Investing in Talent Progression and Why Upskilling is the Key to Future Growth

Talent availability is a growing concern for businesses worldwide. The latest Future of Jobs Report 2025 highlights that while both employees and employers agree on the need for improving talent progression and promotion processes, there are critical gaps in priorities when it comes to workforce development.

At Business Canterbury, we offer a range of training programmes designed to help businesses upskill their teams and stay ahead of the competition.

The Case for Upskilling

Skill gaps in the labor market remain the biggest barrier to transformation, cited by 63% of employers. As industries evolve, the demand for analytical thinking, AI literacy, and leadership skills is accelerating. Yet, without structured learning and development initiatives, businesses risk falling behind.

Employers understand this challenge with 77% expect enhanced productivity from investing in training, while 70% see it as a way to boost competitiveness. However, the real advantage lies in improving talent retention, with over 65% of employers recognizing that providing growth opportunities within their organization can prevent costly turnover.

Bridging the Talent Progression Gap

Both employees and employers rank improving career progression opportunities as a top workforce strategy. Yet, training completion rates across industries remain inconsistent. While industries like Telecommunications and IT Services are seeing significant increases in upskilling efforts, others, such as Real Estate and Agriculture, are lagging behind.

A lack of accessible training options means 19% of workers will require upskilling and redeployment by 2030, but may not receive it. Addressing this gap is crucial for companies aiming to attract and retain top talent.

The Business Impact of Learning & Development

Investing in structured training programs doesn’t just benefit employees, it drives business performance. The top three benefits of training investment include:

• Enhanced productivity (77%)
• Increased competitiveness (70%)
• Greater talent mobility across roles (52%)

Furthermore, employers funding their own training programs remain the dominant model (86%), yet hybrid models combining government and industry co-funding are gaining traction in sectors such as Healthcare, Education, and Public Services.

Future-Proof Your Workforce with Business Canterbury Training

At Business Canterbury, we understand the importance of upskilling to meet the evolving demands of the modern workforce. Our tailored training programmes help businesses stay competitive by:

• Offering practical, industry-relevant learning opportunities
• Supporting talent progression and internal mobility
• Ensuring employees stay ahead in a rapidly changing job market

• Securing government, network, or industry co-funding to make learning and development more accessible

Investing in training today secures the future of your workforce. Explore our learning and development programmes and take the next step in strengthening your team.