Find ideas, research and stories shaping better leadership

Blog AI Apprenticeships Financial Services

From curiosity to capability: how mid-sized financial services firms are using the levy to close the AI skills gap

The largest UK banks and insurers have spent the last two years building AI capability at scale, with centralised AI teams, tooling investments runnin...

06 August 2026 | 8 min read

Blog AI Financial Services

What the FSSC research actually says - and what it means for your L&D strategy

When a sector's own skills authority publishes research that runs counter to most of the sector's training assumptions, it is worth reading it careful...

06 August 2026 | 8 min read

Blog AI Financial Services

AI capability in financial services: why the FSSC's future skills agenda demands more than technical training

The Financial Services Skills Commission published its most significant research in years in May 2025. Unlocking AI's Potential: The Skills That Matte...

06 August 2026 | 7 min read

Whitepapers Management Financial Services

The human skills imperative in financial services: what the FSSC research demands from L&D leaders

Financial services is the sector most exposed to AI of any industry in the UK economy. The Financial Services Skills Commission's 2025 research is exp...

06 August 2026 | 2 min read

Blog Apprenticeships

Why 100% pass rate and 85% distinction tells you something - and what it doesn't

Apprenticeship marketing tends to lead with completion statistics: pass rates, distinction rates, promotion rates, and Net Promoter Scores. The number...

31 July 2026 | 7 min read

Blog Apprenticeships

From cohort to capability: how FTL builds programmes that feel like they were made for your organisation

Apprenticeship providers have a customisation problem. Most claim customisation. Few deliver it. The reason is structural. Most providers operate at s...

31 July 2026 | 7 min read

Blog Apprenticeships

What learners actually work on: applied learning in practice across the FTL suite

If you ask most apprenticeship providers what their learners do, you get a list of modules. Module one: introduction to AI. Module two: data fundament...

29 July 2026 | 8 min read

Blog AI

From AI Tool User to AI-Enabled Performer: The Three Stages of Workforce AI Readiness

Workforce AI readiness is not a binary. It is not a state that an organisation either has or does not have, and it is not achieved through a single tr...

29 July 2026 | 7 min read

Blog AI Apprenticeships

What the New AI and Automation Practitioner Standard Actually Requires — and Why Most Training Programmes Miss Half of It

In March 2026, Skills England published the Level 4 AI and Automation Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard (ST1512). It is the first nationally recogn...

29 July 2026 | 7 min read

Blog AI

The Productivity Paradox: Why Companies Investing in AI Tools Aren't Seeing the Returns

The numbers do not add up. UK and global organisations have invested billions in AI tools - licences, platforms, integrations, infrastructure. The pro...

29 July 2026 | 7 min read

Blog AI

Why AI Skills Alone Won't Deliver — The Human Capability Gap Organisations Can't Afford to Ignore

Most organisations know they need to build AI capability. The majority have started. They have invested in tools, rolled out Copilot licences, commiss...

29 July 2026 | 7 min read

Whitepapers AI

The capability gap at the heart of Britain’s AI ambition: Why technical skills alone won’t close it

Artificial intelligence is transforming workplaces across every sector. Yet despite unprecedented investment in AI tools, platforms and digital transf...

24 July 2026 | 2 min read

Blog

Nobody Reads Long Emails – An ADHDer’s Plea

Dear Neurotypicals I know you like to write long emails. To make sure you cover all angles, perhaps. Harsh truth is — nobody reads them. Not even you....

07 October 2025 | 1 min read

Blog

The End of the Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship: What Next?

From January 2026, the Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship will no longer be levy-funded for most managers. Future Talent Learning Founder & CEO ...

02 October 2025 | 3 min read

Blog

When the Designer Can’t Follow the Design: A Neurodivergent Fix

I Wrote the Curriculum, But It Wasn’t Written for Me (At First) I’ve got ADHD. I also design leadership development programmes. You’d think that means...

16 July 2025 | 2 min read

Blog

Future-Proofing Leadership Development: The Best Alternative to the Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship

In light of recent reports suggesting potential government cuts to funding for Level 7 Senior Leader apprenticeships, HR and L&D leaders are confr...

25 February 2025 | 2 min read

Blog

How to gift your unused Apprenticeship Levy to other organisations

Employers who pay the apprenticeship levy can choose to transfer up to 25% of their levy funds each year to other businesses. Transferring levy funds ...

29 February 2024 | 4 min read

Blog

Why it’s so hard to change behaviours in the workplace

Trying out any new behaviour can be risky. Just imagine how you might try acting more assertively with a fickle friend or switch to suddenly being mor...

