Focus on: workplace skills and productivity
Explore our resources to help you plug the skills gap and drive engagement in the workplace
Explore our resources to help you plug the skills gap and drive engagement in the workplace
The world of work is evolving rapidly, with technological advancements, shifting employee expectations, and widening skills gaps presenting constant challenges. As a people professional, you’re at the forefront of tackling these issues—ensuring teams are equipped, engaged, and ready for the future.
Addressing skills gaps and adapting to change can feel daunting. Without the right strategies, teams risk burnout, disengagement, and falling behind the demands of an ever-changing world of work. The need to develop adaptable, skilled, and motivated employees has never been greater.
Your expertise as an HR or L&D professional makes you uniqely positioned to lead this charge. By assessing team strengths, identifying development needs, and enabling flexible working arrangements, you can create an environment that boosts engagement and productivity. Strategic planning for future skills needs will also ensure your organisation remains competitive and prepared for what lies ahead.
Our ‘Focus on’ pages make it easy to access our practical resources and insights - such as guides on workforce development, or reports on UK skills policies like the Apprenticeship Guarantee – for help making informed decisions and shape impactful strategies. By staying informed and proactive, you can continue to build resilient, future-ready teams that thrive in an ever-changing world of work.
Understand what we mean by skills in the workplace, UK skill levels and the government’s skills policy.
Read the factsheetUnderstand how to build an effective approach to performance management, including the tools that can support it.
Read the factsheetWe discuss how L&D teams can create value and impact and improve performance through focusing on skills development
Read our insightWe discuss how L&D teams can engage with new technologies such as generative AI to create impact and improve performance.
Read our insightThe CIPD examines the state of innovation in the UK and its connection with productivity to inform policy-making and investment.
Read the reportDiscover our insights into productivity and people management practices.
Read the reportAnalysis of the current UK Apprenticeship Levy and policy recommendations for how it can be adapted to provide a better apprenticeships system and workforce training support.
Read the reportWe explore the changes needed to develop a more progressive policy on the UK’s productivity, growth and industrial strategy.
Read the reportAn analysis of the effectiveness of the skills system and whether it meets current and future needs.
Read the reportUK-wide pilot programme will put CIPD members’ expertise in the spotlight and could pave the way for more funding to help SMEs access vital support.
Read the articleUsing and deploying people’s skills effectively in the workplace. This guide offers advice on assessing skills, planning skills development and deploying and redeploying staff.
Explore the guideFind out how traineeships, T Levels and apprenticeships can help young people succeed in your organisation
Explore the guideOur research explores individual and team performance, how it can be measured, and which models can be used to evaluate it
Read our reviewOur research explores the factors that make feedback effective in improving performance and how this can be put into practice by people professionals
Read our reviewExplore the latest research on how to create a positive environment to build and nurture effective teams
Read our reviewUnderstand what apprenticeships are, their role in workforce development, and the current UK policy context.
Read the factsheetCIPD members get an exclusive 15% discount on learning courses.