The role of employee learning programmes in boosting company culture

The role of employee learning programmes in boosting company culture in summary:

• Learning initiatives that support employee growth and development create value and appreciation, leading to a happier and more engaged workforce
• Continuous upskilling is crucial due to rapid technological advancements, helping fill internal skill gaps and keeping employees up-to-date
• Learning programmes encourage knowledge sharing and collaboration among colleagues, boosting confidence and fostering innovative ideas.

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You’ve probably heard company culture being often described as the beating heart of a business. Now that might sound a bit dramatic, but it is true!

But here’s the thing: what actually is company culture?

In short, it’s what makes a business unique (which can be either a good or bad thing). And, with such importance, culture has quite the influence over a business. A positive company culture can inspire and motivate employees, while a negative culture can have an unhealthy reverse effect.

It’s the invisible force that shapes every aspect of life at work. Its shared values, beliefs and practices define how things get done in the workplace. A company’s culture impacts how employees approach their work… and its importance shouldn’t be underestimated! In fact, 84.5% of employees thought a positive workplace culture was important when deciding their next career move

HR plays a key role in defining a company’s ideal culture and assisting the team in identifying the goals and objectives needed to achieve it. In fact, HR supports everyone in the company to create and maintain the culture: providing direction for senior leadership to set a good example to their peers, and encouraging the actions to make culture reflective everywhere in the business.

Of course, there are lots of ways to boost a positive company culture: such as promoting a healthy work-life balance, employee recognition and supporting career progression, to name but a few. But have you ever considered the impact of investing in the training and development of employees through learning programmes? And, perhaps most importantly, the impact that can have on company culture?

The connection between learning and culture

Learning opportunities are sometimes a neglected part of company life: often taking the form of mandatory training sessions or dull online courses. But, it doesn’t have to be that way…

Exciting and engaging learning programmes can be your secret weapon in supporting successful cultures because the two go hand-in-hand.

An increased emphasis on learning is vital for a healthy company culture because it demonstrates a company’s commitment to the development of its employees. Learning initiatives are more than just a means to upskill or reskill a workforce: they’re a reflection of the company’s dedication to growth, innovation, and employee wellbeing.

It should also be noted that offering learning programmes shouldn’t be considered a company ‘perk’ or ‘nice to have’. They’re essential to for the future development of your company, employees and driving ongoing business success.

Benefits of employee learning programmes

“But hang on!” you may be thinking. “Our employees have jobs to do, deadlines to meet and projects to finish. Surely that’s more important?” Of course, your employees’ work is essential; but making time for learning in your business has some fantastic benefits you shouldn’t ignore, including:

• Enhanced employee engagement

Offering enjoyable learning initiatives that support the growth and future development of its employees will create value and appreciation; leading to a happier and consequently more engaged workforce.

• Continuous skills development

In the UK, 62% of organisations are currently facing a skills shortage, so continuous upskilling is crucial. Rapid technological advancements, such as AI, make it crucial for employees to stay up-to-date and move with the times. Plus, upskilling employees helps fill internal skill gaps, particularly in areas where high-demand kills are not easy to place

• Increased collaboration

Increased successful collaboration between colleagues is key for workplace success. This is because continuous learning initiatives encourage teams to share their knowledge and skills with others. These environments can also boost confidence and encourage colleagues to share innovative ideas. Supporting teams with extra knowledge and confidence to help them improve and grow is highly beneficial in increasing collaboration.

• Better rates of employee retention

Keeping valued employees is super important; but, traditional benefits like pension contribution, sick pay and competitive salary might not keep everyone happy.

Employees are more likely to stay with a company long-term if they’re being supported and offered future development. LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report found 90% of organisations are concerned about the retention of employees and providing learning opportunities is the top retention strategy.

• Retention of knowledge within a business

Learning programmes encourage the development of skills and knowledge of employees within the company. Continuously upskilling and supporting employees to further strengthen their skills alongside the constant changing environment, helps keep the latest skills and knowledge within the business.

A skilled team which is up to date with the latest advancements can help a business grow and stay competitive.

Types of learning programmes

When it comes to successful learning programmes, a one-size-fits-all approach simply won’t cut it. This is because everyone learns things differently! Whereas some may love a classroom-based environment, others may prefer a more hands-on approach.

• Formal training

A formal learning training programme is a structured session with clear objectives and goals that will be defined by a session leader. The most common examples of formal training: are workshops, seminars, or certification courses.

• Informal learning

Informal learning takes place outside of the traditional learning environment; which is usually structured and planned. Examples of informal training include mentorships, programmes, peer learning, and on-the-job training.

• Digital learning

Of course, probably one of the most popular types of learning programmes now is digital learning, where the user is supported by technology. This method gives people access to many more resources at virtually any time; plus, digital learning can come in lots of different forms, including e-learning platforms, webinars or online courses.

With so many options for a learning programme in the workplace, a Learning Management System (LMS) is vital to manage the learning content within an organisation, it will coordinate all these types of learning methods and act as a central hub.

An LMS is like your very own content library full of custom company training tools it is a great way to support a culture of learning and encourage development in the workplace.   

Implementing effective learning programmes

Don’t currently have an LMS? Here’s what you should consider before implementing a learning programme:

• Conduct a needs assessment
  Before putting any learning programmes in place, it’s crucial to identify the needs of the organisation. A needs assessment will identify any skill gaps and needs within the workforce. This can help set the scene for a successful needs assessment.
• Customising your programmes
  Once the learning requirements are identified the next step is tailoring the learning initiatives to meet the specific needs of employees. This is when you’ll personalise the learning programmes to make sure everyone in the workforce gets the most from them.
• Measuring the impact
  When everything is up and running it is important to receive feedback about how things are going. Giving an insight into the learning programmes and how effective it is. All of this is made easier with a Learning Management System.

Sound interesting? We have a full guide about implementing learning programmes which you can download for free here. We may be biased, but it’s a great read!

In closing…

Learning Programmes and a positive workplace culture have a strong connection. When done correctly, learning programmes reflect a company’s values and emphasis on employee development and growth. Investing in your learning programmes isn’t just about upskilling your workforce: it should help grow a positive, learning-focused company culture that’s fit for the challenges of the future.