Webinars, talks and podcasts

An expert panel of social care and social work professionals were brought together in a webinar to discuss the findings of a new report published by The Open University. The report, The path forward for social care in England, is based on a survey of 500 leaders from across adult social care and social work. The report offers five recommendations for the future of the sector in England.

Employers in England have a renewed appetite for apprenticeships and work-based learning this year. Almost three quarters (70%) say apprenticeships will be vital to their recovery from the disruption caused by COVID-19, with 72% planning to take on more apprentices over the next 12 months. This approach is supported by the fact that 66% of employers who embraced apprenticeships during the pandemic say it enabled them to recover more quickly. These are some of the many positive findings from the Build The Future Apprenticeship Survey, a new report from The Open University (OU) that explores the outlook for apprenticeships in the coming months.

The Covid-19 pandemic has created a skills paradox for employers. Whilst 63% have ceased filling vacant roles due to the pandemic, 56% of organisations continue to experience skills shortages.

The Open University (OU) offers employers a range of ways to support employees in developing their confidence in learning and set them on a path to work and career-related qualifications. The Open up your learning podcast series explores the different options available to employers. In this episode we take a look innovative OU level 1 module - Making your learning count (YXM130).

The Open University (OU) offers employers a range of ways to support employees in developing their confidence in learning and set them on a path to work and career-related qualifications. The Open up your learning podcast series explores the different options available to employers. In this episode we take a look at Access modules.

Digital skills were critically important even before Covid-19 struck. But, once the pandemic took hold and whole workforces shifted to remote working, there was no escaping just how important digital skills have become. However, there is a shortage of digital skills across the UK.

The Open University (OU) offers employers a range of ways to support employees in developing their confidence in learning and set them on a path to work and career-related qualifications. The Open up your learning podcast series explores the different options available to employers. In this episode we take a look at the MA/MSc Open.

The Open University (OU) offers employers a range of ways to support employees in developing their confidence in learning and set them on a path to work and career-related qualifications. The Open up your learning podcast series explores the different options available to employers. In this episode we take a look at the BA/BSc (Hons) Open degree.

Work has been shifting from the traditional 9-5 office based model for a number of years, with the emergence of the gig economy, flexible work patterns and digital ways of working. Then Covid-19 and lockdown happened and huge swathes of the workforce migrated to working more flexibly, from home, almost overnight.

The Open University has proven expertise in delivering practice-based healthcare qualifications that boost workforce skills to the benefit of both employers and employees. We work with over 435 healthcare employers in the UK, developing career pathways for employees, building skills and enhancing talent pipelines.