09 October 2023 | 4 min read

Blog

Unlocking organisational transformation: 9 powerful benefits of learning and development programmes

Organisational transformation is vital for companies striving to stay competitive and adapt to the ever-changing market conditions. According to Mckin...

21 June 2023 | 5 min read

Blog

Cyber security: safeguarding e-learning platforms for a secure digital future

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, e-learning platforms have become a vital component of education systems worldwide. As the popularity of...

18 June 2023 | 5 min read

Blog

Understanding why LGBTQIA+ employees don't come out at work

In today's diverse and inclusive world, it is disheartening to realise that many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, or...

11 June 2023 | 10 min read

Blog

9 trends in learning and development (2023)

People success is increasingly seen as driving business success. Get tips from industry experts on the learning and development trends you need to und...

23 April 2023 | 6 min read

Blog

Put humans at the centre of transformation

In today’s disrupted world, the need for transformation has never been so ubiquitous. But even though more and more leaders are having to exercise the...

12 April 2023 | 5 min read

Blog

The future of learning; the impact on society, businesses and employees

Post-pandemic, the world is facing deep, seismic change. Our societies are in upheaval, our structures are evolving and our work is facing radical tra...

11 April 2023 | 4 min read

Blog

Why some organisations gain more business impact from learning interventions than others

Our transformation curve takes in 15 years of research and thousands of responses from L&D professionals. It looks at how organisations can gain m...

27 March 2023 | 4 min read

Video

Lucy Winkett: Living to work or working to live?

‘Bringing your whole self to work’ has become a cliché, but what could that mean in practice, given that a huge proportion of our waking hours are spe...

26 March 2023 | 2 min read

Blog

How to create psychological safety in hybrid workplaces

The best way to describe psychological safety is as permission for candour. My early research in the 1990s looked exclusively at the cost of people ho...

26 March 2023 | 4 min read

Blog

New ways of working require new ways of leading

Securing a leadership role does not necessarily mean you know all you need to know to get the job done, but rather that, to remain effective in your r...

20 March 2023 | 5 min read

Video

Changeboard becomes Future Talent Learning

Note: If you are able, we strongly encourage you to listen to the audio of this video. Transcripts and closed captions are generated using speech reco...

22 December 2022 | 2 min read

Video

Jim Carrick-Birtwell on why profit and purpose are the new norm for businesses

Note: If you are able, we strongly encourage you to listen to the audio of this video. Transcripts and closed captions are generated using speech reco...

08 December 2022 | 3 min read

Video

Margaret Heffernan on Learning

Note: If you are able, we strongly encourage you to listen to the audio of this video. Transcripts and closed captions are generated using speech reco...

01 December 2022 | 3 min read

Video

Margaret Heffernan: Uncharted: navigating the future

Note: If you are able, we strongly encourage you to listen to the audio of this video. Transcripts and closed captions are generated using speech reco...

16 November 2022 | 3 min read

Video

Margaret Heffernan: We all need friends at work, or do we?

Note: If you are able, we strongly encourage you to listen to the audio of this video. Transcripts and closed captions are generated using speech reco...

16 November 2022 | 3 min read

Video

Philosophy slam part 2: Reflections on the themes of the day

Bringing together the myriad themes and topics covered during the conference, Robert and Mark return to mull over their main takeaways around skills, ...

23 October 2022 | 1 min read

Video

Andreas Schleicher: Critical skills for the future from the OECD

Note: If you are able, we strongly encourage you to listen to the audio of this video. Transcripts and closed captions are generated using speech reco...

23 October 2022 | 3 min read

Video

Transforming Skills and Inclusion: The Inspiration

Note: If you are able, we strongly encourage you to listen to the audio of this video. Transcripts and closed captions are generated using speech reco...

23 October 2022 | 2 min read

Video

Jim Carrick-Birtwell: remarks on opening session

Note: If you are able, we strongly encourage you to listen to the audio of this video. Transcripts and closed captions are generated using speech reco...

23 October 2022 | 2 min read

Video

Professor Andrew J Scott: Work and learning over a longer life

London Business School professor and co-author of The 100-year life, Andrew J Scott, shares why he is optimistic about the prospect of a longer workin...

19 October 2022 | 3 min read

Video

Professor Francesca Gino: Rebel Talent – inclusive management

Note: If you are able, we strongly encourage you to listen to the audio of this video. Transcripts and closed captions are generated using speech reco...

19 October 2022 | 3 min read

Video

Panel: Transforming our approach to skills

This panel of education industry experts, chaired by Carl Ward, Chief Executive of City Learning Trust, considers the skills required for the changing...

