A new era in our learning culture

The thing about being a wanna-be futurologist is that you’re always looking forward. You’re always making sure everyone is as focused on the next step as you are. But when the pace of change is increasing exponentially, it becomes a lot more difficult.

Those of you who are well-versed in all things tech will be familiar with Moore’s law. Simply put, it states that the number of transistors on a computer chip will double every two years. In layman’s terms, that means the pace of change in technology is doubling in the same time span – which is great. It’s only when it comes to the realisation that this very pace of change also impacts the broader world surrounding the technology - and so, too, humans - do we then realise that we need to be learning ever quicker and more efficiently, otherwise we run the risk of being left behind.

So, how do you learn more in a shorter space of time? The answer lies in the future – a future that’s as bite-size as it is rapid. When was the last time you cooked something new, or engaged in a bit of DIY? Did you enrol on a three-month culinary course or a woodwork apprenticeship? Or did you turn to Google or YouTube to teach yourself? Technology has made self-led learning easier than ever. More accessible than ever. Everything else is being served to us on-demand these days, and it’s no different when it’s knowledge you’re after.

Bring that into the workplace, however, and the conversation becomes all the more interesting. Do we need to take an entire cohort of employees out for a week to teach them leadership techniques or new technical skills? Or can we apply the same principle we follow in other parts of our lives? The answer is, of course, the latter. Learning and work are naturally intertwined, and when you throw an evolving organisation like Rolls-Royce into the mix, we suddenly have a nice backdrop against which we should be able to enable our colleagues to learn in a style, and at a pace, that suits them – both anytime and anywhere.

We started thinking about the best ways to evolve our learning and development offer. A few things came to mind. First off, we wanted to build something that was more than just another corporate learning platform - something that encompassed all that I've outlined above and more – a self-contained brand, the first of its kind. An environment where everyone can be their best. That’s how Leatro was born. A new brand for learning; one that signifies a new era of learning culture at Rolls-Royce.

Learning is hugely important to our people, from the early talent who join us at the start of their career, to the technical colleagues on our shop floor, our broader colleague population, and our leaders. Collectively, they all identify with a deep, underlying passion for knowledge and natural curiosity. But everyone has different needs. Everyone thinks differently, processes information differently. And while our business is built on a heritage of trust and confidence, we have to be ready for the future. We have to empower and enable our people at every turn. Leatro enables us to do just that.

Underpinned by a new technology platform, Incorporating AI, which allows for a bespoke journey – a highly personalised set-up that puts the learner in control. Learn your way, at your own pace. With our new Leatro platform we've created one place to go for learning, hundreds of ways for our people to be at their best.

You might say we’ve given learning a tune-up – and just in time for Learning at Work Week in the UK. We’ve ensured more personalised experiences for our colleagues, more opportunities to connect as an organisation.

We know true impact, nor a fully-fledged learning culture, can be gained overnight. It takes time. It relies on a shared vision of growth, and you can’t grow without having learned something. To do what’s never been done before, to be pioneers, to enable innovation, we need to ensure we're always learning.

I'm pleased, therefore, to be saying hello to Leatro. What will you learn today?

#alwayslearning

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