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Free employee learning

Free learning with OpenLearn

OpenLearn is our online library of free learning resources. More than a million people visit the site each month* for accessible, bitesize learning.

There are thousands of short courses and learning materials to help upskill your staff, flexibly and free of charge.

Discover how OpenLearn can help your organisation upskill staff for improved performance, productivity and progression.


What’s on offer on OpenLearn?

OpenLearn has more than 1,000 free courses and thousands of resources: from short courses for self-study to articles, videos, podcasts and interactive quizzes.

Resources cover a wide range of topics including:

  • Business and management
  • Health and social care
  • Communication and interpersonal skills
  • Customer service
  • Personal and business finance

Learners who complete our courses get a statement of participation - some courses also provide a digital badge that they can use on their CV or social media to recognise their achievement. Rewarding staff who achieve badges is a great way to encourage engagement with the platform.

There is also a series called ‘My Career Goal’ that helps people identify skills gaps and a training pathway to progress in their chosen career.

OpenLearn is a treasure – helping to build a healthier, fairer, and more environmentally aware society. It has been a learning lifeline for millions, especially through the pandemic. 100 million visitors – wow! I am incredibly proud of the achievement and the work of OU colleagues who make this possible.

Martha Lane-Fox
Chancellor, The Open University


Why use OpenLearn to upskill staff?

There are lots of reasons to make OpenLearn available to your employees. Here’s our top five.

  • Upskill your staff – OpenLearn is a free and flexible way for employees to gain new skills, improve their performance at work and fulfil their professional potential
  • Develop staff working from home – Professional development doesn’t need to stop when your staff are working remotely. OpenLearn is accessible anywhere, anytime, to anyone
  • Try before you buy – If you’re thinking of partnering with The Open University for staff development, OpenLearn is a great way to test employees’ appetite for online learning first
  • Boost your employer brand – Boost your brand reputation as a business that supports and develops its staff, with a curated training programme just for them
  • Support staff – Our free resources can empower staff to overcome personal issues that may impact their work, such as emotional issues, relationship problems and money worries


Three ways to use OpenLearn for staff development

There are three main ways to use OpenLearn for staff development.

  1. Signpost for self-study – Simply signpost staff to the resource and let them explore it themselves. Consider a way to incentivise engagement with recognition for staff who complete courses
  2. Recommend a route – Explore the platform and identify resources to create a recommended learning plan for staff
  3. Create bespoke courses – Work with The OU to tailor courses to suit your needs. We can:
    • adapt existing courses, for example, by adding sector-specific case studies
    • work with you to develop new courses or content
    • create a branded dashboard where staff can access your content

Take a look at the OpenLearn website to discover the material on offer and contact us to discuss bespoke courses for your organisation.


Who uses OpenLearn?

Over the past 15 years, 100 million people have visited OpenLearn to unlock their potential, at a pace and place that suits them. More than 2 millions certificates have been issued along with 200,000 digital badges awarded. 

Two organisations embracing the potential of curated courses in OpenLearn are Uber and the Department for Work and Pensions.

DWP
Department for Work and Pensions

Learn about the nationwide partnership between OpenLearn, DWP and Jobcentre Plus to tackle skills gaps for job seekers.

Uber driver
Uber

Discover how Uber use OpenLearn to improve their drivers’ communication skills, boost their employer brand and support social mobility.

Find out more


To learn more about OpenLearn and how we can work with you

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Find out how we can help your organisation

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