19 October 2022 | 5 min read

Video

Jim Carrick-Birtwell: Welcome and introduction

Future Talent Learning's CEO shares stories from his early life and education to outline how lifelong learning, inclusion, cognitive diversity and the...

19 October 2022 | 1 min read

Blog

Have tools for optimisation reached the limits of efficiency?

Rather than focusing on tools for optimisation, should businesses be looking more creatively to the future? Efficiency, optimisation, lean working. Ho...

07 April 2022 | 16 min read

Case study

Upskilling for the future at easyJet | Case Study

Find out how easyJet employed the programme to upskill and retain their talent in this case study. Summary Airline easyJet engaged Future Talent Learn...

14 December 2021 | 3 min read

Blog

Future Talent Learning Magazine Nov-Jan 20

Read issue 27 of Future Talent Magazine to consider the value in an MBA and to pontificate about philosophy in business.

13 December 2021 | 1 min read

Case study

Cultivating a culture of learning at Anglo American | Case Study

Find out how the programme has enabled Anglo American to accelerate 100% virtual delivery of its Achievers Programme. Summary Anglo American is a lead...

10 December 2021 | 3 min read

Blog

Future Talent Magazine Nov-Jan 21

Read issue 29 of Future Talent Magazine – featuring British astronaut Tim Peake's learnings from space.

09 December 2021 | 1 min read

Blog

Future Talent Magazine Feb-May 20

Read issue 28 of Future Talent Magazine – bringing transformational heroes, new skills and reimagined learning to the fore.

09 December 2021 | 1 min read

Blog

Future Talent Learning Magazine May-July 21

Read the latest issue of Future Talent Magazine – this time focusing on cultures of belonging as we move out of lockdown.

06 December 2021 | 1 min read

Case study

Developing world-class learning at Babcock | Interview

Find out how Babcock equipped their employees with the fundamentals of leadership by reading this interview with Craig Smith. The old adage of “people...

15 November 2021 | 6 min read

Case study

Learning through virtual engagement at Costain | Interview

Michael Bashford shares how virtual engagement training has enhanced Costain's position as a dedicated graduate employer. When graduates and apprentic...

15 November 2021 | 7 min read

Case study

Enhancing graduate experience at Costain | Case Study

Read the Costain case study to find out how the Transformational Leadership Programme has improved their graduate experience. Summary Infrastructure s...

15 November 2021 | 3 min read

Case study

Boosting graduate development at M&S | Case Study

Find out how the programme has enabled M&S to boost their graduate development, enhancing leadership using soft-skills. Summary Multinational reta...

01 November 2021 | 3 min read

Case study

Developing soft skills for today's workplace at M&S | Interview

Find out more about how soft-skills have improved graduate leadership at M&S by reading the full interview with Rebecca Keeble. You get a good fee...

01 November 2021 | 6 min read

Case study

Democratising learning at Babcock | Case Study

Find out how Babcock equipped their employees with the fundamentals of leadership in this case study. Summary Global Defence and Aerospace firm Babcoc...

28 October 2021 | 3 min read

Blog

Why intrapreneurs are the leaders of the future

Staying ahead of the curve in a rapidly changing global landscape requires us to embrace new ways of doing business. For Jamie Qiu, founder of Studio ...

26 September 2021 | 6 min read

Blog

Leveraging skills adjacencies to address critical skills gaps

How can we find and develop talent with in-demand skills alongside ongoing disruption and rapidly evolving needs? The disruption of the COVID-19 pande...

19 September 2021 | 4 min read

Blog

Why investing in creativity is essential for the future of work

For Craig Fenton, the quest for future innovation lies in what makes us innately human – our creativity. Since the moon landing in 1969, we've seen an...

19 September 2021 | 3 min read

Blog

Why meta-skills lie at the heart of successful leadership

One of many 'meta-skills' that underpin effective and confident teams is empathic leadership. The philosophy and approach that underpins a leadership ...

19 September 2021 | 4 min read

Blog

Perspective: Three ways to stimulate emotional intelligence

How can you stimulate growth and development among your team, in the right way? Teresa Kotlika suggests three courageous questions that every manager ...

26 August 2021 | 7 min read

Blog

What will it take to balance office and remote working effectively?

If we can banish ‘Taylorism’ and balance remote and office working, trust, autonomy and responsibility may flourish. Over recent months, perhaps for t...

26 August 2021 | 4 min read

Blog

Responding to early warning signals: don't ignore your 'helpful Cassandras'

Listen for weak signals to avert potential disasters, urges Columbia Business School professor, Rita Gunther McGrath. We’ve all heard the stories. The...

