If you’re serious about retaining your best talent to help your business grow, it’s time to make some serious changes to the learning and development you offer.

 

It’s time for change

Doing something just because it’s always been done that way is no longer the smart choice. Especially with the average worker now staying with one employer for just over four years, and almost half that time for millennials. Because although your staff may be keen for self-improvement to progress their careers, they’ll want to do it on their own terms. They’ll want more flexibility and the option to work as they study, so they can earn as they learn. By making distance learning part of your proposition, your staff can get the development opportunities they want, right where they are. So, they’re more likely to stay. Not only that, but you’ll be more attractive to potential recruits.

 

The OU – distance learning specialists for over 50 years

Distance learning is the learning method for today’s world. It allows employees to ready themselves for the future without interrupting their present. That’s where The Open University excels. We’ve been distance-first learning specialists for over 50 years, working closely with businesses to develop courses that are designed and delivered with industry applicable skills. So, we’re uniquely positioned to help students prepare for, and progress, in their chosen career. Our range of courses can help your team further their skillsets and be better at their jobs. Which is great news for your business.

 

Unleash your team’s true potential

Whether your employees are aged seventeen or seventy, starting out in their career or looking for a fresh direction, they’re likely to have a desire for self-improvement. And if they don’t have the opportunity to grow, they’ll leave. With subjects covering everything from Health and Social Care to Environmental Studies, and Engineering to Criminology and Law, we have a course to help each one of them realise their full potential. By furthering their knowledge, capabilities, and skillsets, they can go further and rise higher in their working lives. They’ll be happier, enjoy their work more – and want to stay with you for longer.

 

All the ingredients for a higher-performing team

Those who study with The OU today are better prepared for your business tomorrow. This is partly due to the invaluable life skills they learn – like self-motivation and self-discipline. But that’s not all. Their new skillset means they’ll feel they’re better at their job. They’ll have a greater sense of purpose in their role with a stronger appreciation of the rewards that come from working hard. And they’ll enjoy more autonomy. All of which are key ingredients for a fiercely motivated, dynamic and committed team, better equipped to tackle a wider range of business challenges for you.

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More students are opting to learn as they earn.

The option to learn as you earn is swiftly moving from a nice-to-have, to a must-have. And to be considered forward-thinking, employers need to offer this sort of flexible learning and development as standard.

 

Full-time working mum, Faye, had a light bulb moment and decided to rewrite her story by enrolling on a degree through The Open University to further her career. Being able to fit studying around her life was a massive draw for her.

 

She said, “The flexibility was phenomenal… I studied at lunch time, when I put the kids to bed at night, and then I put a couple of hours in over the weekend as well.”

 

By balancing her work, OU study and home life, Faye got the qualifications she wanted, becoming the youngest fellow of the Institution of Engineering Technology – and her employers got a more motivated and more skilled worker in their team.

 

Watch her video at open.ac.uk/the-open-diaries

 

Future proof your business

No one yet knows how Brexit will impact UK businesses. On top of that, the rate of change in the world isn’t likely to slow down any time soon. But you can still take control of your story by partnering with us to invest in your team. Our unique, distance-first approach to part-time learning and our ability to adapt means we’re well positioned to help you flex with the times – with a loyal team that have skills that are not only relevant in your workplace now, but will stay relevant in the future.

 

Ready to take control of your business’s story?

To see how the OU could help you and your team, or to find out more about our range of courses, please visit open.ac.uk or call us on 0800 XXX XXXX. 

 

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