Survey reveals Brits look to improve business management skills this year
Learning new skills throughout your career is a key factor in staying motivated and progressing in a business.
A new survey of 2,000 UK adults conducted by The Knowledge Academy sought to find out which skills most people are planning to learn in 2024. Interestingly, over a quarter of Brits want to learn general work related skills such as project management or leadership (27%).
Key Findings:
- General work related skills such as project management and leadership ranks in number one position, with more than a quarter (27%) Brits looking to learn these skills in 2024.
- Half of Brits (50%) are eager to learn their chosen skill in order to improve their overall knowledge and awareness, with over a third (36%) looking to open further workplace opportunities.
- Almost three in ten Brits are looking to learn their chosen skill to aid them in securing a job (29%).
The top skills Brits plan to learn in 2024
| Rank | Skill that respondents wish to learn | Percentage of respondents (%) |
| 1 | General work related skills (e.g. project management/leadership) | 27% |
| 2 | Improving business management skills | 26% |
| =3 | Enhancing business skills | 24% |
| =3 | Creative skills (e.g. photography/art) | 24% |
| =5 | Improving written skills/ spelling and grammar | 23% |
| =5 | Improving computer literacy | 23% |
| 7 | Improving analytical skills | 22% |
| 8 | Skills for practical tasks/ hobbies (e.g. woodwork/ decorating/plumbing) | 21% |
| 9 | Learning to code | 20% |
| 10 | Picking up a new language | 19% |
*The full survey data is available to view here.
The Knowledge Academy has found that work related skills such as project management and leadership are the top skills UK adults want to learn in 2024, as more than a quarter (27%) of respondents opted for this.
Brits looking to improve their work related skills may gain more fulfilment in their roles, as research shows that learning can keep you feeling happy and purposeful at work.
Secondly, improving business management skills (26%), and enhancing business skills (24%) also rank among the top choices, with around a quarter of Brits choosing to focus on these skills this year.
With one in five Brits hoping to find a new job for 2024, these skills may be a focus for many looking to seek out a career change this year.
Improving computer literacy also ranks among the top skills Brits are planning to learn this year, with almost one in four (23%) looking to upskill these abilities. A recent study found that almost half of Brits don’t feel ‘tech savvy’, which many may look to improve on in 2024, with the ever-changing tech landscape constantly advancing.
The top reasons why UK adults want to learn new a new skill in 2024
| Rank | Reason for learning skills | Percentage of respondents (%) |
| 1 | To improve my own knowledge and awareness | 50% |
| 2 | To help me in everyday life | 37% |
| 3 | To open further workplace opportunities | 36% |
| 4 | To help me make better/more informed decisions | 35% |
| 5 | To help build up my confidence | 32% |
| 6 | To help me get a job | 29% |
The top reason for Brits opting for their chosen skill in 2024 is to improve knowledge and awareness, with half of respondents (50%) sharing this as their reason.
Whilst almost two fifths (37%) of those surveyed admit they want to improve on their chosen skill inorder to help them in everyday life.
Finally, opening further workplace opportunities ranks third, with over a third (36%) of Brits choosing to learn skills in order to increase opportunities within their career. Meanwhile, almost three in ten Brits are looking to learn their chosen skill to help them with securing a job (29%).
Talveer Sandhu on behalf of the The Knowledge Academy provides comment on the survey findings, and how this can help Brits throughout 2024:
“It is fantastic to see a willingness among UK adults to adopt and learn new skills this year, both inside and outside of the workplace. With many looking to open more workplace opportunities for themselves, learning more business and project management skills is always a great way to increase employability, as well as chances of promotion and greater responsibility.
“Learning skills such as this can not only improve your career, but also leave you feeling more motivated and fulfilled at work, resulting in greater productivity and quality of work produced. Giving yourself this motivation can improve mental wellbeing, and learning a new skill can give you a sense of accomplishment.
“Whilst work skills seem to be a focus for many respondents this year, it is great to see many looking to learn more creative skills too. Creativity can improve mental wellbeing, and provide many transferable skills such as better communication and problem solving abilities.
“Overall, whatever skill it is that you choose to learn in 2024, learning and educating yourself not only comes with cognitive benefits, but also boosts confidence, happiness, and improves motivation.”
