Janette Healey – Director of Operations
Reflections on skills shortages, workforce development, operational effectiveness, AI and the role of leadership in driving change
Reading the latest Skills England report has reinforced just how connected workforce capability, leadership, operational improvement and technology adoption really are.
I’ve been spending some time reading through the recently published…
Skills England Annual Skills Report and Sectoral Skills Needs Assessments 2026. It’s given me plenty to think about!
One thing that stood out is the scale of the challenge facing employers when it comes to skills. The report highlights growing demand for AI and digital capability, project and change delivery expertise, and the skills needed to improve productivity and adapt to an evolving workplace. It also reinforces the important role leadership and management play in helping organisations successfully implement change and develop their people.
As Operations Director at Raise the Bar, part of my role is making sure our own teams have the skills and support they need to do their jobs well. But it’s also about making sure the programmes we offer continue to reflect what employers are telling us they need.
Over the last six months, we’ve expanded our offer with programmes focused on Operational Effectiveness, Continuous Improvement, Project Delivery, AI and Automation, alongside our established Leadership and Management pathways.
Success often comes down to people. The ability to communicate, influence and bring others with you is what turns good ideas into real outcomes.
For me, the interesting part is how connected all of these areas are. You can have the best processes, technology or plans in place, but without people who can communicate, engage others, solve problems and lead change, it’s difficult to make real progress.
That’s why we continue to build leadership and management skills into all of our programmes. Whether it’s improving processes, delivering projects or making the most of new technologies, success often comes down to people. The ability to communicate, influence and bring others with you is what turns good ideas into real outcomes.
Apprenticeships provide one route for organisations to build capability in these key areas and address skills gaps from within, while wider development programmes help organisations continue to develop and strengthen their workforce.
Reading the report was a good reminder that skills development isn’t just about responding to today’s challenges. It’s about helping people and organisations prepare for what’s coming next.