.

You will be asked to enter this code on Eventbrite to access tickets for this session.

If you cannot locate your code, please contact operationsdelivery@cipd.co.uk before registering.

Not yet a network member?

If you are a CIPD member but have not yet joined the network, you'll need to apply before registering for this event.

You can apply to join the network here: networkapplication.co.uk

Once your application has been approved, you'll receive a welcome email containing your network access code, which you'll need to register for future network events.

Please note that event registration cannot be completed without a valid network member access code.

Participating in the session

This is a member discussion session, not a webinar.

Our People Professional Network events are designed to help network members connect, collaborate and learn from one another through active participation and peer-to-peer discussion.

Throughout the session, attendees will participate in breakout room discussions with fellow network members, sharing experiences, challenges, ideas and practical solutions.

To get the most from the session, please come prepared to contribute to conversations and engage with your peers. You do not need to be an expert; the value comes from members learning together.

Joining instructions

You'll receive your joining instructions again before the event, along with a reminder shortly before the session starts.

Guest speakers

Some events may include external speakers. Any views or opinions expressed are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CIPD.

Participating in the session

We encourage attendees to make the most of the discussion by using the chat, Q&A and other interactive features during the event. We ask that attendees participate directly and do not use AI bots or automated tools during the session as these will be removed.

Joining the event

To help us start on time and ensure a smooth check-in process, please join a few minutes before the scheduled start time. Where possible, use the name you registered with on Eventbrite.

Accessibility and reasonable adjustments

If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your participation, please contact us and we'll do our best to accommodate your needs.