23 August 2021 | 4 min read

Blog

Management in virtual working: four changes to be prepared for

Pauline Fatien shares her four insights into the changing world of management and which skills leaders will need for the future. The COVID pandemic fo...

01 August 2021 | 4 min read

Blog

The Future TalentEd Podcast: Episode 1 – James Elgar, creator of activism app Now-U

Find out how university student James Elgar become an app creator and social activist during lockdown, in an interview with Martha Tipper. Last summer...

21 July 2021 | 2 min read

Blog

When your nerves get the best of you, change the narrative

What if you could reframe your anxiety into a source of productivity? Harvard Business School professor Francesca Gino shares three strategies for cha...

18 July 2021 | 6 min read

Blog

Women: Insist on your excellence

Reframing your mindset when it comes to good leadership qualities will, in turn, improve your own excellence, writes professor Francesca Gino, Harvard...

11 July 2021 | 3 min read

Blog

Developing soft skills for today's workplace at Marks & Spencer

You get a good feeling when you come across something that you immediately know is a good fit for both your organisation and your people. At M&S, ...

22 June 2021 | 6 min read

Blog

The 100-year life and its implications for business

Global life expectancy is growing at its fastest rate since the 1960s. This changes everything: for individual lives, the organisations they work for,...

20 June 2021 | 5 min read

Blog

No going back: how the pandemic has changed the way we work

Now is the time to seize the remote working moment, says Paul Patterson, CEO and Head of Northern & Western Europe at Fujitsu If there is one phra...

23 May 2021 | 4 min read

Blog

The rewards of pursuing a career in aerospace

RAF chief of the air staff Sir Mike Wigston shares his insights on what a career in aerospace can offer young people. What is the best thing about wor...

06 May 2021 | 2 min read

Blog

Why CEOs are essential drivers of CSR initiatives

CEOs hold significant sway over the success of policies — especially CSR initiatives, writes Georg Wernicke. The behaviour of companies has never been...

26 April 2021 | 4 min read

Blog

Careers case study: Shannon's RAF apprenticeship

Shannon Rose undertook a Level 3 ‘Aviation on the Ground’ apprenticeship with the RAF. Here, she explains what this entailed and how her career has de...

14 April 2021 | 4 min read

Blog

The Educators: Helping young people to flourish

In a series by BecomingX and Capita, leading figures from education explain how to help young people realise their potential. For careers leaders and ...

14 April 2021 | 2 min read

Blog

Careers case study: Build your skills by learning a trade

In our rapidly evolving economy, skilled tradespeople remain in high demand. Here, 18-year-old Layton Rowley, from South Yorkshire, explains why he is...

14 April 2021 | 3 min read

Blog

3 learning resources for managing wellbeing under pressure

Help young people to develop mental coping strategies with resources designed to boost confidence and resilience. In difficult times — whether during ...

14 April 2021 | 3 min read

Blog

Is there a role for you in the RAF?

Committed to broadening its gender and ethnic diversity, the Royal Air Force offers a wide range of career opportunities for all young people. We spok...

13 April 2021 | 10 min read

Blog

Confidence tips: 8 ways for women to take up space in online meetings

Forget mansplaining and interruptions – a RADA Business tutor shows women how to take up space in online meetings. Our levy-funded online management c...

12 April 2021 | 5 min read

Blog

From Business Studies to early careers and training advisor

Emily Gupwell’s degree apprenticeship at bp has led to an HR role helping other young people's careers. So, what do you do all day? In my current role...

29 March 2021 | 4 min read

Blog

Have you explored a career in finance?

Roles in finance come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Could one of them be right for you? To help young people explore careers in financial services...

29 March 2021 | 2 min read

Blog

Productivity and professional development: Focus on strengths, not weaknesses

Leaders with social anxiety disorder can give us valuable perspectives in workplaces that value extroversion. Neurodiversity is an important factor in...

29 March 2021 | 4 min read

Blog

Why you should spend leadership development budget on digital transformation

If every firm is becoming a technology firm, then every leader needs to become a digital leader. What if you could learn how to become a digital leade...

28 March 2021 | 4 min read

Blog

How does Agile project management relate to leadership?

How can leaders focus on agile principles that will add most value, especially in less agile environments? As organisations tackle the challenges of a...

28 March 2021 | 11 min read

Blog

How to use the Apprenticeship Levy to boost productivity

Upskilling ensures productivity. So what's stopping leaders from making effective use of levy-funded online courses? Kate Temple-Brown, client directo...

