CIPD

Why does the question of L&D's return on investment refuse to go away, decade after decade? What does it really mean to measure success as a learning and development function — and are we often measuring the wrong things entirely? And as organisations transform at pace, what will businesses be asking of L&D professionals in five years' time that they aren't asking today?Jo Squires, CIPD Learning Designer, is joined again by David James, Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning and host of The Learning and Development Podcast, where in part two of this two-part special, they explore how L&D can build credibility and prove its impact, the enduring skills that will keep the profession relevant, and what lies ahead for L&D as the world of work continues to change.Recorded: 7 August 2026---Additional resources:L&D tools: Building your business case – a practical pathwayL&D tools: A performance-led approach to skills and capability planningArticle | Performance focused L&D business partner Your next listen:HR People Pod – Ep 55: L&D – From order-taker to strategic partner - with David JamesCIPD Podcast 202: Evidence-based L&D – Asking the right questionsThe Learning and Development Podcast with David James Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can L&D build the infrastructure, capabilities and credibility needed to become a true growth engine within organisations? What role should L&D play as businesses adopt a more skills-based approach? And when it comes to habitual learning, is the responsibility with the organisation, the individual, or both?Jo Squires, CIPD Learning Designer is joined by David James, Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning and host of The Learning and Development Podcast, where in part one of a two-part special, they explore how L&D can position itself as an engine for growth and the importance for individuals to make learning a habit.Recorded: 7 August 2026---Additional resources:L&D tools: A performance-led approach to skills and capability planningAnalysis | How L&D can create value: Focussing on skills developmentL&D tools: Building your business case – a practical pathwayYour next listen:CIPD Podcast 232: The journey to a skills-based organisation: The role of L&DHR People Pod 54: Future planning as a discipline – with Tom CheesewrightThe Learning and Development Podcast with David James Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As business priorities shift, skills shortages intensify and technology changes the nature of work, organisations need a clearer view of the skills and capabilities they have — and how to deploy them where they can create the greatest impact. But how can learning professionals support the building of new capability at pace and scale, when many organisations still struggle to see what skills exist in the workforce, to what level of expertise, or to move that capability to where it's needed most? Join Nigel Cassidy and this month's guests – Shona Marshall, Founder of The ASM Difference; Laurell Hector, Managing Director at McManus HRD; and Andrew Jacobs, Learning Strategist and Founder of Llarn Learning – as they explore L&D's role in supporting the shift to becoming a skills-based organisation. In this episode, our panel explores: Why L&D is critical to enabling skills-based transformation, by responding to business priorities and driving the performance they require How skills intelligence, taxonomies and internal marketplaces can inform smarter, workforce planning, internal mobility and learning investment. What must change in how learning is designed and delivered – moving away from linear, one-off training programmes towards continuous, skills-led development that keeps pace with changing skills landscape. ---Your next listen: CIPD Podcast 231: The journey to a skills-based organisation CIPD Podcast 207: HR’s next top operating model HR People Pod – Episode 48: Leadership reflections | Skills visibility | Workload creep More from this episode: Guide – Skills matching: Using and deploying people’s skills effectively in the workplace Analysis – How L&D can create value: Focussing on skills development  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2026 is set to be another challenging year for organisations and the people profession. As economic uncertainty continues and AI adoption accelerates, where should the profession focus its efforts? How can job design and management capability drive productivity without increasing burnout? And what skills do people professionals need to navigate the year ahead.CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza is joined by a trio of leading HR podcasters, Fay Wallis, career and leadership coach and host of HR Coffee Time; Lucinda Carney, Chief Executive Officer at Actus Software, and host of HR Uprising podcast; and Bruce Daisley, host of Eat, Sleep, Work, Repeat podcast.Recorded: 09 January 2026---Bookings are now open for the CIPD Student Conference 2026. Student members can secure your place for free at cipd.org/studentconf2026Take ownership of your learning and enhance your professional practice. Explore our suite of tools to support your CPD journey at cipd.org/en/learning/cpd/---Explore more podcasts from this week’s panel:HR Coffee Time with Fay Wallishttps://brightskyhr.co.uk/hr-coffee-time-podcast/HR Uprising with Lucinda Carneyhttps://hruprising.com/Eat, Sleep, Work, Repeat with Bruce Daisleyhttps://eatsleepworkrepeat.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.