Learning at Work Week 2024 takes place from 13th to 19th May 2024
What is Learning at Work Week?
Learning at Work Week (LAW Week) is a unique annual event to build learning cultures at work. It aims to put a spotlight on the importance and benefits of continual learning and development.
LAW Week is led nationally by Campaign for Learning. Employers are invited to mark Learning at Work Week in their organisations. Campaign for Learning provide learning & development colleagues and organisers, the planning resources, activities and ideas to run creative, innovative and inclusive LAW Week campaigns and events.
Who can take part?
LAW Week is a week for everyone. LAW Week is designed so all organisations can take part. Workplaces of all sizes, sectors and types run events, including multinationals, SMEs, charities, public sector organisations and government departments. Events are led and organised by HR and L&D colleagues, learning champions, and marketing and communication colleagues. They are often delivered collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation. Go to Be Inspired to see what participants do for the week.
How much will it cost?
It’s free to register and access our online resources. We provide free planning resources and promotional packs that you can use to create your own internal event. We have ideas on how to run a low cost Learning at Work Week with impact. Every year, Campaign for Learning provide national activities you can promote to colleagues and our sponsors and partners offer free special activities too. Most organisers spend an average of £100 to organise their activities.
When does it take place?
Learning at Work Week is in May. In 2024, it takes place from 13th to 19th May. The national theme is announced in Autumn 2023. Check the Learning at Work Week website for planning ideas, news and activities, and sign up for updates from the LAW Week newsletter.
Sign up here for Learning at Work Week news
Do we have to run Learning at Work Week during the national dates?
Most employers run their Learning at Work Week during the national dates. However, if there is a better time for your organisation and its employees, you can use the free resources to run the week on a different date. The most important thing is that Learning at Work Week is shaped to work for your organisation, including when it happens.
What opportunities does it provide?
Learning at Work Week offers an opportunity to run a branded learning campaign in your workplace as part of a national event. Each year, thousands of organisations run vibrant, creative campaigns and activities which promote a learning culture, stimulate curiosity, support organisational goals and engage employees in learning. See Be Inspired for a flavour.
Do we need to do something specific?
We are not prescriptive in terms of what your organisation should do and how you should mark the week. We provide a framework and ideas, so you can plan events and activities that fit your specific context and are explicitly linked to your business goals and the needs of your employees, to ensure impact. We do encourage organisers to align to the week's values which promotes learning that is strategic, inclusive, engaging and valued. We are particularly keen that organisers use an inclusive approach that extends opportunities to learn to all employees, especially those who may have barriers to taking part in learning.
What types of things do organisations do?
Many organisers use the Week as a catalyst for change providing an opportunity to 'rebrand' or refresh learning and development, reinforcing the organisation’s commitment to staff development and celebrating learning that takes place all year round. The activities that companies run range from non-work related and interest-led activities through award ceremonies to business focused sessions. LAW Week offers an opportunity to promote and deliver these in a way that is fresh, exciting and engaging – from panel sessions to creative workshops.
What are the benefits for taking part?
The reasons for taking part will depend on your particular context and goals. Organisations and individuals report a wide range of opportunities, benefits and impact including:
Changing attitudes to learning and work
More positive and improved perceptions of learning and development both at business and individual level leading to increased motivation and productivity.
Appreciation of wider opportunities for learning both at and outside of work.
Greater awareness of opportunities to learn
Increased knowledge and understanding of the opportunities for learning and development all year round and what they can deliver for the business and individual.
Greater employee engagement with learning
Employees switched back onto learning and motivated, increased take up of learning and development opportunities.
Informing business & learning and development strategies
Opportunity to stimulate thinking and gain feedback, ideas and perspectives that inform future plans.
Opportunities to discover and recognise internal talent
By drawing on employees own knowledge, passions and interests to create engaging activities, and promoting wider sharing and collaboration in the workplace.
Greater recognition and valuing of different ways to learn in the workplace
Encouraging a broader perspective on how learning and development happens and how employees can take advantage of new ways to learn – from traditional class-room based training through social media to team meets for generating and sharing learning.
Highlighting business priorities, agendas and addressing change
Providing a platform to focus on and share important information about the business and its direction and using it as an opportunity to engage employees with different agendas and policies in an interactive and stimulating way.
Addressing skills and learning gaps
Running short focused programmes and activities during the week that give people the chance to try new ways of learning and working from coaching to digital skills.
Breaking down workplace silos and bridging information gaps
Bringing employees from different parts of the business together or partner organisations in to learn from each other
What does Campaign for Learning offer?
We provide guidance and resources for organisers wishing to run Learning at Work Week in their workplace. We also run planning seminars every year – see 'What should I do next?' below. Given the significant shifts in the way we work and learn due to Covid-19, we will focus too on how you can run virtual activities and programmes to celebrate the Week.
Learning at Work Week 2024 Theme - Learning power
Every year, we set a theme for Learning at Work Week. The 2024 theme is Learning power. You can use and interpret the theme to add value to your workplace and organisation. See our 2024 theme page for more details and its three activity strands and ideas.
What should I do next?
If you are interested in taking part go to Sign up and get started where you can also register to receive our Learning at Work news. You will then receive the latest updates for Learning at Work Week including special offers, and news about our other learning at work activities.