16 March 2021 | 4 min read

Blog

Why is board diversity important? Do upskilling and transparency help?

C-suite diversity means we need to adapt, evolve, pivot. Whatever you call it, boards are being called upon to do it. Diverse boards are instrumental ...

16 March 2021 | 10 min read

Blog

Why coaching, mentoring and training are important for workplace productivity

Coaching holds the answer to managing organisational change, intergenerational teams and in-house career transitions. Coaching is integral to workforc...

15 March 2021 | 3 min read

Blog

What is learning and development and why is it important?

Learning and development are both important but aren't the same thing. What is L&D and why does it matter? Management courses that attempt to have...

15 March 2021 | 7 min read

Blog

3 ways to end a feedback conversation as a manager

Knowing how to end a feedback conversation well can be difficult. What skills do leaders need? Do you have the skills and confidence to execute feedba...

12 March 2021 | 4 min read

Blog

How to handle negative feedback as a leader

Knowing how to handle negative feedback is a soft skill that today's leaders must master. But how? Receiving and reflecting on feedback can help leade...

12 March 2021 | 6 min read

Blog

Soft skills and upskilling managers and employees - PwC case study

This PwC case study shows how a radical rethink of work culture is needed if we are to meet the upskilling challenge. Periods of disruption are known ...

09 March 2021 | 4 min read

Blog

What are the top 5 characteristics of emotional intelligence in good leadership?

See how to use the top 5 characteristics of emotional intelligence to increase workplace wellbeing and productivity. Emotional intelligence in leaders...

09 March 2021 | 6 min read

Blog

Toxic leadership: How can HR deal with destructive behaviours?

Navigating change can result in toxic leadership behaviour. How can this be avoided with best HR practice? Some leaders can exhibit 'dark' personality...

05 March 2021 | 3 min read

Blog

Apprenticeship levy guidance for employers

At a time when more than 90% of UK workers will need reskilling by 2030, the apprenticeship levy provides employers with the opportunity to offer free...

02 March 2021 | 6 min read

Blog

Effective leadership, emotional intelligence and building trust

Effective leadership requires soft skills and emotional intelligence. How to build trust in the workplace? Start with yourself. Being in a leadership ...

22 February 2021 | 4 min read

Blog

6 benefits to level 3/5 online leadership & management apprenticeships

Our online Level 3 and Level 5 leadership and management apprenticeships are fully levy-funded. Upskill employees – for free. As a leader, you might b...

10 February 2021 | 4 min read

Blog

How STEM helps young people reach for the stars - exclusive Tim Peake Q&A

In an exclusive interview with Mary Appleton, British astronaut Major Tim Peake talks space, resilience and STEM careers. In December 2015, European S...

16 December 2020 | 9 min read

Blog

Why human skills and relationships matter in the world of work

Humanity and relationships underpin the future of work, so invest in your social capital and nurture your friendships, writes author, entrepreneur and...

17 November 2020 | 3 min read

Blog

Why developing ‘transformational assets’ will help you adapt to a changing world

Over our longer careers, we will experience increased disruption to skill sets, so learning will need to become a lifelong endeavour. Future Talent Le...

13 July 2020 | 8 min read

Blog

Are you a ‘versatile learning animal’? What Google can teach us about learnability quotient (LQ)

In the era of ‘quotient creep’, the concept of 'learnability quotient' (LQ) is gaining traction. Former Google CEO, Eric Schmidt, apparently asks hims...

02 July 2020 | 8 min read

Blog

Perspectives: Leadership and the 'emotional rollercoaster'

Does leading through a crisis require emotional intelligence? Dr Rebecca Newton examines the bearing EQ has on the individual, and on business as a wh...

02 July 2020 | 5 min read

Blog

Introducing the Transformational Leadership Programme: why learning is the crucible of transformation for our times

In light of the current pandemic, The Crucible's message about learning, adapting to disruption and shaping the future, has never been more relevant f...

01 July 2020 | 12 min read

Blog

The power of reframing what we mean by 'personal strengths' at work

If we’re looking to improve, should we focus on our strengths, or tackle our weaknesses? Or should we frame the debate in a completely different way? ...

03 June 2020 | 7 min read

Blog

Develop the emotional skills to lead well in a crisis

We must develop the emotional skills to survive and lead through any disruption, writes physician and neuroscientist Dr Alan Watkins, CEO of Complete....

21 May 2020 | 4 min read

Blog

Transformational Leadership: We learn when we feel supported to practise

It has been called the “great training robbery”. Each year, billions are invested in learning and development programmes that promise to transform our...

03 May 2020 | 3 min read