Empowering your Workforce in 2026

Why planning workforce development in 2026 matters

The UK Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy sets out a ten year plan to drive growth by improving infrastructure, investment and skills, with a particular focus on high-value sectors and digital capability. Against this backdrop, a structured approach to training gives you a real advantage. Thoughtful planning helps you to:

• Align skills with strategy
  Make sure the development you fund supports your 2026 business priorities, rather than being driven only by ad hoc requests.

• Improve performance and productivity
  Well targeted training helps teams use the tools they already have, such as Microsoft 365, more effectively, which in turn reduces friction, rework and delays.

• Support engagement, wellbeing and retention
  Research from CIPD and others consistently links learning opportunities and good quality work with higher engagement and lower turnover. Flexible and hybrid working studies also show that good management capability is critical for performance and wellbeing in distributed teams.

• Reduce risk and build resilience
  When more people understand key systems, processes and safety responsibilities, you are less reliant on single points of failure and better prepared for change.

• Develop future leaders
  Planning ahead allows you to build leadership and management capability steadily, instead of waiting until a promotion or restructure forces the issue.

Priorities for your 2026 training plan

Every organisation is different, but we are seeing a consistent set of priority themes emerge across our customers.

1. Digital and AI foundations for everyone

Skills England’s recent report on AI skills for the UK workforce highlights both the scale of the AI skills gap and the practical tools now available to employers, including an AI Skills Framework, Adoption Pathway and Employer Checklist to help organisations plan responsible AI upskilling.   

AI is no longer a niche topic for IT teams. Government guidance and professional bodies now encourage employers to give staff clear principles, practical skills and confidence to use AI safely and effectively in day-to-day work.

For most organisations, this means:

• Strengthening core Microsoft 365 skills, particularly Excel, Power BI, and SharePoint

• Introducing practical, role relevant AI and automation skills, including Microsoft 365 Copilot and process automation

• Helping managers understand how to oversee AI enabled work fairly and transparently

Skilltec offers specialist Microsoft 365 and AI training, from fundamentals through to advanced data and administration courses, so you can build a clear pathway instead of isolated sessions.

2. Data literacy and smarter use of tools

With more decisions driven by data, teams need confidence in:

• Handling and interpreting data in Excel and Power BI

• Building reliable reports and dashboards

• Applying good information management practices in SharePoint and Teams

Targeted training in these areas helps reduce manual work, improves reporting quality and unlocks more value from your existing technology stack.

3. Leadership, management and change

In a labour market where budgets are tight and expectations are high, the day to day skills of managers make a real difference. Development for managers and aspiring leaders might include:

• Introduction to management and people leadership

• Handling conflict, feedback and performance conversations

• Managing change and supporting teams through uncertainty

• Coaching skills to help people grow in role

Skilltec’s Leadership Development courses are designed to be practical, scenario led and closely aligned to real line management challenges.

4. Business, customer and communication skills

Alongside technical capability, organisations still need strong “people skills” to succeed. In 2026, there is heightened demand for:

• Effective communication skills and personal impact

• Customer service and often under-utilised telephone skills

• Time management and productivity

• Report writing, presenting and running effective meetings

These are the skills that underpin good collaboration, internal service and customer experience across every sector.

5. Compliance, safety and wellbeing

Finally, it remains vital to maintain a solid baseline of mandatory and role specific training in areas such as:

• Health and Safety and IOSH courses

• Risk assessments and incident investigation

• Lone working and managing workplace conflict

Combining technical, behavioural and safety training into a joined up plan helps people see how their development connects to wider organisational goals and values.

Practical steps to build your 2026 training roadmap

If you are responsible for booking training, here is a simple structure you can use to shape your plan.

1. Anchor development to your 2026 objectives
   List your organisational and departmental goals, then highlight where skills, behaviours or systems capability could help you deliver them more effectively.

2. Map critical roles and skills
   Identify the roles that have the biggest impact on your success in 2026, such as line managers, project leads, key administrators or technical specialists. Note the core skills each group needs.

3. Run a light touch skills audit
   Use existing data such as appraisals, manager feedback and project reviews to spot common skills gaps. You can combine this with simple self assessment tools or short surveys.

4. Prioritise and phase
   Decide what must be addressed in Q1 to Q2 and what can sit in the second half of the year. This helps you manage operational pressures and budget.

5. Choose delivery routes
   Blend public schedule courses, bespoke sessions and workshops where needed. Where you see repeated needs, consider a Course Bundle or Corporate Skills Licence to keep things cost effective.

6. Measure and refine
   Agree in advance how you will measure impact, for example: changes in system usage, quality of reporting, manager confidence, employee survey results or error rates. Review this data regularly and adjust your plan.

Skilltec’s trainers and account managers can support you through this process, helping you to match real world needs with the right mix of Microsoft Applications, AI, Business Skills and Project Management training.

Get in touch

If you are planning training for 2026 and would like a sounding board, we are happy to help.

You can:

• Visit the Skilltec website and explore our Corporate Skills Licence and Course Bundles

• Browse our Microsoft 365, AI and Project Management, IT Training & Business Skills portfolios

• Contact us to talk through your priorities and sketch out a first draft 2026 training roadmap

We are here to partner with you, understand your goals, constraints and ideas, and help you build a practical, affordable and engaging development plan for the year ahead.

Skilltec’s Corporate Skills Licence

Flexible Support for 2026

For organisations that want a structured yet flexible way to plan 2026 training, Skilltec’s Corporate Skills Licence offers:

• Discounted training rates
  Preferential pricing across our public schedule and many bespoke options, so budgets go further throughout the year.

• 12 month flexibility
  Licences run for a year, which means you can schedule training when teams are ready, rather than rushing to use “year end” budgets. 

• Dedicated account management
  A named contact works with you to map requirements, recommend courses and keep your plan aligned with changing priorities.

• Cross organisation coverage
  Because the licence is for your organisation rather than individuals, you can support multiple departments and roles under one agreement.

This model is particularly helpful if you are juggling several priorities: digital transformation, leadership development, regulatory training and core business skills. It gives you one framework to plan within, instead of multiple one off bookings.

Skilltec's Course Bundles

Ready Made Pathways for Key Roles

If you want to build depth in specific areas, Skilltec Course Bundles provide curated sets of courses at a discounted price. 

• Leadership Development Course Bundle
  Ideal for new or aspiring managers, with a mix of core leadership, communication and performance management skills. 

• Business Administration Course Bundle
  Designed for administrative roles that need strong Microsoft Office skills plus core business communication capability. 

• Human Resources Course Bundle
  Focused on HR practitioners who support recruitment, employee relations, performance and inclusion. 

• Microsoft Office Skills Bundle
  For teams that rely on Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, and want a clear route to “advanced everyday user” level. 

Bundles typically allow delegates to attend any of the courses in the package over 12 months, which makes it easier to build capability across a team without losing flexibility.