The Open University

OU apprenticeships instrumental in tech firm’s success

27 March 2025

An Open University degree apprenticeship partnership with an Oxfordshire firm has been one of the reasons web-tech company Olamalu gained a fistful of accolades for its apprenticeship offering to staff. Half the firm’s workforce have experienced apprenticeship training – two employees recently graduated from the OU’s Digital and Technology Solutions Professional Degree Apprenticeship and four […]

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OpenLearn teams up with Barclays Eagle Labs to support entrepreneurs

2 October 2024

The Open University (OU) is collaborating with Barclays Eagle Labs to promote the Eagle Labs Academy that will equip budding and established entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge to grow their business. This collaboration brings together the OU’s world-renowned educational resources with the innovation and entrepreneurship support provided by Barclays Eagle Labs. The new collaboration […]

Cover of the 2024 Business Barometer Report

Businesses lack confidence in AI and green technologies as the skills shortage persists

19 June 2024

Across the UK almost two thirds (62%) of organisations continue to struggle with skills gaps The majority (64%) of businesses lack the confidence to apply either AI or green technologies into their organisation Martha Lane Fox, Chancellor of The Open University, and President of British Chambers of Commerce warns organisations need to implement flexible skills […]

The Open University aims to help transform the fortunes of employers

7 February 2024

In another collaboration with the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) The Open University is contributing its 50 years of experience working with businesses to help employers prosper by assisting them in developing the skills they need. It’s all part of the BCC’s new Future of the UK Economy initiative, chaired by the OU’s Chancellor Baroness […]

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ESG is discussed in board rooms but lack of skills is holding back action, according to new report by The Open University

6 November 2023

While nearly four in five (77%) businesses agree that ESG (environmental, social and governance) factors impact their organisation’s brand or reputation, less than a tenth (8%) have a fully realised ESG strategy Businesses are held back from implementing ESG due to lack of financial resources (28%), missing essential skills (24%) and complexity (23%) New report […]

Five star review: first ever Uber-funded graduates celebrate Open University degrees

22 September 2023

The first ever students to complete Open University (OU) degrees fully-funded by Uber are set to graduate – with the first ceremony taking place in London today Eleven students have received their results including first-class honours in law and business, with drivers completing their studies whilst working on Uber More than 1,500 drivers have enrolled […]

New report reveals flexible learning and hybrid working are the key to public sector talent retention challenge

28 April 2022

Almost three quarters (73%) of public sector workers would be more likely to stay in a job that allowed hybrid working, according to The Open University’s new report into public sector skills. The Embracing Flexibility report was published in partnership with the Public Sector Executive and highlights a desire for more flexibility and learning-and-development opportunities […]

NHS award for Open University nursing apprenticeships

26 November 2020

A partnership between The Open University , Leeds Beckett University and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has won the 2020 North East and Yorkshire NHS Parliamentary Award for Wellbeing at Work. The Future You Partnership was launched in September this year, providing an apprenticeship route for both experienced and aspiring healthcare workers in Leeds to […]

Open University report shows key skills gaps remain as businesses plan for recovery

16 September 2020

Since 2017, The Open University Business Barometer has provided detailed insights into the UK skills landscape, looking at the impacts across regions, nations and sectors. This year’s report, which is released in a completely new business context, is based on a survey of 1,000 business leaders representing organisations of all sizes. The report found that […]

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