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Lifelong Learning and Upskilling

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Getting Someone Else to Pay for Your Training

Tuesday, September 1st, 2026

Start with the uncomfortable number. UK employers spend around £1,700 a year training each member of staff. Once you allow for rising prices, that is nearly a third less than they spent in 2011. The figure comes from the government’s own survey of employers. And it is not shared out evenly. Researchers found that graduates [Read more…]

The Alumni Wall – Why Your Story Is Worth More Than You Think

Wednesday, July 29th, 2026

A few years ago, the charity Education and Employers asked more than 13,000 UK primary school children to draw the job they wanted to do when they grew up. The results were published as a report called Drawing the Future, and one finding has stuck with a lot of people who work in education since. [Read more…]

September starts: helping a young person choose what’s next

Tuesday, June 30th, 2026

This one’s less for you and more for someone you know. If you’ve a son, daughter, grandchild, niece, nephew or family friend finishing school this summer, you’ll know it’s an exciting time – a real new chapter – but a daunting one too, with so many decisions about what comes next. GCSE results land in [Read more…]

Five TED Talks to Make You a Sharper Learner

Tuesday, June 30th, 2026

Every month we usually pull a business or self-help book apart and fish out the useful bits. This time we’re trying something different. We’ve gathered five of the best TED talks on a subject close to our alumni community’s heart: learning – how we actually do it, why it sometimes stalls, and how to get [Read more…]

Why Lifelong Learning Still Pays Off

Monday, April 20th, 2026

(And Why Summer Is the Right Moment to Plan Your Next Step)   Here’s a number that might reframe how you think about learning… research by the UK government found that adults who participate in learning are more likely to report higher job satisfaction, better health, and stronger social connections. The returns go well beyond a [Read more…]

Everyday AI: Five Ways You’re Already Using It Without Realising

Monday, March 23rd, 2026

When people hear “artificial intelligence,” they tend to think of chatbots, self-driving cars, or robots in factories. Fair enough – those are the headlines. But the truth is, you’re almost certainly using AI every single day without giving it a second thought. It’s quietly working behind the scenes in apps, services, and devices you rely [Read more…]

The Adult Learner Advantage

Thursday, August 14th, 2025

A-Level results landed earlier this week, and while teenagers across the country nervously await their futures, there’s another group who should be paying attention: adult learners who’ve been thinking “what if?” for far too long. The clearing process starting this week isn’t just for school leavers – it’s an open door for anyone ready to [Read more…]

The Best Podcasts to Keep Learning (and stay sharp!)

Monday, June 2nd, 2025

As we all know, learning doesn’t end when you collect your certificate. The most successful professionals are those who stay curious long after graduation. While evening classes and weekend workshops are fantastic options, there are times when we need something more flexible. Enter podcasts – the perfect way to feed your mind during commutes, workouts, [Read more…]

Master These 5 Human Skills to Thrive in the AI Era

Friday, March 28th, 2025

Ever wondered what makes humans irreplaceable in an AI-powered workplace? As artificial intelligence reshapes how we work, certain skills become even more valuable precisely because they’re distinctly human. The most successful people in tomorrow’s workplaces will be those who embrace AI as a partner, using their human talents to enhance and guide technology rather than [Read more…]

The 15-Minute Learning Method: Transform Your Skills One Short Session at a Time

Wednesday, February 26th, 2025

Fifteen minutes. According to research published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, that’s all it takes to start building valuable career skills. Their findings suggested that these short, focused learning sessions can increase knowledge retention by up to 80%. Welcome to micro-learning – where quarter-hour chunks of time become powerful tools for professional growth.   [Read more…]

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